September 8, 2006: Sharing with Writers:
From the Desks
Of Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Authors' Coalition Friends
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"Sharing with Writers" is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition,

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

an organization of writers who help writers.

To read this newsletter at Authors Den go to:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/Newsletter_Sept_FirstWeek_2006.doc
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Note from Carolyn:

Dear Authors' Coalition Members and Subscribers:

Awards are on my mind today.

That is because my chapbook of poetry won its first real award this week. It had been named to the Compulsive Reader's (compulsivereader.com) list of Ten Best Reads after it was issued but this is a little different than that; it is an award of excellence for poetry given by the Military Writers Society of America.

There is a section in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't on awards and how well they work for publicity. They work especially well as a jumping-off point to pitch a feature story to a local editor, as an example. They also work nicely if your release arrives on a slow-news day for an editor. But aside from that, what can awards do for you?

In today's world, there are more books published than ever before. How does a reader decide? Often by awards. Remember, readers may not be as suspicious of them as some writers have become.

An award can be used long after the event to give a book or its author credibility. The award may be mentioned:
1.On bookmarks and business cards.
2.On stationery and postcards.
3.On return address labels and brochures.
4.In your e-mail autosignature. (You do have one don't you?
5.On your checks.
6.On handouts for your seminars and/or classes.
7.On your website.
8.In your media kit.
9.In your tagline (you do put a tagline at the end of essays, reviews or whatever you write, don't you?)

By utilizing your award fully you benefit the awarding organization as well as your own promotion campaign. You also help other authors. They may come to see your awarding organization as a resource for themselves.

So, please note the announcement below. Try to see it not only as a brag (yep, it's that, too!) but also as information you can use in one way or another. At a very minimum, I hope you'll begin to see the potential in awards rather than the downside. Come to think of it, I hope you'll take that same positive approach to promotion in general.

Best,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
http://carolynhoward-johnson.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
And a blog focused on book fairs at http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising.
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Correction:
The URL for Frances Lynn's review of The Frugal Book Promoter is link to use http://www.franceslynn.org/bookreviews.asp


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Bragging: My chapbook of poetry was given a silver award for books in their genre by the Military Writers Society of America, http://militarywriters.com/awards.htm. Scroll down to the Silver Awards on the page. (-: The link will take you to a review of that chapbook as well where it was given five stars. Neat, huh?
Find it on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp/002-3692730-7456014?ie=UTF8


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Opportunities

Your Joy of Life Contest!
Win a COMPUTER! In the
Winner receives a computer.
Honorees will receive a copy of the Poetry Collection that is published from the entries.

Theme: Poetry which exemplifies your "Joy of Life." Share with us how you enjoy life or the great joyful moments you've experienced. Or maybe just a little piece of happiness.
Submissions: not to exceed 35 lines
Fee: $5 dollars per entry online.
$10 dollars mail-in entries.
Deadline: September 30th, 2006

Mail-In Entries:
Type your poem - 12 pt font - Times Roman.
Hand Written entries must be legible.
On a separate piece of paper type or write your name, address, phone and email.
Hazel Street Contest
19831 Kittridge Street
Winnetka, CA 91306

More details go to http://hazelst.com/contest/form.htm
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Aspiring Writers in Detroit Area:
Sylvia McClain, author of The Write Life: A Beginning Writer’s Guide Writing, Money Management, Publishing and Marketing will teach Novi Community School District Community Education classes on writing beginning Sept 18 in the Detroit area. http://www.novi.k12.mi.us.
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Info on Magazine and Award:

The Writers Notes 2007 Book Awards:
$1,500 Grand Prize * Low Entrance Fee of $40 * Many Categories *

Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. Writers Notes Magazine, an extension of the international free resource tool at www.WritersNotes.com, recognizes excellence in publishing with the Writers Notes Book Awards. SINGLE REGISTRATION gives you THREE WAYS TO WIN: genre, press, and grand prize. Find submission information at www.writersnotes.com. Click on Book Award. The deadline is Jan 15, 2007.
E-Mail: WNMawards@yahoo.com
Fax: (609) 818-1913
Writers Notes Magazine
PO Box 11
Titusville, NJ 08560


