December 15, 2005 Sharing with Writers:
From the Desks
Of Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Authors* Coalition Friends

Most recent issues of Sharing with Writers are posted with live links at Fairgo E-Books: 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.


Note from Carolyn:
Dear Authors* Coalition Members and Subscibers:

The holidays are here but spring is not far away and spring -- for authors -- is the book fair season. Authors* Coalition is busy planning for its biggest appearance (The LA Times Festival of Books) and you should be, too.

First of all, though the positions for the booth itself were filled less than eight weeks after I put out a call early this year, it is not too late for your book to be featured in our catalog that will be sent to 500 or more bookstore buyers (see how our cross- promotion on this works under this issue*s *opportunities* or read my ongoing blog about making book fairs about a whole lot more than sales by going to http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson. )

Second, our Authors* Coalition URL will appear in the festival*s brochures so it is a perfect place for your ad to be seen as fair-goers go there to see who we are, what we do and to make their fair plans. Those of you who are already Authors* Coalition members will receive a special price on ads and those who are not will find an easy an inexpensive way to run and ad and join up at the same time! Ads placed there will stay on the site until after the fair on April 28th and 29th and maybe longer. A real value.

Third: One of the AC Advisory Board members, Joyce Faulkner, has designed several fair packages of support materials. We wanted them to be an economical (yes, FRUGAL!) short-run promotion materials that can be targeted to a specific fair, region, or book. They are also designed as keepers. A calendar. Book mark. And more. All uniquely yours!

Yes, more to come! Go to http://authorscoaltionandredenginepress.com !)

Oh, and one last note: No newsletters until mid-January. I will be traveling.

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

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. At the suggestion of a subscriber who reads every issue of Sharing with Writers, you will find brand new material so noted with a pointing finger.
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Letters-to-the-Editor:
Editor*s Note: This is in response to a call last week for information on a distributor that handles Christian books: Let*s hear more from those of you with experience finding a distributor and those of you who have overcome the reluctance of bookstores to stock your book, however it was published.

Hi all!
The book I wrote is Christian-based, too. I am finding that bookstores don*t want to do book signings when they learn book is published on a Print on Demand press. I have to remind them that my publisher DOES take returns, but most PODS don*t and that is what they don*t like. I still get a lot of resistance. They tend to think the book to be inferior, when it fact most POD books are not!

Deanna K. Loftis, RN, BBA, author of Painless
Cancer Cures and Preventions Your Doctor May Not
Be Aware Of
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Last Minute Holiday Request for Cheer:

Editor*s note: This is from my daughter who is a member of this list only so she can see what my friends and I are doing and to keep in touch with writing outside of academia so it is off topic. Nevertheless, I know many of you will help.

Hello All:
As some of you know, my son Travis was recently sent to Iraq. From what I hear getting mail is a BIG deal--especially around the holidays. I would love for his mail bag to be flooded; he is trying to acclimate to his new surroundings during this season. If you could see your way to sending a card or brief note I would be grateful. He would find it interesting to know how you know me, Carolyn, our family etc. Thanks to all who consider this and have a wonderful holiday season! His address is:
EC4 Travis Lamoureaux
HHC 1-68 AR BN
Unit # 51505
APO AE 09336-1505

Warmly,
Erika Lamoureaux
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Patrika*s Tip

According to Marcela Smith, Small Press Business Manger at Barnes & Noble, it is the author*s duty to promote, publicize, and advertise a book. The expense can be considerable, but if the author doesn*t do it, it won*t get done and books will be returned. Big publishers are unlikely to expend much promoting a first-time authors book. They expect to make a profit from only three of ten books they publish, so the marketing money is usually focused on books by authors with a proven sales record.
You can avoid some of these expenses if you present your book on your own website with incentives such as free shipping and/or autographed copies. You can boost sales by offering some free books when you do a presentation. Just increase your speaking fee enough to cover the cost of the books. You might even ask the meeting planner to give them as door prizes. Several people walking around with a copy of your book at the event will be great marketing for you and will excite those who didn*t get a free copy to buy one.
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For more advice on selling your book, see Patrika*s Write Publish & Market Your Book or her online classes about Book Promotion (both available at www.acappela.com). At that site you can also subscribe to her fr** newsletter for writers.
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Opportunities:

