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January 20, 2013
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 - - 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 booboos. We're all human. This letter comes out weekly
(except when I'm traveling or on deadline)
and it's long!
This newsletter is powered by AuthorsDen.com.
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Contents

Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn: Barnes & Noble, Vroman's and Publishing
Trend
~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 (Find them in several places.)
~Accessible Contests
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: “Art Journal Writing”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue

~Feature: How To Reach Reporters Who Need Your Expertise
~Feature: Selling Books with the Best Bookcovers Possible

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
For a fun way to get our cover images on Pinterest, trade pins with me: www.Pinterest.com/chowardjohnson


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 your SharingwithWriters is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as in a .pdf format.

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

“Write What Inspires You!” was the subject line of a Christmas greeting I received from writer and longtime subscriber to this SharingwithWriters newsletter Penny Sansevieri. I was moved to share her motto and my take on it with you in this New Year.
We read too often on the Web and elsewhere, that we should research topics, themes, etc. to be sure there is a niche for what we are writing. The thing is, authors may become discouraged. The other thing is, there is really nothing brand spanking new in the world. But even more than those two things is this:
By the time we finish writing a book (sometimes even an article or essay) that has a perfect niche with little or no competition, the moment is often gone. Someone else has done the same thing a minute earlier. Or the national, worldwide, or literary tide has turned. I believe in "Write your heart and someone - - if not the world—will follow."

Joy, Happy Writing, Editing, and Promoting in the New Year!
Carolyn


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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 at HoJoNews@AOL.com. All these chapbooks are from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Tip: I recently spoke to members of the National Association of Memoir Writers Friday. If you write creative nonfiction or memoir, you may want to see what this active organization can do for you. Start with this page on my recent teleconference and let the links lead you where they may: http://www.namw.org/2012/12/magic - marketing - for - memoir - its - never - too - late - or - too - early - to - do - right - by - your - book - january - 18 - 2013


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Endorsement: “Your book is a tremendous help to me as a first time published author, and the discount for Display Stands 4 You in the back of the new edition was very nice too.” ~Ginger K. King, cookbook author, blogs at https://corkandforkblog.wordpress.com/
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In the News: Those of you who might think I overdo my mini rants about the difference between style choices and grammar rules a la The Frugal Editor (http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor) and Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips (http://budurl.com/WordtrippersPB) need to see this essay from the Onion. At least satire isn't dead or didn't get killed. http://www.theonion.com/articles/4 - copy - editors - killed - in - ongoing - ap - style - chicago,30806/


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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: Some of you have been using the templates in my Frugal Book Promoter to model your media releases, but you may need to add one more little thing to the bottom of your releases: Links to your social media. This is something that will go in my next update of that book, but in the meantime, this article will help you understand why and what: http://www.shiftcomm.com/2012/12/social - media - press - release - 2 - 0/


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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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Grammar News: It seems as if texting is ruining kids’ grammar skills. According to a Pennsylvania State study, kids are learning a new language. The bad news is that the language the kids are learning is texting. So, OMG! This worries me a lot because I think the grammar skills of most adults are not as good as they should be. We could argue that our language is changing just as it always has. English in motion! But maybe we should also be concerned if we want our kids to pass the SAT because these same students are unable to “code switch,” a term used by linguists to mean that they can easily figure out and adjust to the old - fashioned way of spelling something or wording it. So, they may suffer not only poor scores on SATs, but poor writing skills for their Freshman classes and for the communication required by their first jobs. Some more news—good or bad depending on your viewpoint. Fewer universities are relying on SAT scores as heavily as they once did.


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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 to give our work a chance at the bigtime. http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html .
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Tip: Would you like to pick up more marketing tidbits using Skype? Put “Author Skype Events” in a subject line and e - mail Penny Sansevieri at authorsservices@amarketingexpert.com to get information on her Skype tutorials directly in your e - mail box.


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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 or send me a guest post. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Author Successes

Only subscribers’ successes are listed in this section. Thus, I do not pick up news 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.”

MyShelf's Noble Prize Winners Announced ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Subscribers Connie Gotsch and Leora Skolkin Smith are among the winners of 2012 Noble (not Nobel!) Prize on MyShelf. Com. http://www.myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm. Check to see if your book might be suitable for the award that were announced in this month.