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Fun and F r * *: If you purchased The Frugal Book Promoter in the past, I'd love for you to review it on Amazon or BN.com, perhaps just tell what part of it you found most valuable. If you do, send me the review link (URL) and I will send you an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released The Frugal Editor that includes some sidebars from the book that will help you with some tricky grammar. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Patrika's Tips:

Use Your Writing to Promote: The Net is fast, permanent, and alive. When you place your article, essay, story or poem online, it may be seen (or picked up) by prominent and strategic websites that cover a vast number of topics of interest. Once placed, articles remain on these key sites for an indefinite amount of time. When media are searching online for experts for timely topics, you want to be the one they find.
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Write Better-Get Published
with your Author's Advocate
A Cappela Publishing http://www.acappela.com/

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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. Paid members get a favorite review posted, consideration for an interview or review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers. Membership is reasonable, too. We're even planning a speakers' bureau.

Tell friends to visit our blog, too. There they'll learn how to spark generally insipid book fairs by using value-added promotions: http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson .
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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Author Successes

(Note from Editor: If you aren't letting me know about your successes, you're not utilizing this newsletter -- your newsletter -- to its fullest. I can't publish book signings and some other events (there would be too many of them) but if you have a bookstore recommendation to share, that might work. At any rate, send me stuff. I'll see if I can include it the letter in a way your fellow subscribers can glean information that would be useful to them.)

Joyce Faulkner and Lloyd King were given gold awards by the Military Writers Society of America, for their books, In the Shadow of Suribachi and To 'Nam with Love, respectively. Go to: http://militarywriters.com/awards.htm. Scroll down to the Gold Awards on the page. (-: The link will take you to reviews of those books.


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Reciprocal Links:

For expert and up-to-date advice for writers from writers go to http://www.writeradvice.com. You'll find author interviews, reviews, contests and markets and more. The site, edited by B. Lynn Goodwin, is open to submissions.
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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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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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Spelling-Usage Tip: From youdictionary.com's daily word service:

Today's Word: Alumnus/alumna (Noun)
Pronunciation: [ę-'lęm-nęs/ę-'lęm-nę]
Definition 1: A (male/female) graduate of an educational institution.
Usage 1: Today's words form a masculine-feminine pair. Each has a Latin plural. The plural of the masculine "alumnus" is "alumni," like a few other Latin borrowings ending on -us, e.g. cumulus-cumuli, focus-foci—but genus-genera, opus-opera. The plural of the feminine "alumna" is "alumnae," like antenna-antennae. English nouns that keep the Latin neuter plurals use –a, like medium-media ("the US media are" not "is"), addendum-addenda, and memorandum-memoranda.

Suggested Usage: It is odd that the meaning of this word connects it exclusively with educational institutions, "Everyone at our alumni reunion had either been successful since graduation or married someone who had." It can, however, on occasion, be used humorously to refer to other institutions, "We discovered that the bank's charming chief teller was an alumna of the state prison system only shortly after the embezzlement came to light."

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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: Take a sneak peek at how astrology can benefit (and entertain!) writers with a new Writers' Digest book: http://www.wdeditors.com/wordpress/fall-2006-titles/sun-signs-for-writers/ )
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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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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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Thank Yous:

(Note: Each thank you may be set with a jewel of a resource for you to plumb for your book. Watch for them! Adapt them to your own publishing and promotion needs!)

To Dawn Colclasure, for including information of my poetry award in her Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine, one that is always loaded with good, authorly stuff. You can check it out here: http://archives.zinester.com/59308/105723.html
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To Patrice Anne-Rutledge, author of The Web-Savvy Writer for including a bit on Authors' Coalition in her blog, http://www.websavvywriter.com/blog


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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility, use the AC logo on your promotional materials. 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 Appearances and Teaching