Opportunity for Reviews:
New Mexico author, Connie Gotsch, has agreed to review books once a month for Apollo*s Lyre, an award-winning E-zine http://www.apollos-lyre.com/. Gotsch will accept books by authors from the Southwestern United States, or from authors who have written about the area. Gotsch is the author of A Mouth Full of Shell and the e-novel, Snap Me a Future. Learn more about them at www.authorsden.com/conniegotsch. Request reviews at cgotsch@sisna.com .
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Opportunity to Write Columns, Reviews:
Www.Myshelf.com. is looking for columnists. Contact the editor, Brenda Weeaks at br_we@sbcglobal.net. if you are interested in any of these positions. This is the site where my *Back to Literature* column appears and, each January, my *Noble (not Nobel) Prizes for Literature* are introduced. I*ve included the URLs so you can see what has been done in the past
Wanted:
Review Editor,
http://www.myshelf.com/aboutus/want_editor.htm, Romance Columnist,
http://www.myshelf.com/aboutus/want_columnist.htm,
Reviewers,
http://www.myshelf.com/aboutus/want_reviewers.htm
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Opportunity to Learn from a Sample Audio Class Fr**:
Carolyn and Friends are at it again! Our teleclasses are now under contract with Double Dragon Press. There is a free sample at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?ISBN=DDP00000001QP. Think of it this way: a good promotion or writing seminar would cost way more than an MP3 or CDRom. Or consider this! What a great gift these would be for a fellow writer. Go to http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/audio.asp. and Watch for more subjects on craft, tech and promotion in 2006.
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Opportunity to Receive The Joys of Journaling: A Dialogue FR@e:
Offered by Queenpower.com, check this little e-pamphlet out at http://www.queenpower.com/newsletter/Queen-zine0512.html . The new editor of Queenpower, Barbara Bellissimo, did a great job on the graphics of this e-offering and many of you, I know, will want to understand how journaling can lead to a full-blown novel or more! Erica Miner and I tell all! (-:
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Opportunity to Let Your Book Be Seen by More than 500 Bookstores!
Authors* Coalition is offering our members (that*s YOU!) a chance to be included in the value-added book catalog that will be sent out as part of our effort to bring attention to authors through our LA Times Festival of Books booth. Positions for participation in the booth are sold out, but a limited number of spots in the catalog are available. If you choose to be part of this, your book will be listed with a short blurb, ISBN, Web address and book cover--in color. Each participant will give us 25 names of book stores in their area and then contact each of the store buyers about a week before we send out the catalog to tell them to watch for the catalog and talk it up as a full color booklet featuring top Authors* Coalition members* books.

This approach utilizes both cross-promotion and the benefits of personal contact. It also targets important book people--the BUYERS at bookstores! Once delivered it gives each participant another opportunity to contact the book buyer to ask if they received the catalog and give the buyer a slightly different pitch on their book than the one they used before. If you*re interested, contact me. And yes, bookstores (ones that are personally known by our participants) all over the nation will be included. If we have extras, our catalog will also be sent to some media.

The cost for a 1/2 page ad in this book is $75. payable to me by check (I*ll provide you the address if you e-mail me at HoJoNews@aol.com ) or through Paypal on the Authors* Coalition site (http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.) Deadline for a decision is December 24th, before we send out a call to authors everywhere. Deadline for the list of bookstores in your local is Jan. 15th. See the last entry of our blog on fair doings for more information on this. (http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson).