Ray Malthus Pubs First Novel… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A modern classic! Moving, passionate, and beautifully crafted. Ashes In Yonkers is the story of one day in the life of The Courier and four decades in the life of the Kearnys, an Irish - American family. Part mystery, part romance, part saga, Ashes In Yonkers takes you on a journey of discovery.
The Courier arrives in Yonkers, N.Y. one morning. He is on a mission—a mission that somehow has to do with a family that once lived here: Rose, Danny, and June Kearney.
The book follows the mysterious Courier through his journey to complete his mission. As it does so, it explores four decades in the life of the family, and eventually brings all these threads together in a startling and powerful climax. What is the terrible secret that binds Danny and Rose together? Who is The Courier? What is his mission?
Ashes In Yonkers is a vivid portrait of love, hatred, anger, passion, and finally, redemption, whose characters live on the page, and will endure in your heart.
"This is a moving and involving book, extremely well written. More than a 'story,' this is 'literature.' Ashes In Yonkers will endure."

Ashes in Yonkers is available on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search - alias%3Daps&field - keywords=ashes+in+yonkers

Learn more about Ray Malus at:
http://raymalus.com


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Here's a bakers' dozen of ideas to make BEA (Book Expo America) and other book shows easier and more productive: http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2007/03/bakers - dozen - work - bea - frugal - way.html. Please leave comments with ideas of your own - - and links to your book's sales page.
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Accessible Contests for You to Build Your Platform


Not Your Mother's Book…
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…is running a humor contest. Founder of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Terri Rizi says, "Do you have a fun, hip essay in you about decorating disasters or getting hammered? Not Your Mother's Book
http://www.publishingsyndicate.com/publishing_syndicate/submissions/nymb_submit_guidelines.html

is accepting real - life stories on the topic "Do - It - Yourselfers" until Feb. 1. Not Your Mother’s Book (NYMB) says it this concept is "a new anthology for a new century." You'll want to subscribe to Terri's newsletter at the Erma Bombeck site:
http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001pNRQhF_J28fiSuFQzGWfmA%3D%3D



Next Generation Book Awards…
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My Frugal Editor won the marketing award in this contest and the book itself placed as an honorable mention. I like recommending it because I think it’s accessible for my SharingwithWriters readers:

Calling all indie book authors and publishers - including small presses, mid - size independent publishers, university presses, e - book publishers, and self - published authors who have a book written in English released in 2012 or 2013 or with a 2012 or 2013 copyright date: Enter the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards at www.IndieBookAwards.com .

It offers 60 Categories - More than 60 Awards - with over 60 monetary prizes totaling more than $10,000 in cash, including $1,500 cash prizes plus trophies for best fiction book and best nonfiction book, $750 cash prizes plus trophies for second best fiction book and non - fiction book and $500 cash prizes plus trophies for third best fiction book and non - fiction book!

Finalists and Winners will also receive:

- An invitation to the gala awards ceremony held at the world famous Plaza Hotel in New York City in June 2013
- A listing in the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Catalog which will be distributed to thousands of book buyers, media, and others!
- Exposure for a full year at www.IndieBookAwards.com as a Winner or Finalist.
- The opportunity to display Finalist or Winner gold award stickers on your book.
- Other benefits of an award - winning book (such as potential increased revenue).
~The top 60 books will be sent to be reviewed by New York literary agent Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea Literary Agency or one of Ms. Allen's co - agents for possible representation in areas that could generate even more revenue for your book (unless an entrant prefers not to have their book forwarded to the agent). Ms. Allen has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including serving as Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Director of Marketing for Harper Collins and directing sales and marketing teams for Simon & Schuster, Penguin Books and Avon Books. Ms. Allen has had the pleasure of working with many best - selling authors including Stephen King, Ken Follett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Gray, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more.

Entry Deadline for the 2013 awards program - February 22, 2013. All Finalists and Winners will be notified prior to May 30, 2013.

For complete entry information go to http://www.indiebookawards.com/entryguidelines.php


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Book Proposal Help: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything
You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 30 Minutes or Less is now an
e - booklet ($2.99) or paperback booklet (only $6.95). The perfect giftlet for nonfiction and even some fiction writers. Find it at http://budurl.com/BookProposals =============================================

Getting Your Book Mentioned


Help a Reporter Out Can Be a Boon for Your Career
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Most everyone knows about Help a Reporter Out, also called HARO.

The trouble is, many don’t know how to make it work very well for them.

