October 30th, 2005 Sharing with Writers:
From the Desks
Of Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Friends
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Most recent issues of Sharing with Writers are posted at Fairgo E-Books in full color and with live links http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/fairgoebooks/literary.htm. You will find the *Best of Sharing with Writers* at Apollos Lyre (www.ApollosLyre.com). Sharing with Writers is the official newsletter of Authors* Coalition, an organization of writers who help writers.

Note: In order to cut down on computerese I do not use (or I substitute for) many punctuation marks. They seem to disagree with Yahoo and others. I hope it doesn*t drive you crazy.

I have discontinued the table of contents. If anyone finds this difficult, please let me know. I suspect, however, that it was more trouble than it was worth! (-: I also have had to go to this generic-looking newsletter by e-mail. If anyone wants to refer to the letter with live links and in living color, refer to the sites above but give each webmaster a few days to post them.
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Note from Carolyn:
Dear Authors* Coalition Members:

My favorite time of year is fall. As a college student I loved Indian summer. the feel of a campus warm in the sun, mustard colored elm leaves underfoot. Now I live where it is Indian summer most of October, November and December so I measure my most favorite time by the days I spend on a campus, either taking classes or teaching them.

On November 5 I will be teaching a one day seminar (see *Appearances* below). How I look forward to that! UCLA is Hollywood*s favorite campus--just beautiful. Even more than that, I have come to cherish my time sharing the love of writing and promotion with my students. *Sharing* is, I suppose, another word for teaching. How I*d love it if you could join me to learn more about building a package (or platform) that will help you sell your book (really yourself!) to agents, publishers or the public.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
http://carolynhowardjohnson.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising.
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Letter to Editor:

I have heard many times before that poetry books are difficult to sell, but did not know how much…
I have really learnt a lot from your book, and have found a lot of good ideas in Sharing with Writers, too.
Thanks for these.
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Ilona Hegedus, Hungarian author of genre poetry, http://www.lulu.com/ilonah and http://ilonahegedus.topcities.com/Unearthly%20Companion.html


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GREAT HOLIDAY AUTHOR*S GIFT

Two award-winning marketing books that complement one another make perfect holiday gifts for anyone who writes. Start your Christmas shopping early and save.

This special event ends Dec. 15. For guaranteed Christmas delivery, please order before then.

BOOK MARKETING FROM A-Z (Infinity Publishing 2005) by Francine Silverman retails regularly $18.95
*The book would be a perfect gift for writer friends..*
Barbara Scott, book reviewer

THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER (Star Publish 2004) by Carolyn Howard-Johnson retails regularly at $17.95
*THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER is truly a remarkable gift to authors and for authors!*
Marilyn Peake, author and reviewer

Buy both books for only $25 at: http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com/holiday.htm
This low price includes free shipping to any place in the continental USA.
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Tip: Christopher Meeks, one of my former students at UCLA and an instructor there himself, sent information on the Independent Publisher Book Awards, thinking it would work for my book of poems. (It doesn*t because Tracings is published traditionally but I thought it might be useful to many SWW subscribers who are new at this game.). Here*s the website: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipaward.lasso
and here are the contest details:
http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/v4/IPPY2006EntryGdlines1.pdf. Chris is the author of The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea, http://www.lulu.com/white-whisker
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Opportunities:
The sixth annual DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music and Books will be held February 5-12, 2006 at the Egyptian Theatre and Roosevelt Hotel, both located in the heart of Hollywood. Early-bird tickets to the event are now available online at http://r.pm0.net/s/c?31.e1p8.1.armp.a2. Entrants to the 2006 DIY Film Festival and 2006 DIY Music Festival will receive free admission to the 2006 DIY Convention.

