June 16, 2006: Sharing with Writers:
From the Desks
Of Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Authors' Coalition Friends
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If you prefer to see this letter all its colourful glory, please go to:

http://www.authorsden.com/adstorage/1713/Newsletter_June_FourthWeek_2006.doc

You will also find the "Best of Sharing with Writers" at Apollos Lyre

www.ApollosLyre.com

Sharing with Writers is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

an organization of writers who help writers.
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Note from Carolyn:

Dear Authors' Coalition Members and Subscribers:

Procrastination.

I wish it were a prettier word. Maybe I'd be more patient with it…and with myself when I do it. This week I finally quit procrastinating and posted to a couple of my books' Wikis on Amazon. Each book's page offers up this free perk. And you know how I am about freebies! So, why did it take me so long to do this when the obvious advantage is that you can tell your readers what you want them to know which is often quite different from the information your publisher submitted to Amazon when it was first released.

I wish I could tell you to go to any author's Amazon page to see what they look like or what kind of material you might want to include on yours. Trouble is, very few authors are using this feature. So, let's start with my poetry page because we all know that poetry is hardest of all to promote. Even there I could find something to wiki.
Here's the URL:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/ref=dp_return_2/002-4692447-2218401?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

While you're there, note that -- true to the tradition of wikis -- you can add information to them. Perhaps a detail about a place mentioned in the work, or a quote or ??? The field is wide open and then, if you're registered with Amazon, your name and credit appear on the wiki, too. You do have your book title as part of your Amazon credit, don't you? If not, don't procrastinate! Get it up there. That's the easy part. Now to those wikis.

Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
http://www.tlt.com/authors/carolynhowardjohnson.htm
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

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If you enjoy "Sharing with Writers" please
nominate it for Writer's Digest's 101 Best
Newsletters for Writers. We aren't big, we
aren't old. So it would take a huge outpouring
from subscribers to make a dent. Send an e-mail
to writersdig@fwpubs.com with subject line,
"101 Best Newsletters for Authors" and let
them know what this newsletter does for you!
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Letter to the Editor:

{In response to your editorial on fee press,)
you should read Part One of "The Cosmic Seed."
In it there is a view of how an objective viewer
of Earth sees politics and government. Remember,
it was the politicians both Republicans and
Democrats that voted for the Patriot Act.
Fear is the motivator and selfishness the
catalyst. Despite their rhetoric,
politicians only care about staying in
power and protecting what they have.
If we had a true democracy that might change
but I doubt it.

Edward P. Fulco,
author of The Cosmic Seed
www.thecosmicseed.com
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TIP: Beware of contests/anthologies and
the like where selections aren't based on
quality but rather on buying large numbers
of copies
http://www.selfgrowth.com/101greatwaysbookproject.html. You may find a good reason to participate
in this kind of an offer or call for submissions,
but the need to purchase your way into a project
is always a red flag.

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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility,
use the AC logo on your promotional materials for credibility. Ask for it by sending an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com or download it with a click
from the AC site http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
Be sure to link it to the AC site, too!
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Carolyn's Continuing Amazon Rant:

More on Amazon's Darn "Ultimately Bought" Feature

Amazon's "Ultimately Bought" feature continues to annoy me and I am nagging you again to help with this. Trust me, if it doesn't affect (negatively) you now, it will. What are organizations for but to wield a little muscle now and then?

The problem with them is:

1. "Ultimates" don't give the page visitor applicable information. The example below is copied from the "Ultimately Bought" feature of an author friend of mine. He writes literary fiction. "The Frugal Book Promoter" appears as the top purchase on his page but his book has absolutely nothing to do with book promotion. "Frugal" is there because I actively recommend his book to others so people I know go there and then go to my page to buy "Frugal" -- in addition to his book or instead of it. At least they went to his site but instead of that helping him with exposure, it kills his "ultimate" ratings and confuses his readers! Here is a paste of that feature:


What do customers ultimately buy after viewing items like this?