Here’s what it is. It’s a listing of reporters, bloggers,and other media folks who need your help or the help of someone else out there. Often they want opinion. They may want expertise. They may even want to cast you in a reality show. All you have to do to get these targeted (and carefully categorized) calls for help in your e - mail box is sign up at www.helpareporter.com. Some consider it a bit of a problem that these notices come to them several times a day.

I did. I signed up and thought I didn’t have time to fool with the extensive lists. And I didn’t get immediate results I thought I should. So I unsubscribed. Then I tried it again once I knew more about how to frame myself as an expert that is associated with one of my books or the other. And once I learned how to approach the people I contacted, I got better, more frequent results.

So, I thought I’d give you some of my hard - won tips

1. Sign up.
2. Try to look at every e - mail HARO sends out and quickly pick out the calls that might directly apply to you or the ones you can skew toward you. Example: I answered one that wanted people who had suffered some kind of stroke so I shared my little story about a TIA I had while I was in Tibet for inspiration for a novel and my poetry. I was careful to include that reference to my creative work in the answer I sent.
3. At first I thought these were all real reporters who would actually call me for an interview or at least to check facts. The world is a different place since I was a reporter. Writers are in a bigger hurry. That means you need to be complete with your answer. Use anecdotes. Use soundbites. This is great training, by the way, for learning what intrigues media people and what doesn’t. Give them contact information and permission to call you if they wish. Note: Though I have received lots of publicity using HARO, not once has someone called me.
4. Always include a little bio. You can copy and paste it but it should include the kind of information about your background that applies to the kind of question your contact wanted answered. Include links to your Web site, blog, or online bookstores’ buy pages. Sometimes the writers use that bio exactly as you gave it to them.
5. Keep at it. As with all marketing, persistence pays.
6. Don’t get discouraged. Expect that you may hit gold on about one of every ten or twenty calls you answer. But one of those can reach a ton of new readers.
7. When you learn that your answer has been used, go online and comment and send a thank you to the writer. If you don’t know how you could possibly know if your helpful piece gets used, you need to refer again to your Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkProm) and find “alerts” in the index. Note: Sometimes the smartest bloggers or reporters will let you know via e - mail so you can go comment or otherwise contribute to their online traffic.
8. If you get featured on a relatively big site, add the coup to your media kit, your Web site, and maybe even blog about it.

Remember, you’re not just selling books here. You’re building a writing career. You’re building name recognition. You’re networking, too!

~To reprint this article, send a query to HoJoNews (at) AOL (dot) com.


==============================================Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contacts and build a list of readers. Join me on Pinterest. You pin one of my book covers on one of your bulletin boards and I’ll pin yours on one of mine. http://Pinterest.com/chowardjohnson ==============================================

Feature

Quickie Tips for Book Covers that Sell Books Online
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We all know that bookcovers are an important sales device for books in bookstores. Some of what makes a great cover for a paper or hardback book are the same for online sales, but some are different. I always suggest that those who can afford a great cover designer might find that expenditure the one that gives an author or self - publisher the most bang for her buck. Anyone who knows the covers of the two editions of my Frugal Book Promoter will be able to see the difference a great cover can make. (Chaz DeSimone did the cover for the second edition with the coins as part of the font and it's a winner! http://chazdesimone.com )

Some authors still insist on doing their own covers—or interfering with the professional judgment of a professional cover designer. You know it and I know it. It's important for these Do It Yourselfers to have some knowledge of the process. Though that same knowledge can and should be put to work with partnering with the pros, we should still understand that people who have been designing bookcovers for a long time, just may know more about what sells books than we do! For this article I've included some essentials for any great book cover. And then some additional tips for paperback books that will also be published as e - books.

All book covers…

…benefit if the font is easy to read. Fonts should be simple. Font colors should not blend into the background of the cover.

…benefit if the title is big. Look at the books in the window at Hudson Booksellers when you travel. Those huge titles you see are that way for a reason.

…Ditto for the name of the author. You may think "I'm not famous enough for my name to be up in lights." Don't even think it. If the name is big, many readers assume you're an author to reckon with.

…Use a subtitle. It's your second chance after the title and the author's name to sell the book.

…Use a second subtitle on the back of the book. It’s your third chance to sell your book.

…Authors often are very concerned about the artwork, and they should be. But not at the expense of that title and author name! Picture a book that's mostly art with a thin little title at the top and a thin author's name at the bottom or tucked into the corner of the artwork. That cover is probably not much of a sales tool.