PS: Those already participating in our booth may disregard this notice or e-mail me with questions or go to the blog for details.
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Opportunity to Help Literacy:
Cynthia Brian, www.bethestaryouare.org, wanted to let you know about the all-volunteer charity, Be the Star You Are! a 501 c-3 dedicated to empowering women, families, and youth at risk through improved literacy and positive media. Be the Star You Are! accepts donations of books, CD*s, DVD*s, and tapes which will be re-distributed free of charge to groups in need of hope and inspiration. Currently, Be the Star You Are! is serving the Gulf Coast survivors with Operation Hurricane Relief and we need more books geared for ages 1-21. All donors receive a tax deductible receipt for the retail value of the resources sent. We are also in need of dollars for shipping. Visit www.bethestaryouare.org for more information. Books may be shipped to
Be the Star You Are!
1660 School St. #101D,
Moraga, Ca. 94556.
Please email cynthia@bethestaryouare.org before shipping any materials. Our teen volunteers also review children*s books which can be read at The Reading Tub, www.thereadingtub.org , a partner charity.
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Question about Selling POD Books to Bookstores:

Editor*s Note: Below are some questions sent to me by a subscriber (edited). I thought they might help some of you, especially newbies! BTW, these answers are based on my experience and are my opinion. I don*t presume to have the one and only *right* answer to all situations.

Question: When my first book was published, to get it into bookstores in my area. They absolutely, positively will not take POD books.

Answer: Things have changed a tad. Even B&N branches will occasionally take a POD book--especially one from a local author-- if that author has put it through their acceptance process. All books, including POD books, must be on a computer list before they can order or stock them and they get there through the efforts of their publisher, either large or small. If your publisher is failing you on this, do it yourself. Also, remember that after writing a few years you have a *package* to present. In other words you have published, have won awards, have a sales record. Present those things along with a pitch about how well you promote (i. e. how many people you think you can get to come buy your book) and you may find that arms open more readily later than sooner.

Question: Recently, several libraries both here and overseas, tried to order my POD books. Even though my books are officially listed with the distributors (more accurately called wholesalers) used by the libraries, the libraries have been unable to actually get my books from them. What do you think?

Answer: Library personnel may be offering this as an excuse--or not. I suspect this because most libraries are on very tight budgets, more so now than before. Further, it*s always been their practice to support authors but especially their local ones so they may be loathe to turn an author away and an excuse may feel expedient to them. My theory that this may be true is born out by the fact that most of the libraries in Utah, Nevada and Arizona ordered both of my books which were of interest to a high percentage of their residents and, though traditionally published, they were printed on a POD press. Or perhaps I am all wet and there was some kind of a glitch with your particular book. At any rate, if having your books in libraries is important to you, try, try again.

Question: Do you think wholesalers and distributors turn their backs on POD books because many don*t have a return policy?

Answer: That may have been true at one time when most POD published books weren*t returnable, but many POD publishers have a return policy now (JADA, the much maligned PUBLISH AMERICA and STAR PUBLISH among them). Many authors guarantee sales themselves. However, as a former retailer, I believe more of the perceived slights have to do with systems. In other words, bookstore and library purchasing departments prefer to use very few suppliers (or only one) to keep their bookwork to a minimum and unless you*ve written a very important or desirable book, they prefer not to or aren*t allowed to deviate from that procedure.

Question: I tried to order several copies of another author*s POD book from Amazon; but Amazon wouldn*t send me more than two copies. They claimed that no more than two copies of that book were available.

Answer: Really! I have a theory about that one. Perhaps they are being super cautious after a scandal from last year. A very big, traditionally published author ordered several thousand of his own books. Some believed that he was trying to skew the New York Times* Bestseller List with his purchases. Amazon may not want to be used in that way again. No retailer in his right mind turns away sales for that*s where their profit is. Which brings us to the subject of ethics. Let*s face it, we*ve certainly all heard stories of alternatively published authors who admit to being unscrupulous about ways to manipulate bookstores and markets. One can see that approach is to the detriment of all of us

Question: If you have success in getting bookstores to place orders for the Authors* Coalition books, and actually find that the bookstores begin stocking the books, I would like to know about it.