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One of the students from my last class at UCLA, Dennis Danziger, thought many of you with interest in acting, speaking or theater might benefit from this Website announcement for learning a new way to broaden your writing skills: http://www.frompagetostage.com/

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Long Story Short School of Writing still has some classes available. including these and several more!
The Nitty Gritty of Grammar and Great Writing with Francis X. Curry, http://www.LssWritingSchool.com/TheNittyGrittyofGoodGrammarandGreatWriting.html,

Creating Unforgettable Characters with Virginia McMorrow,. http://www.LssWritingSchool.com/CreatingUnforgettableCharacters.html

Writing the Nonfiction Book Proposal with Jean Lauzier. http://www.LssWritingSchool.com/writingthenonfictionbookproposal.html

Novel Building with T.C.McMullen. http://www.LssWritingSchool.com/novelbuilding.html

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Here*s a chance to listen to QueenPower.com and Authors* Coalition*s last teleclass as a podcast f*r*e*e* at the Double Dragon site. We*re working on plans to be sure even those who can*t arrange to attend the teleclasses will be able to learn from them. Go to: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/podcasts.asp . Marilyn Peake and I hold forth on Radio: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Promoting Easy and Cheap!

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Your Copy of Tracings is delayed. It should be in the mail the first week in November. If you would like a book of poetry for a Thanksgiving hostess gift, Christmas gift or just feel like (gasp!) supporting poetry, e-mail me (HoJoNews@aol.com) for directions or go to http://finishinglinepress.com and click on *New Releases for 2005.*
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Tip: My husband Lance, the author of Everything Asians Need to Know About America A to Z (to be published in China in December in simplified Chinese) sent me the link to this site which I absolutely loved!
http://www.wildwritingwomen.com/zine/tips/writingtips/miller_linkstothewww.html. (This page is assembled by Cathleen Miller).

Tip: Avoid Writer*s Block with prompts at OnceWritten.com (www.oncewritten.com). They call themselves the source for new and emerging authors.
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Reciprocal Links:

The Reading Tub is a charity that promotes family and children*s literacy. They read every children*s book that is sent to them for a review. They are then donated to community organizations. Go to www.thereadingtub.com.

Walter Brasch*s America*s Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government*s Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights. ) is a look at the history and effects of the USA Patriot Act upon the erosion of our civil liberties and violations of at least five of the Bill of Rights. It has been endorsed by liberals and conservatives.

Star Publish offers near self-publish profits on your paperback; it is an alternative to unapproachable publishers. http://starpublish.com.

Do you dream of becoming a published writer? Or maybe you want to hone your skills? Writer to Writer features tips on writing, marketing, submitting, selling and more. Regular no-fee contests. www.writer2writer.com
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Kathe*s Kollection:
Tips You Can Use

Editor*s Note: Kathe will be contributing tips on a regular basis--many of them gleaned from her reading and conferences she attends:

Provide excerpts of your book on your website. You can use a traditional excerpt on a separate page, or get with the newer technology and use audio bits such as podcasting. Read an excellent article on podcasting by Joyce Faulkner at: http://tri-studio.com/PodcastingJoyceFaulkner.html

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Kathe Gogolewski, http://www.tri-studio.com/. Blog: http://www.anndurand.blogsforauthors.com/summary.php
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Deadline Extended Until Tomorrow:
Last Call to Jump Start Your Own Promotion Campaign with a WIN! The benefits of winning this contest will last and last and prize will help other authors realize their dreams!

Contest Title: Reach for the Stars: A Contest for the Best Frugal Promoter of 2005
Organization/Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Star Publish

Contest link: http://starpublish.com/Contest.htm

Deadline: October 31

Entries: It*s easy! Tell us about a special approach you have used to promote or give us an outline of your entire campaign. You can do it in 500 words or less--way less.

Prize: Star Publish will publish the winners* entries in an e-book designed to help other writers hone their public relations skills and encourage those who are not promoting to better realize their publishing goals. As a service, the e-booklet will be given to any writer who would like a copy. Six winners will be chosen. The grand prize winner will also receive $50. Copies of, Successful Website Marketing, Book Marketing from A-Z, The Complete Writer and The Frugal Book Promoter will also be given.

Judges: The contest judges will be Kristie Leigh Maguire, publisher of Star Publish, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author, and Irwin Zucker, founder of Book Publicists of Southern California and President of Promotion in Motion

Brief Guidelines: A writer need not be published to enter. Writers may submit campaigns or ideas intended to build a package to present to agents and publishers before their work is published, or promotion plans used to promote a given work or body of work after it is in print. How a writer uses a promotion campaign will be considered in selecting the winning entry as well as the actual promotion process. Originality and thoroughness will also be considered. Complete guidelines and entry information are available at: http://starpublish.com/.