74% buy
The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't by Carolyn Howard-Johnson $11.67

12% buy
Futureproof by N. Frank Daniels $20.00
8% buy America's Report Card : A Novel by John McNally $15.60

4 percent: The name of this book--the one featured on this page--has been removed to protect the innocent.

3% buy
Rated F : a novel by Todd C. Noker $9.97



2. "Ultimates" don't encourage recommendations. See #1 above.

3. "Ultimates," by the very title, make it sound as if book buyers preferred other books.

4. "Ultimates" discourages authors from using the "Authors Connect" feature (that's the new plog feature). If lots of people go to an author's page to see their plog, and don't buy their book (perhaps because they already have it!), that lowers their position on the "Ultimate" rating!

So, will you please go to a page. Any page will do. Your book's page or some other. Scroll down to the pale blue box titled Feedback. You have three choices; choose the third where it says "Click Here." Copy this rant or tell them what you think about this feature. At the very least, you might complain about the way it is titled but after seeing how numbers can be skewed, I think they ought to junk it all together!

If you did this when I asked before, please do it again. This time you might just ask if they are listening!
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Your editor, Carolyn Howard-Johnson was given an award by the Pasadena Weekly for her literary activism. That weekly had her work for tolerance in mind. I wonder what they'd think of this kind of activism? (-:

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A Copy of My Note to Amazon:

(Editor's note: See below a note I wrote to Amazon regarding the page featured in the article above.)

How does the "Ultimate Feature" help me select books? The Frugal Book Promoter listed there has nothing to do with "The Middle-aged Man and the Sea." It's probably there because the author of "Frugal" (me) recommends "Sea" to others and so people view the two at the same time. As far as the other entries go, I see little or no relationship of these novels to "Sea." One is political fiction and a far cry from this literary collection. And as long as I'm screaming bloody murder, the title "Ultimately Chose" sounds deprecatory to the book whose page it appears on. Why turn (inadvertently?) buyers away from a book they
came to buy?
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Opportunities:

Book Fair in Phoenix with Huge Perks

Authors may rent tables at the Good Life Book Fair, on Saturday, August 19, 2006, from 10 AM to 6 PM, presented by Good Life News, Inc. at the Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel, 2435 S. 47 th St., Phoenix, AZ. Author. Fees include a quarter page ad in the program. Those who commit before June 21 will get packets of discount coupons from local businesses. Learn more from Joe Carroccio, 480 329-3957. If you decide to participate in any fair go to my blog to learn of value-added promotions that will affect its stuccess. http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson.
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Save Money: Learn to Edit Yourself! Sign up for my class on polishing a presentation so well that agents or publishers will spot you as a professional right off! To enroll contact Marcus Hennessey at writers@uclaextension.edu or (310) 825-9415. The class is filling fast.

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New members will help Authors' Coalition 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 spark generally insipid book fairs by using value-added promotions: http://redeneginepress.com/chjohnson .
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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Tip: Chris Meeks, author of "The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea says, "I realized I shouldn't be obsessive about checking on my data on my Amazon page. It occurs to me every time I look and don't buy my own book, I make the statistics of who looks at my page and buys my book go down. When I didn't look for a month, busy with (another writing project), my percent leaped up. Since then, it's kept going down, and today I realized I must be doing it.