Comment: With the programs Authors* Coalition has in place this may happen or not. Much will depend on the authors* past branding efforts and their plans to follow up with personal contact and other promotion efforts. The best reason to use a promotional tool like the catalog is to provide authors with a professional looking entrée so they can bring their work to the attention of a bookstore buyer and better keep a dialogue with them open.

On a related subject, I want to repeat a point I make in The Frugal Book Promoter. Promotion shouldn*t be measured by the numbers of books sold. In fact, it is nearly impossible to do that. We should be branding our names, primarily--building our careers. Sales will fall into place as our names become recognized along with the quality of our work. In fact, many gimmicks designed to sell books (even ones that actually work) do little or nothing toward building our reputations. Reputation. That should be our main concern.
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Joke:
Sent to me by an unknown source (my apologies!) Set in a publisher*s office, the CEO says *As a cost-cutting measure for our fall list, we decided to bypass traditional bookstore sales, subsequent remaindering and go directly to the shredder.

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Tracings my chapbook of poetry, (www.finishinglinepress.com) is now available for immediate delivery. As behooves a book of poetry, Finishing Line Press designed it with fine lineny paper, sparkly end-sheets, and a satin ribbon book marker. Give it with a bottle of wine or a rose. Copy and paste http://www.members.aol.com/finishingbooks/index.html, for my publisher*s shopping page.
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Tip: This from Leora Skolkin-Smith, author of Edges: She thinks Author Buzz is an economical way to spread the book word. I think it may work well for someone who has a budget for promotion but not much time. Here*s the link: http://www.authorbuzz.com// It*s new service from MJ Rose.
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Reciprocal Links:

Read author interviews, market information, and more in WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com. To subscribe or to submit material for consideration, E-mail LGood67334@comcast.net . Put subscribe in the subject box.
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The Y&W newsletter sponsored by Red Engine Press bring authors, bookstores, publishers and reviewers together. Subscribers can write a short article of interest to this group and we*ll try to publish it. To subscribe send an email to nate@redenginepress.com with *Y&W Newsletter* in the subject line.
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The Shy Writer: An Introvert*s Guide to Writing Success - Author C. Hope Clark advises you how to *sell your words, not your soul* when you promote your work. Highly acclaimed and loved by many. http://www.theshywriter.com/
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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.
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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.
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Star Publish offers near self-publish profits on your paperback; it is an alternative to unapproachable publishers. http://starpublish.com.
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Do 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 the conferences she attends:

Too Many Authors Forget This Website Essential:
Don*t forget to install a media room on your website. In it, include: images of your book cover, images of you, sample reviews of your books, book excerpts, media releases or news archives, editorial resources on your topic, audio/video clips of media appearances if you have them, a bio, and your awards and publications lists.
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Kathe Gogolewski, http://www.tri-studio.com/. Blog: http://www.anndurand.blogsforauthors.com/summary.php

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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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Author News:

The Smart Couple*s Guide to the Wedding of Your Dreams: Planning Together for Less Stress and More Joy (New World Library) is now available. This book helps the bride and groom understand that how they treat each other (and their finances) during the wedding journey -- their engagement through their honeymoon. By Judith Sherven, PhD, and James Sniechowski, PhD, this book may be purchased at Amazon by pasting this URL http://www.tinyurl.com/c8sd8. Their Website is www.smartweddingcouples.com.