Online book covers…

…get a greater benefit from those subtitles—both front and back. They should include keywords that help prospective readers find you. You've probably noticed that subtitles are getting longer and longer. Find all the keywords in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or partnering with your publisher to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher. Even that "how to" is a keyword.

…need even greater contrast between the title and the background of the cover. White or pastel against white is generally not a good idea.

…need a very strong contrast between the cover and the white background they will most likely be used against on online sales pages.

….may still need eye - catching graphics, especially genres like children's books. However, your book's branding benefits if the same design can be used for both the paperback and the e - book so you may have to balance the importance of branding against a busy design. One compromise to consider: Use a single element in the hardcover design on the e - book design—one that ties the two together.

Remember your online book cover may be very tiny, as small as ¾ of an inch wide. Test the cover for your paper or hardback by photoshopping it to a thumbnail. Look at it critically. Will it sell your book online?

And do know that occasionally you can't have it both ways. When Chaz and I were working on the cover for The Frugal Book Promoter, I wanted him to try dark green (the color of all that money the book will save authors). It would have popped online better. But by darkening the background of the cover, that great coin - font didn't show up. So I went with his original design knowing the font would be the eye - catching element of the cover, rather than the contrast of cover against the online bookstore's white pages.

~All my articles are available for reprint. All you need to do is ask and include a byline and credit line when you publish it. Oh, and a cover image of one of my books would be nice, too. No charge, of course.


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I keep adding new resources for authors on 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! =============================================

Editing Tip: Avoid the b - o - o - o - ring repetitive phrases that politicians and TV media use ad infinitum in your writing. I’m thinking of phrases like “boots on the ground.” I’d really like some plain old English like “We don’t plan to send troops to Mali.”

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Here is the link for the page on my Web Site that lists some of my favorite accessible contests, an article on using contests, and more. http://howtodoitfrugally.com/contests.htm. ==============================================


Tip: If you're longing to be published try online journals like http://www.thecatsmeowforwritersreaders.com/ This is from tweeter @rckayla


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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.

Poetry Resource…
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Attention poets. Looking for poetry markets, contests and reviews? Subscribe to the free monthly newsletter, The Poetry Market E - zine. It features markets and contests exclusively geared towards poets and poetry news. Go to http://www.thepoetrymarket.com to subscribe or email poetrymarket - subscribe (at) yahoogroups.com

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Endorsement: “I started on FRUGAL and I went, ‘Whoa....damn good book!’ It is
so PROFESSIONAL!” ~ Dorothy Thompson, editor of The Writers Life
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Shared Tip from Patrika Vaughn: Want to Increase Your Media Exposure? Every decision maker has a formula, whether they realize it or not. Media people want certain kinds of guests and show ideas that fit their format. But it's not just media who have a formula. Meeting planners are looking for specific kinds of speakers for their events. Publishers are looking for specific kinds of books to publish. Celebrities aim to support specific causes. So before you approach a decision maker, be sure you have asked yourself, 'What is their formula? ~ Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, your Author's Advocate. www.acappela.com)



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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: Magdalena Ball and I found all kinds of resources for promoting a Kindle free book campaign. One of them—FreeBooksy.com - - chose our Cherished Pulse as a featured book of the day! http://www.freebooksy.com/freebooks/2013/1/11/three - contemporary - fiction - ebooks - for - free - for - kindle.html Keep the list of these sites as a resource for when you do your Kindle campaign!

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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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Shared Tip: While we usually don’t include datelines in email pitches, it is important to tell the media where you live. Producers want to know if you are close to satellite radio or TV stations and can do guest appearances. If your town’s name is not well known, list what major cities it is near. ~ Tip submitted by Patrika Vaughn, your Author's Advocate www.acappela.com)

==============================================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 ============================================

Tip: I thought you’d like listening to the podcast from my Blog Talk Radio appearance with Debra Eckerling’s Write On Online program. http://writeononline.com/2013/01/14/january - meeting - 2/


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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 hourly consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
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Tip: My Yoga instructor doesn’t make new year resolutions. She chooses a word that she wants to inform the year ahead. That seems like an especially good idea for those of us who work with words. I think the universe hears a single heartfelt word and reverberates to its sound much better than something longish like "I want to complete my novel."