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When was the last time you bought a book from an author you know? "Tracings" my new chapbook of poetry,
www.finishinglinepress.com,
is available for that honor at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1141623936/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4692447-2218401?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

but any book mentioned in any one of your "Sharing with Writers" newsletters would be a nice gesture. If all of us directed more of our reading to newer authors who write in genres we love or genres we need to stretch into, we would do ourselves and the publishing industry a great favor.
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Reciprocal Links:

Book Exclusives! Find insider news from authors, publishers, agents, editors and others involved in the book biz. Read excerpts, interviews and get in on the latest in promotions, sales and contests. http://pubproauthors.bravehost.com/
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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. 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 to be reviewed. The books 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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The Scribal Press News Calendar. The news calendar of writer events around the world, no matter where you live. Find it at: http://www.scribalpress.com/thisnthat.html?
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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-f e e contests.
www.writer2writer.com
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Authors' Coalition is for writers. Find support for authors--both emotional and material--at
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
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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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Kathe's Korner:

Here are some basic website principals for the newbie:

1. Don’t confuse your readers with links all over the page. One thing should logically lead to another. Navigation and flow should be intuitive and easy to follow. Leave plenty of white space to allow the eye to rest
2. Remember, content is everything.
3. Solve problems for your visitors and be a good resource.
4. Choose your domain name well – it should be simple, easy to remember and to spell.
5. Text on your site should be short and punchy. Use no more than three to five paragraphs, and break up the text.
6. Use a call to action: after reading the text, tell them what to do, such as “Click here to buy now.”
7. For sales, use paypal.com, Book Clearing House at BookCH.com., or amazon.com. These are all trusted sources.
8. Consider a text-only alternative on your site for people with older computers.
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Kathe Gogolewski
http://www.tri-studio.com/
Read my blog: http://www.anndurand.blogsforauthors.com/summary.php
Writing as Ann Durand, author of "A Promise to Keep"
Available from Amazon.com at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-5147852-4133539

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Please pass this letter on to others. Unlike
many others, I do not mind if you use only
portions of it as long as you credit the
writers and include this subscribe information.
"To subscribe to "Sharing with Writers" send
an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "subscribe"
in the subject line."
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Tip: I met an illustrator who works in traditional media (watercolor, ink) as well as digital media (Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Corel Painter, etc.).Those of you looking for an illustrator will want to learn more at: http://www.karenwinters.com/pages/bio.
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Reciprocal Links:

For snappy marketing tips and the f~r~e~e report "How to Obtain Book Reviews," subscribe to the PR Postcard at
http://www.authorscompanion.com/
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Spirited Woman, launches the Spirited Woman Circle, a monthly phone conversation series with bestselling authors. Learn more at http://www.TheSpiritedWoman.com/spirited_woman_circle/
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Cynthia Brian, Media Coach, Writer, Author, Speaker, TV/Radio Personality, Spokesperson. www.star-style.com , www.goddessgals.com , and www.starstyleproductions.com
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Francine Silverman, publisher of Book Promotion Newsletter, serves authors by e-mailing Expert Sheets to the media. Contact Fran at franalive@optonline.net for more information. www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
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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 brings authors, bookstores, publishers and reviewers together. Subscribers can write a short article of interest for publication. Send an email to nate@redenginepress.com with "Y&W Newsletter" in the subject line.
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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 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, and more. http://press.heliographica.com/
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Has writing lost its spontaneity? Find 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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Find a f * * *, database which details over 2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers at Dee Rimbaud's site: http://www.thunderburst.co.uk/
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The Complete Writer offers advice on writing, editing, proofreading, publishing and design. Published by Red Engine Press, a traditional press.
http://www.redenginepress.com/

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Tip To contribute and at the same time to do a little branding of your own, tune into Book Marketing with Fran, on Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m. (MST); 11 a.m., (PST), 1 p.m. (CST) and 2 p.m. (EST). During Daylight Savings Time, the show airs at 11 a.m. in Arizona, which does not change its clock. The archives are available 10 minutes after the shows ends.
1. Go to http://www.achieveradio.com
2. On left side, click "Shows, Hosts and Schedules" and scroll down to my show.
To talk to Fran and her guest, you can call toll free 800-920-3717 (Phoenix area - 623-772-9379).