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

Access new audio classes regularly for your copy in MP3 or CDRom at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/audio.asp. Experienced authors will share their knowledge in 30 classes subjects from tech, to promotion to the craft of writing. 2006 is going to be a great learning year! Learn more about the instructors and find a list of the coming classes at http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskieAUDIOCLASSES.html or to our own Authors* Coalition site at http://authorscoalition.redenginepress.com/ddp_teleclasses.htm.
Listen to a free snatch of one of the audio classes at: http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskiAUDIOCLASSES.html
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Jump-start Your Credibility and Salability: Publish a Book: is the topic of a workshop I*ll be presenting at the American Board of Hypnotherapy*s 2006 Convention: Newport Beach, CA, Radisson, Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, 3:30 pm. I will also be presenting a seminar on marketing skills 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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Las Vegas Writer*s Conference, Henderson, NV. March 30 to April 2, 2006 is slated for Sam*s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, 5111 Boulder Highway, LV, NV. I will be presenting. To learn more go to www.LasVegasWritersConference.com or contact Gregory Kompes, conference coordinator, at Gregory@kompes.com.

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I use only links that benefit writers: 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.
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More Reciprocal Links:

Find support for authors--both emotional and material--at http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
Gather at QueenPower.com where women promote, support and encourage women. Start living your best life now! http://www.queenpower.com/
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Sun Signs for Writers: Learn how astrology can benefit (and entertain!) writers with a new Writers* Digest book: http://www.writersigns.info
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Judith Woolcock Colombo: Author of The Fablesinger and Night Crimes: Learn more at: http://odin.prohosting.com/~night01
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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!
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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/
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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/
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Has writing lost some of its spontaneity? Find fun writing remedies in Milli Thornton*s online writing course at: http://www.fearofwriting.com/creative-writing-course.htm
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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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The AA Independent Press Guide is a f***, database which details over 2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers. It is hosted on the website of writer and artist, Dee Rimbaud, at http://www.thunderburst.co.uk/

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Author-Friendly Bookstores:

Editor*s Note: This is a new feature: Please send your favorites to me and I will publish one or two per issue to help you build your bookstore list. Here are two from Milli Thornton, Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers. Her Website is: http://www.fearofwriting.com

BOOKS AND JAVA, 1642 FM 2673, #7, Canyon Lake, TX 78133; Toll-free: 877-964-6060; E-mail: sherry@booksandjava.com; Website: http://booksandjava.com/
Sherry and Michael Doyle are extremely supportive to authors, whether famous or unknown. They love Texas coffee table books, Texas legends and lore, Texas cookbooks and history . . . but Texas is not all they*re about. For instance, there*s a large section devoted to children*s books and home schooling. They also have a thriving Zshop at Amazon (*shar-esbooks*) and have sold regular store stock of my book through their Zshop with success.
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Thank Yous:

(Editor*s Note: The thank yous below are full of names and links you can use in a variety ways, from finding publishers for your work to finding sites suitable for promoting your writing and yourself

To Eliza Ferre, editor of KnowYourAuthor for including information about the winners of the Reach for the Stars contest sponsored by http://starpublish.com and The Frugal Book Promoter. Check out this accessible site at
http://knowyourauthors.net/Media%20Release/mediarelease08.txt and send your media releases to Eliza at will,
elizajane202@yahoo.com .
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To Bob Rich, editor of BobbinAround, for publishing information on the winners of the Reach for the Stars Promotion Contest and for telling his readers about Tracings. Read both here: http://mooramoora.org.au/bobrich/mudsmith//bobbing5-4.html
Let him know you*d like to read his newsletter and to submit book news to it, too! His e-mail is: bobrich@bobswriting.com.
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To Barbara Bellissimo, editor of QueenPower.com for publishing a piece on journaling that I did with Erica Miner. If you would like to read it, go to http://www.queenpower.com/documents/QPJoysofJournalingPDF.pdf. If you would like to subscribe to Barbara*s Crown Me Club and get this book along with others the URL is http://www.queenpower.com/jointheclub.html. By the way, this is an example of how to use an e-book to promote and also how to format an e-book so that it doesn*t look like an afterthought!

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Authors* Coalition is searching for new members. Please spread the word and let me know so I can include a thank you in this newsletter.
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Feature Article:

Editor*s Note: The saga continues from the trials and travails of newly published author, Christopher Meeks, author of The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea. This time he struggles with betting posted on Amazon and other online bookstores.