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I need editing questions and tips for my The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned - In Editor blog, www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com. Articles, too! You ask and I'll provide ample credits and links to whatever site you choose. HoJoNews@aol.com. =============================================


Fiction Writer's Tip: I'm reading a brand new book on writing fiction. The Fiction Writer's Handbook by Shelly Lowenkopf is published by White Whiskers Books. I believe strongly in reading a book like this after you've completed the first draft of a novel. Even if you think the dozen classes and sixteen books you've read in the past are enough. There's something about a new voice, a new inspiration when your own novel is in its formative stage. I promise you, you'll be glad you read it.


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You'll find a myriad of writer helps at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. It includes a list of small presses of various kinds that I am familiar with. =============================================


Thank Yous

These are, indeed, thank yous but it occurs to me that many Sharing with Writers readers are not using them as resources. Often the blogs, newsletters, Web sites, and other entities mentioned are perfect vehicles for exposing your books to new readers. It is up to you to click or copy and paste to see which might be suitable—and for inspiration on how to make what you do a match for them.


Thanks to Linda Carlson… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…of Independent Book Publishers of America (IBPA) for including my idea for promoting backlists (jargon for books published more than four to six months ago) on Pinterest. She used my Pinterest promotion idea: I tell my readers that if they like my book—any of my books—to pin the covers to Pinterest and I'll pin theirs in return on my "Books by Friends" bulletin board. If I know the book and know it will be useful to my audience, I may even pin it to my "Recommended Books" board or one of my specialty boards specifically for writers. BTW, if you're a member of IBPA, Lisa may be able to use your promotion ideas, too. She sends out requests for ideas that fit with the article she is writing for any given issue.

Thanks to Terri Rizvi of Erma Bombeck Fame…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…founder of the Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop at the University of Dayton for including on their blog (humorwriters.org) the news of the Kindle F r ~ ~ cross promotion I am doing with my husband (What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z and my little fast and smart booklet on writing great book proposals). This workshop/conference is a favorite of mine. They have community and industry support and both presenters and attendees always walk away knowing a whole lot more and feeling great about their potential. The page Terri did for me is at http://humorwriters.org/2013/01/02/double - freebie - 2/

Thanks to Huntington Sharp at Red Room…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for posting a media release for me—one that I forgot to post there for myself! Pretty hard to beat that kind of service! http://redroom.com/member/carolyn - howard - johnson/press/husbandwife - team - up - for - kindle - select - promotion I’m suggesting you look into getting an account there!


Thanks to the Pen Muse…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for constant support of fellow writers.
http://thepenmuse.net/?p=6111 I'm thinking you should stay in contact for possible exposure when you need publicity or return the favor.


Thanks to Shirley Roe of AllBooksReview…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for including news of the promotion of my fr ~ ~bie days for The Great First Impression Book Proposal in the events column in the left column of this page:
http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/AllbooksBookstore.html

Thanks to Dan Poynter…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for running a piece about my New Book Review in his newsletter. You can see it here and get lots more tips.
http://parapub.com/files/newsletter/PP - EZINE%20JANUARY%2015,%202013.pdf In fact, I strongly suggest you subscribe. I love Barbara McNichols regular column on those pesky homonyms that drive us all crazy.


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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 marketing classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Opportunities


Tips on Marketing for Floridians
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Valerie Allen is presenting a workshop for writers on February 2, 2013 from 10 AM to 12 PM, at the West Melbourne Library in FL. This is sponsored by the Space Coast Writers' Guild. The fee is $12.00. Space is limited so please pre - register to save your place.
Attached is the registration form with more details.
You can also find the registration form on my web page: www.ValerieAllenWriter.com


==============================================Are you an ampersand fan? Chaz DeSimone designs a f r ~ ~ series of art prints & posters featuring “the ampersand as fun & fabulous art.” A new edition is released each month. Each is entirely different, creatively & professionally designed, & each is associated with the ampersand & by extension, our love of writing. They come with directions for printing, framing & making this into a f r ~ ~bie that lasts. To subscribe & see images go to: http://amperart.com
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In The News: I am always suggesting that people mark up their books. When you make notes in the margins, your book becomes a much better resource than when you turn corners down. I once did this to a paperback biography of Michelangelo when when I was staying in Florence for an extended period of time; I eventually gave that book to my grandson who was big on literature! Usually teachers discourage marking books because it seems destructive. I think it's just the opposite. It makes a book your own. My new year's resolution is to mark up more of my books and it turns out that Antoine Wilson, author of Panorama City, plans on doing the same thing in 2013. He says, "For years I've been folding down page corners as a means of noting remarkable passages, but when I go back to these, they're baffling." He resolves to do more scribbling in books, too!