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Don*t forget! Everyone can learn how to make yawn-provoking book fairs into blockbuster tools for exposure by following our Authors* Coalition booth model. Follow our plans and progress in my blog at http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson.
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Carolyn*s Appearances:

 There is Still Time to Register! Come to LA for a weekend! My class, Creating a Promotion Package for Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book, Saturday, Nov. 5th, at UCLA. A one-day class, it is affordable in terms of time and tuition. Contact Marcus Hennessey at writers@uclaextension.edu or (310) 825-9415.

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 A Utah Writer*s conference: Association of Mormon Letters (http://www.aml-online.org/awards/a/A200409.html presents
Life of Words; Words of Life on Saturday, November 19th at Westminster College Gore Auditorium. I will speak on Savvy Marketing for Authors: It*s never too early--or late--to learn promotion skills! Dean Hughes is the keynote. To register online go to http://www.aml-online.org/events/aml2005wcprereg.html.
For answers to any questions, email aml@aml-online.org.

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 Teleclass: Multiply your book marketing efforts! Publishing myths can side rail the success of your book. This teleclass, powered by http://queenpower.com/ in collaboration with Authors* Coalition http://authorscoaltionandredenginepress.com/ will help you avoid that.
TOPIC: The Greatest Myth of Publishing: Your book is written, now you can let the publisher promote it. Publishing your first book? Or trying to do better with your second than you did your first? Know that what YOU know about promotion can make or break it. What YOU know about promotion can make a so-so publicist great. And what YOU know about promotion may be more than what your publisher knows. Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Marilyn Peake, will share everything that they had to RE-learn after their books were published!
GUEST SPEAKERS: The Queen of Frugal Promotions, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, and Marilyn Peake, author of The Fisherman*s Son Trilogy.
DATE: November 17:
TIME: 4 PM ET, 3 PM CT, 2 PM MT, 1 PM Pacific.
HOW TO: It*s easy! Just call: 641-297-7200. Then punch in the access code: 345277. Advance registration accepted but not required. E-mail maggie@queenpower.com. Please note, you will be charged a long distance call. For some, that means you*ll not be charged at all; and for others, it may mean 3 to 6 cents a minute.
And the news gets even better - we*re going to start taping our classes for you to enjoy at your leisure and without concern for long distance charges. Watch for the links to access them.
 Palm Springs Lovers unite! Circle Saturday December 3rd on your calendar for The Desert Woman*s annual authors* luncheon. I will be sharing my chapbook of poetry Tracings, and, of course, Frugal. One feeds the soul of writers, the other feeds their careers. The fifth annual mini-book fair and holiday luncheon begins at 11:30 at the Palm Valley Country Club,39205 Palm Valley Drive, Palm Desert, (Off Country Club Drive between Cook & Washington). It will be moderated by Kate Porter. Judy Lunn will sing. Make reservations with Cheryl McFadden at (760) 327-3983 or go to http://www.desertwoman.com/clubs.html
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 I will be conducting a workshop on Jump-start Your Credibility and Salability: Publish a Book at the American Board of Hypnotherapy*s 2006 Convention: Newport Beach, CA, Radisson, Feb. 21, 2006, 3:30 pm. I will also be presenting a seminar on writing a book to establish credibility in the professional world on Sunday, Feb. 19th at 9 am. Visit their site at: www.hypnosis.com.
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 Sold Out!! Dayton University*s Erma Bombeck Writers* Workshop, March 23-25, 2006. Plan to sign up early for 2007!!! http://www.humorwriters.org/
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 Carolyn will present at the Las Vegas Writer*s Conference, Henderson, NV. March 30 to April 2, 2006. It is slated for Sam*s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, 5111 Boulder Highway, LV, NV. To learn more go to www.LasVegasWritersConference.com or contact Gregory Kompes, conference coordinator, at Gregory@kompes.com for more information.