My book came *online* yesterday, with two small glitches--but it*s exciting nonetheless. I had written to Lulu Press to see if they could speed up things in any way, and I learned from them that by using addall.com or bookfinder4u.com, I could see which places had it online. Lo and behold, 15 places had it including barnesandnoble.com and most of Amazon*s international sites. Amazon*s U.S. site did not show up, and even minutes ago my book would not come up in browsing. I*m hoping within a day it*ll be there.

Odd: I just used addall.com, and it shows that Amazon.com has my book. When I clicked on *buy* in Addall.com , I was whisked to Amazon and my book showed up there. Still, it does not show up in browsing, even when I use the ISBN number for searching. I wonder who to call.... (Editor*s Note: Go to the box on Amazon*s home page and search around in the links in the *Make Money* box for a likely contact.)

The other small glitch is that Addall and a few other places are showing the wrong cover. I wrote to them all, and Barnes & Noble corrected it already. Maybe the other places will get it right soon.

To grease the system and see if my book comes out right, I bought my book at both bn.com and amazon.com just now. Once everything is working, I*ll write to everyone on my e-mail list that they can buy the books at hundreds of places, including ordering from bookstores.

I may be able to hit the tail end of Christmas shopping!

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Those of you who are Authors* Coalition members, please use the logo available to you. Just ask by sending an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com. New members will help AC serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
Tell them to visit our blog, too, where they*ll learn how to put a spark into generally insipid book fair participation by following the plans of others: http://redeneginepress.com/chjohnson .
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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, freelance editor, 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
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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.
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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/
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Erica Miner, queenpower.com*s Queen of Journaling, has a monthly e-mail newsletter that rocks with news, tips and an emphasis on journaling. Subscribe at: http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter.php
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A Cappela Publishing*s audio book, How to Write Your Own Life Story (or Your Family*s Saga) is also available as a CD set. It is recommended by the American Library Association*s Booklist. Go to www.acappela.com

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Please feel free to pass on this newsletter or portions of it to others but do include this credit: *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, as an entity of Authors* Coalition, http://authorscoaltionandredenginepress.com. * Please also credit the authors of columns and features.
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Author Success Stories

A Little Silliness Lands USAToday!

by Gregory A. Kompes

I*m promoting my recent release, 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live (www.FabCities.com), and I had a fun success right out of the gate.

50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live profiles 50, actually 51, gay-friendly places in America. To announce the book, I sent all the mayors of the profiled cities a letter of congratulation that included a sample, personalized press release, and -- here*s the silly part -- a Certificate of Achievement, like those little certificates we got in grade school for perfect attendance. I got award certificates at the local office supply store and printed them in color, including my book cover, on my home-office printer.

I know the certificates got my mailing noticed, because several city communication directors called for more information and made comments and little jokes about the colorful, silly certificates.

Many cities included my news in their newsletters and news briefs, and some even passed the sample press release on to their local papers and convention and visitors bureaus. This resulted in some great, early press, including a well-written piece in the Deseret Morning News (11/9/05), a Salt Lake City newspaper. That story got picked up by the Associated Press (11/9/05). The AP piece, was picked up by dozens of print and online media outlets, and landed me a column inch and a half in USAToday! (11/10/05)

This mailing took about 4 hours and cost approximately $100. Time and money quite well spent.
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Gregory A. Kompes
Writer/Speaker/Photographer
Gregory@Kompes.com
www.Kompes.com

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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.

To unsubscribe, e-mail me at HoJoNews@aol.com and include *Unsubscribe* in the subject line.

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.

You are encouraged to pass this newsletter on to friends or e-groups. It needn*t be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter and Authors* Coalition the individual contributors with anything you snip and paste.

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 and at stores like UCLA, Dayton University and San Diego State University*s bookstores.

This is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered and Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, are also available online or may be special ordered from most fine bookstores.

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