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Aggie Villaneuva is a resource you need to know. So, go to my article on how to format your book for Kindle in just a few easy steps and while you're there, poke around for Aggie’s assortment of marketing aids including her app service. http://www.promotionalacarteblog.com/2012/02/kindle - formatting - made - easy - by - carolyn - howard - johnson/
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Opportunities

Publicist Sponsors Reading Events in LA…
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Book'd in Burbank is a bookish social gathering that treats book lovers to an evening of author readings and literary entertainment. sponsored by Liz D; it's not a pay service. There is no fee required of authors who are invited to participate. (However, an author could hire Liz D to simply coordinate a book reading/signing and/or book launch event for his or novel.)

Liz’s events may include several authors who will do short reads, a stand - up literary comedy, books giveaway, raffle, dessert & mingling reception, and children's book drive to benefit Reading Partners.
Liz is now vetting authors for April's Book'd in Burbank event. Published and self - published fiction authors from Los Angeles and surrounding areas who are interested in reading an eight - minute excerpt from their novel or novella (published between 2012 - 2013) at the next Book'd event should email me at liz@lizdpublicity.com. Participating authors must have an author/book website and/or blog. It's preferred that they actively engage in social media and have a Goodreads author page.

Liz Donatelli
Liz D Publicity & Promotions
www.lizd.co
310 - 433 - 2581


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The Publishing Insiders (Paula Krapf and Penny Sansevieri) and I talk about book promotion on their BookTalkRadio program. I know you’ll pick up some new tips or encouragement. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/05/29/no - money - out - of - pocket - shooting - your - book - to - stardom
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Art Journaling – A Beautiful Way to Write
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A copy of an art journal page kept
by author Crescent Dragonwagon
(Used with permission. If you can’t see this in your e - mail window, click on the link at the top of this newsletter to take you to the .pdf version.)

Writers are not always just writers. Some are writers and musicians, writers and engineers or writers and artists. They use their creative juices in more than one way.

One example of this that is the work of Crescent Dragonwagon. Crescent writes fine cookbooks and children’s books. She is dedicated to putting something on paper every day. Much of her daily writing is done in a spiral notebook where she writes her to - do lists, ideas for stories and elaborate doodles. She loves the world of Zentangles.
According to their Web site, “Zentangle is an easy - to - learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.” It’s a way to meditate on paper. You start with a basic design and then build on it.

Crescent stated in a Facebook post, “Though not remotely consistent with it, I occasionally get on what could loosely be called therapeutic art - making binges.” So she sometimes uses Zentangles as well as her own collage approaches in her art journaling to get through frustration situations. And that’s the key. Art journaling can help you get past road blocks in your work.

If you are interested in making your own books, there are many sites online that show you how to build them. You can also go to a dollar store and get a spiral notebook, some colored pencils and several good gel pens and start writing on the lines and placing artwork in your margins. Before long, your art and writing will mingle in many happy directions. Keep these jewels that you have produced and see how far you have progressed over time.

If you’ve never tried this, please do. It’s a great way to expand you creativity.
LINKS

Crescent Dragonwagon
http://dragonwagon.com/


Zentangles
http://www.zentangle.com/


Art Journaling 101
http://daisyyellow.squarespace.com/abstract/art - journaling - 101.html


Create Mixed Media
http://www.createmixedmedia.com/make/journaling


Pinterest: Art Journaling Ideas
http://pinterest.com/missmelissaf/art - journaling - ideas/


Zentangle: Auraknot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdKlc6gXmI


How to Write Creatively in you Art Journal
(good information and you don’t have to get the book)
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/clothpaperscissorstoday/archive/2011/06/13/how - to - write - creatively - in - your - art - journal.aspx


Art - Nature - Writing in Journals
http://pinterest.com/artmawmaw/art - nature - writing - in - journals/

=

Mindy Phillips Lawrence is a Missouri - based writer and artist who has published two books of poetry, co - authored The Complete Writer and is working on several new projects in 2013. You can reach her at www.mplcreative.webs.com or at mplcreative1 at aol dot com.