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Reciprocal Links: Many subscribers are in a position to cross-promote. Let me know if you would like to trade some recommendation or promotion for a permanent spot (or as my list grows, semi-permanent) spot in this newsletter. I use only links that benefit writers.
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Editor*s Tip:
Slough (Noun) is a word that is often misused and/or mispronounced. In the US we should pronounce it *sloo.* It means a swampy or marshy place.
To be completely confusing, this word is also a verb and when it is, it*s pronounced *sluff.* Then it means to shed skin is often used to mean to shed other things as well. As a noun this form of the word means deep despair. And in Utah they use the word to mean cut classes or school. *We sluffed, * sounds naughty and it is but only if you*re a fourth grader and would rather go fishing.
So, why do you need to know this? Because both words can be useful and because, chances are, your editor may not know the difference.
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More Reciprocal Links:

Gather at QueenPower.com where women promote, support and encourage women. Don*t wait till you*re ready, have more time, or are a little older. Start living your best life now! http://www.queenpower.com/

Sun Signs for Writers: Learn how astrology can benefit (and entertain!) writers with a new Writers* Digest book: http://www.writersigns.info

Judith Woolcock Colombo: Author of The Fablesinger and Night Crimes: Learn more at: http://odin.prohosting.com/~night01

 Discover love, laughter, romance, and eccentric, meddling neighbors among other things... Discover a novel by Cynthianna Appel and receive your choice of another e-book at no cost. Go to http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/promo.html today!

Read Joyce Faulkner*s Celebrity Cafe.com column to learn about anything from aging feet to her favorite books on writing: http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/Columnists/The_Weekly_Shriek/

Fr** Publicity Resource: Let this site send your media release to book trade professionals including Associated Press, Reuters, Dow Jones, and more! http://press.heliographica.com/

Milli Thornton, created a clinic to help promote her book, Fear of Writing. She is also the author of an e-book called Become a Workshop Presenter. Learn more at: http://www.fearofwriting.com/
Has writing lost some of its spontaneity? Find a fun remedy in the online writing course at Fear of Writing: http://www.fearofwriting.com/course

Discover a true-life philosophy about making marriages last a lifetime in Choose Love For Life, by Joe and Edwina Roady (http://www.chooseloveforlife.com/.)

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Please forward Sharing with Writers to other writers. Unlike many others, I do not mind if you send only part of it. I do ask that you paste the subscribe information I have provided at the end of this newsletter and credit individual contributors as well.
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Authors* Coalition Thank You To Mary Emma Allen (http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea and www.aboutweblogs.com/quilting) for mentioning Frugal and The Authors Coalition in an article she wrote for The Dabbling Mum site called *Marketing Your Books Beyond the Bookstore*. To see the article go to: http://thedabblingmum.com/writing/bookwriting/beyondbookstore.htm. Find Authors' Coalition at: http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.

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Carolyn*s The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won*t is USA Book News* Best Professional Book 2004. Ordering information is at the end of this newsletter. Her This is the Place and Harkening are both multiple award winners. Learn more about her work and download her fr** promotional e-books at http://carolynhowardjohnson.com.
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Reciprocal Links You Can Use:

The Complete Writer offers advice on writing, editing, proofreading, publishing and design. Published by Red Engine Press, it offers writing services. A traditional press, it publishes fiction, nonfiction and children*s titles. http://www.redenginepress.com/
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 Dr. Bob Rich is a freelance editor. He finds the good things in your book and makes suggestions for improving it. His clients include independent publishers, and a long list of writers. Find him at http://bobswriting.com/editing.html

The Compulsive Reader reviews books by some of the hottest writers working today. Find author interviews, literary news, criticism, a free e-zine, giveaways, and more. http://www.compulsivereader.com/html.