___________________________________________________

Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching Gigs:

UCLA Class: Carolyn is teaching a one-day class at UCLA on Saturday, August 5th (summer quarter). Circle it on your calendar! Enroll to learn all you need to know about preparing a professional manuscript for submission to agents, publishers or to ready it for alternative presses. To enroll or to receive a free copy of UCLA's "Writers' Program Quarterly," contact Marcus Hennessey at writers@uclaextension.edu or (310) 825-9415.
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Audio Classes: Allyn Evans, Joyce Faulkner, Kathe Gogolewski, Marilyn Peake and Carolyn, have produced audio classes covering writing skills, book promotion, and technology for writers. Access new audio classes regularly in MP3 or CDRom at

http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/imprintlist.asp?imprint=PODRADIO

Learn more about the instructors and find a list of the coming classes at our Authors' Coalition site at:
Please feel free to use it.

http://tri-studio.com/AUDIOCLASSESALL.html

To get a fr ^ ^ sample class called "Radio: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Promoting Easy and Cheap!" go to the Double Dragon Publishing (DDP) Website: Download at:
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?isbn=DDP00000001QP&genre=
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The Muse Online Writing Conference: Lea Schizas, editor of "The Muse on Writing," and Carolyn Howard-Johnson are sponsoring this first annual virtual writers' conference October 9 - 13. This conference lets writers -- published or not -- mingle with some of the publishing world's personalities. Choose from a huge selection of free online workshops.
Bookmark this site

http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/

Go back often to see the newest presenters and workshops. Agents, Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada have just accepted invitations and we have dozens of others. Carolyn will be presenting on both book promotion and the craft of writing, specifically "Writing Sparkling Dialogue in 10 Easy Steps."

To check on the growing faculty and workshop session, go to:

http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/agenda.htm
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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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Tip: I know many of you worry -- a lot -- about using quotations. You know, the danger of getting sued and all. It is perfectly legal to quote for certain purposes and in certain amounts. Generally that includes comment, criticism, news reporting, teaching, research and scholarship. The amount you can use depends upon the size of the copyrighted work as a whole. There are lots more guidelines available, and more detail on these at the Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov Most questions that would effect you are covered there. Or check with a copyright attorney. Amazon protects themselves on newly copyrighted work by allowing quotations of 25
words or less.
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Author Successes:

Betty Dobson's essay/article "A Bunch of Rocks: The Environmental Gutting of Malta" hit the Editors' Picks list at http://Gather.com this morning. Betty is the editor of a fine newsletter and website. Learn more about her at http://inkspotter.com/ Check out Gather.com, too. You might find a way it can help you with your promotion/publishing campaign.
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Connie Gotsch's e-novel Snap Me a Future, published by DLSIJ Press is out out in paperback and is ready for summertime reading.

Winner of Second Place for Full-Length Fiction in the New Mexico Press Women Communication Contest, 2005, Snap Me A Future decries pot hunters who raid archaeological sites for artifacts. Readers follow the adventures of Shelby McCoy, the once tough investigative reporter now working her way back into journalism after she was attacked by the subject of one of her articles. While pursuing a story in New Mexico’s beautiful Four Corners, she comes face-to-face with a knife-wielding antiquities thief.

For a copy, go to http://www.dlsijpres.com/ or contact Connie Gotsch for an autographed copy at conniegotsch@authorsden.com

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising.
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Reciprocal Links:

PENCILS™ - A Proofreading & Copyediting Company
"Improving the written word one letter at a time."
Let Laura Kerley help you present your work in the best light possible!
Email: pencilsproofreading@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.pencilsproffreading.com Phone: 310.357.9140
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One of my favorite groups for meeting "Publishing and Promoting" peers is moderated by award-winning suspense novelist Diane J. Newton, http://dianejnewton.bravehost.com/
To subscribe go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publishingandpromoting/ .
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Dr. Bob Rich, freelance editor, finds the good things in your book and makes suggestions for improving it. Find him at http://bobswriting.com/editing.html
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Success Literary Services offers complete book manuscript services. They were honored with twelve awards. References. http://www.successliterary.com / suc-srv@pacbell.net
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HUGS, HOPE, and Peanut Butter: Finding Light Behind Life's Storm Clouds is a book of humorous, inspirational essays illustrated by critically ill children. www.hugsandhope.org/pb.htm
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The Compulsive Reader reviews books!. Find interviews, literary news, criticism, a no - c^st e-zine, and more. http://www.compulsivereader.com/html.
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Do bookstores owe you money? Michelle Dunn's books 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, edits a newsletter with an emphasis on journaling. Subscribe at: http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter.php
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Need help with your writing career? From coaching and ghostwriting to publishing and marketing,contact your Author's Advocate,Patrika Vaughn, at http://www.acappela.com/.
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Dreams of Grandeur, a book of poetry by Amber A. Whitman is available at http://homebody2001-ivil.tripod.com/. A reader says "I'm impressed…a great deal of talent."
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A Kindly Answer to a Request for a Review:

This is a letter I found in my e-mail box, paraphrased to protect the innocent:

"Yes, I'm soliciting a book review. No, I'm not certain you will ever see this but on the off chance you might, I'm a xxxxx author published by xxxxx. My debut novel xxxxx will be in book stores by the end of this month. It is about a vampire xxxxx-great logline-xxxxx."
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Here's my answer:

Dear xxx:

Yes, I did receive you query for a review. I hope you will not mind my helping you a bit, for you say it is a debut novel.

This is what you've done right:

1. Your e-mail asking for a review is a query, not a media release. Right on!!
2. Your note is brief and you have used a pitch good enough to intrigue even someone who doesn't read Christian literature.
3. You've clearly identified the genre, though it sounds as if it is cross-genre which, if mentioned, might attract more reviewers.

Here is where you could improve:

1. Make sure your subject line piques the reviewer's interest. Plain old "review" doesn't do the job. Further, because I do (very rarely) review, I get e-mails from editors with this kind of subject line and so might miss yours entirely.
2. Make sure the reviewer you send mail to writes reviews for the kind of literature you are pitching. Even if it seems smart to "cover the waterfront," a reviewer wants to know that you know their work.
3. Personalize. (See #2 above.) Use the reviewer's name. Use a site or a magazine you know the reviewer reviews for. If you know someone the reviewer knows, mention his or her name.

All of this seems a monumental waste of time, I know, but in terms of the results you get for your efforts, I'm sure you will actually find it more time-effective in the long run.

I'm sorry, but I am not taking reviews these days. I have a stack to keep me for a year but I hope you will consider the above information a gift just the same.

Oh! And another idea! Consider reading THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T. It has a couple chapters in it on reviewing--reviewing from every angle. A debut novel deserves your best promotion and though it is apparent you have done some homework, I know you can learn tons from it. It is even available as an e-book to keep the price down for starving, young novelists. (-:

Very best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Your Kindly Reviewer and Author of
The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't

PS: Yes, I put this author's e-mail address on my list for classes I teach in promotion and writing. She will hear from me again unbidden (though not spammed--she wrote first!), just as I heard from her.

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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This letter is an entity of Authors' Coalition

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.

Edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson,

http://www.tlt.com/authors/carolynhowardjohnson.htm

author of "This is the Place," "Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered," "Tracings," and "The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't," this newsletter lets authors share with each other.

To submit information for consideration, e-mail Carolyn at

HoJoNews@aol.com

If you do not care to receive this letter, unsubscribe at

HoJoNews@aol.com.

Include "Unsubscribe" in the subject line but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!

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

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

Order "The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't"
at stores like UCLA, Dayton University and San Diego State University's bookstores. Order it as an e-book or paperback at Amazon where it is discounted:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/002-0672916-9668863 .

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, may be ordered at

http://finishinglinepress.com

and at,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7824821-4156653?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Carolyn's novel, "This is the Place," and book of creative nonfiction, "Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered," may be ordered at Amazon.com.