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I believe in social networks. Big and small. Sometimes the smaller ones are easier to make lasting and more productive contacts on. I recommend iFOGO (http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html) which is small in part because there is a small membership fee. And, of course, my usual. No membership is good unless it's an active membership.
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Tip: A Web site that happily promotes your book fr ~ ~ (along with some other services is Book Goodies.com. They did a great job helping out with the KDP Select promotion I ran: http://bookgoodies.com/the - great - first - impression - book - proposal - by - carolyn - howard - johnson - 2/

Tip: Publicize your Kindle Select F ~ ~ e - book promotion at
Awesomegang. (http://awesomegang.com/submit - your - book/) . Authors share tips and ideas on their Facebook group (http://awesomegang.com/submit - your - book/), too.


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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 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 I will be speaking on several panels at the Book ‘Em Book Fair in North Carolina Feb. 23, 2013. Go to http://www.bookemnc.org/. Panel #1: Getting Published: What Do Publishers Want? 10:00 am in the Lewis Auditorium at Robeson Community College with Jason Huddle, publisher Comfort Publishing, Andrew Rickis, Terrie Wolfe, AKA Literary, and Barbara Casey, Barbara Casey Literary.
Panel #2: Book Promotion: The Name of the Game
2:00 pm in the Blue Room at Robeson Community College with Susan Sloate and Linda Morelli, authors.
Panel #3. Publishing Superpower: The Team 12:00 noon in the Lewis Auditorium at Robeson Community College with Kristi Huddle, publisher, Susan Sloate and Chris Roerden, authors; Terrie Wolf, and Barbara Casey, agents.

And they're all free.

It is headed by mystery writer p.m. terrell. The purpose of The Book 'Em Foundation and this event is to raise public awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. Proceeds from the Book 'Em North Carolina book fairs go directly to increasing literacy in Robeson County, North Carolina, and to reducing crime in the area.

Update!  Catholic Writers’ Conference cancelled. (http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/)
New!  Carve out time for a panel on great book marketing on Sunday, June 23, from 3:30 to 4:45 at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel in Pasadena, CA. I'll speak on “Savvy Marketing for Fiction Writers: It’s Never Too Late—Or Too Early—to Promote Your Book” and I’ll also sign books. Of course the entire conference will be a winner for writers, too. They have some great keynote speakers! Hosts are CCWC members Patty Smiley and Dianne Emley. Learn more about the organization and the conference at http://www.ccwconference.org/ Here’s a link to the schedule. http://www.ccwconference.org/ccwcschedule.html

New!  Sandra Beck host of Military Mom Talk Radio (http://militarymomtalkradio.wordpress.com/) and I will talk a bit about military, frugality, and what it might lead to in life on Monday Feb. 4 at 2 pm. I may even share a little about my mild case of couponitis. Military Mom gets over 750,000 downloads annually and is rebroadcast on three different networks. The show airs Mondays 2 pm Pacific on http://Toginet.com/shows/militarymomtalkradio . You can also find broadcasts on iTunes under Military Mom Talk Radio. The show may be downloaded after the broadcast at http://militarymomtalkradio.wordpress.com/ and at http://iTunes.com under Miilitary Mom Talk Radio. Military Mom has been on the air for almost four years and has 130 full hour shows to choose from. To learn more go to http://sandrabeck.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.)


TOMORROW: One of the greatest labor saving devices of today.


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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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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://budurl.com/FrugalBkProKindle




The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
E - book: http://budurl.com/FrugalEditorKindle
Paperback: 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: http://budurl.com/bookproposalskindle

Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
Paperback: http://budurl.com/WordtrippersPB
E - book: http://budurl.com/WordtrippersKindle


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
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

Find Magdalena Ball's and my poetry fanpage at http://facebook.com/CelebrationSeriesPoetryChapbooks




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 e - books:

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball.
Paperback and Kindle: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For e - books:
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

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
To order as a paperback or for Kindle: http://bururl.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
Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
Coauthored with Magdalena Ball. Artwork by Vicki Thomas
USA Book News finalist, Silver Award from Military Writers’ Society of America
To order e - book: https://www.createspace.com/dr16064
To order paperback: http://budurl.com/BloomingRed
Part of the Celebration Series by Carolyn Howard - Johnson, this little $6.95 book was written with passion and love for those who understand all the ramifications of the holiday that dominates celebrations throughout most of the English - speaking world. It is a lovely tuck - in gift that goes beyond the typical greeting card and is available in quantity discounts to use as a holiday greeting by contacting the authors at HoJoNews@aol.com.

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.

Pinterest: Repin one of my book covers, I’ll pin yours to one of my boards. http://pinterest.com/chowardjohnson

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