Do bookstores owe you money? Michelle Dunn*s books How to Make Money Collecting Money: Starting a Collection Agency and Become the Squeaky Wheel, A Credit and Collections Guide for Everyone will help you get your checks in full and on time. http://www.michelledunn.com/

Erica Miner, queenpower.com*s Queen of Journaling, has a monthly e-mail newsletter that rocks. News and tips for writers, with an emphasis on journaling will enrich your writing. Subscribe at: http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter.php

A Cappela Publishing*s very successful audiobook, How to Write Your Own Life Story (or Your Family*s Saga) is now also available as a CD set. The American Library Association*s Booklist highly recommends it, for both professionals and those who have never before written anything beyond a letter. It takes you step by step through the process, even discussing your publishing options and which is best for you. A great gift for that reluctant parent or favorite aunt or uncle. www.acappela.com

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Author News:

 Myrna Lou, author of May I See your Hand (http://www.myrnaloupalmistry.com/ and http://soulmateconnections.blogspot.com/), entered a KHOW Radio (a Clear Channel station) search for a new radio show host. She entered with a tape of the show she did for Whole Life Pages Directory in July. 500 applicants tried out; it is now narrowed it down to the top 10. She will be joining Peter Boyles on air for the finals, the winner will be announced the next day, and that person does a remote on Nov. 11 and 12 from the Convention Center in Denver and gets a show of her own.

Chris Meeks*s published short stories are released in one volume under the title The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea. *In this collection, Christopher Meeks examines the small heartbreaks of quiet despair that are so much a part of all our lives. He does it in language that is resonant, poetic, and precise.... If you like Raymond Carver, you*ll love Meeks. He may be as good--or better.* This book published by White Whisker Books may be purchased at: www.lulu.com/white-whisker.
Meeks* agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Godrich Literary Management, NY: (212) 627-9100.
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Featured Article:

Editor*s Note: I asked Kristin Johnson (no relation) to tell you how writing a seasonal book can help your promotion efforts and your writing career because they keep on giving, year after year.

Seasonal books are easy to sell, and sometimes your promotional efforts pay off a year later. For example, Early American Life Magazine, the source for information on early American style, decorating, and traditions, schedules its issues up to a year in advance. Last year I sent them a release about Christmas Cookies are for Giving, my Christmas storybook with recipes. Their December issue was all set to roll out that year, but Jeanmarie Andrews, the editor, said that they would be interested in 2005. Sure enough, I received a query this year from Ms.Andrews about excerpting the book to showcase Early American-style cookie recipes, and voila: http://www.ealonline.com/editorial/index.htm?PHPSESSID=8cdd7053cc39a808ee0434d50e01fe4f

I*m selling the book again, too. This year I*ll be at the National League of American Pen Women-Palm
Springs *Show and Sell* benefit, and at the USC Alumni Club of the Desert December mixer (I*m a University of Southern California grad--fight on for old *SC!)

This book is not only a great gift but a great promotional tool. I have continued to promote it online in articles that point people to the official site, www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, for three Christmases now.
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This inspirational cookbook is a collaborative effort with Mimi Cummins. The Midwest Review said it *is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any family-friendly cookbook collection.*

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To receive a copy prologue of the award-winning This is the Place in your e-mail box F#R#E, send an e-mail to. If for no other reason, do it so you can see how well a no-cost autoresponder can work for your promotion campaign.

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Essential Book and Record Keeping
This letter is an occasional and informal way for me to share with my writing and publishing friends and for them to share with each other. Please send me your tips and news and I will try to pass them on for the benefit of others. If you do not care to receive this letter, just let me know but please, please don*t tell me you*ve given up writing or promoting!


To submit information for consideration, e-mail me at HoJoNews@aol.com. Include *Submission* in the subject line.

You are encouraged to pass this newsletter on to friends or e-groups who may have an interest. It needn*t be pasted in its complete form, but please include this credit of anything you snip and paste:

To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: HoJoNews@aol.com. It is edited and distributed sporadically by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, http://carolynhowardjohnson.com, author of THIS IS THE PLACE, HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED and THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON*T and is an entity of Authors* Coalition, http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.

Ordering Information for The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won*t:
Order FRUGAL in e-book form for only $9. at: http://starpublish.com/starbooks.htm
Paperback copies may be ordered at Amazon where it is discounted: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-0672916-9668863 This is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered may also be ordered there.
And at Barnes and Noble by clicking on this link: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=the+frugal+book+promoter&userid=Rt39vFn9pM&sourceid=00393694016245851818&bfdate=12%2D30%2D2004+19%3A13%3A56&cds2Pid=946 This is the Place and Harkening are also available there and if you order more than $25. in product, you get free shipping, no tax.

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, may be ordered at http://finishinglinepress.com.