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. Subscriber and website guru Terry Whalin will be one of the presenters. 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 -----
Carolyn; June Casagrande, author of "Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies"; and Kerry Madden, author of "Gentle's Holler," will hold a panel discussion at Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101, Saturday, Dec. 2. at 5 pm. on "The Many Paths to Publishing." May all of you in Southern California come, enjoy and publish.
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Carolyn and Roger Storkamp will be presenting at the Sinclair Lewis Writers' Conference on Saturday, October 14 in Minnesota. Registration information is available at http://www.saukherald.com/ftp/lewis/conference.html and if you would like more details about this exceptional one-day event, e-mail me (HoJoNews@aol.com) or Jim Umhoefer, conference director, at jim@candidperceptions.com
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I will be speaking on promotion at the AML Writers Conference to be held on the Utah Valley State College campus in Orem, UT, November 4, 2006. Preregister on the AML website at http://www.aml-online.org/events/aml2006wcprereg.html
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Carolyn will judge the national newsletter competition for American Business Women Association. A winner will be selected from regional finalists at the organization's national convention at the Anaheim Hilton International Hotel, Anaheim, CA. on Sept. 28.
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Carolyn will read from her chapbook Tracings, for Delta Gamma fraternity at a meeting to benefit their charity, the Blind Children's Center on Nov. 13, at 7 pm. Contact her if you are interested in attending. HoJoNews@aol.com .
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Paulette Ensign, board member of Publishers and Writers of San Diego, a SPAN and PMA affiliate, has invited Carolyn to speak on Marketing Your Book or Published Product from Unknown to Best-Seller Sat., Jan 27, 2007 in Encinitas, CA. Learn more about the organization and their programs at: http://www.publisherswriters.org/


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Opportunity: Watch for an all-tips newsletter sometime in August. If you would like your favorite writing or promotion tip to be included along with your name, book title and URL, e-mail be NOW at HoJoNews@aol.com!
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Tip: YouTube is a site where people upload home videos for the whole world to watch (there's a story about one of its stars on the cover of today's times) and you might be able to utilize it as author friend, June Casagrande, author of Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies, did.
She says, "In one of my many shameless marketing ploys, a few weeks ago I uploaded a video of my kitten playing fetch and spun it with a "Grammar Snobs" promotional angle. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D87_gm-Nkw "



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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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Reciprocal Links:

Sign up for The Web-Savvy Writer e-zine (http://www.websavvywriter.com)
and receive a complimentary copy of the special report "Your Author Website: 21 Content Ideas for Profit and Publicity," written by
Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author of The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion
with a High-Tech Twist (Pacific Ridge Press, 2006)
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Alternative-Read.com's blog is all about your writing and you and you and you. Find it here: http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/
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Wordpix Solutions offers design, production and book shepherding services for self published authors. www.wordpix.com/authors
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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!
E-mail: pencilsproofreading@yahoo.com Web: http://www.pencilsproofreading.com
Phone: 310.357.9140:
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"Publishing and Promoting" is one of my favorite groups for meeting peers. It 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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Quark Soup by Magdalena Ball breaks linguistic convention, using the strange anti-matter world of astrophysics and quantum physics to capture the bonds that tie human beings together."
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/quarkindex.htm

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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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"AC is the current that propels your writing career."
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Authors' Coalition Founder
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Feature:

(There have been some conversations on a couple of e-groups about Amazon's newer feature that direct customers to better-selling books. This feature is by one of the members in one of those groups

Pushy Sales People at Amazon Hurting Sales?

How do you feel about pushy sales people? As a customer, I feel Amazon's percentages of people buying other books is pushy. I am looking for a specific item because someone recommended it or I read interesting things about it. I want to know more about title, XYZ, and Amazon throws the whole alphabet at me! Now they have added this: "But many people are buying titles, MNO and QRS." (They insert titles other than your in place of the alphabet here.)

Wait a minute. I have gone into their store looking for XYZ. I'd like the opportunity to evaluate it without a pushy sales person at my elbow distracting me. Do I buy extra books? No. I usually leave and buy the same product elsewhere. Other online stores are just a click away. In addition to that, there is a relaxed atmosphere in brick and mortar bookstores including coffee and a snack, no shipping charge, and no pushy sales people. If I want help, I can ask.

Amazon is a good company in many ways. They want to please authors and publishers but mainly they want to please customers. That's natural enough. Hey, it is survival. Let's remember our status as customers and let them know if "the percentages of books ultimately bought" encourages us to spend more money at Amazon or to shop elsewhere. Of course they are keeping their own stats and they might be making more sales by famous authors. However, there are more non-famous authors who report a dramatic drop in sales. In the meantime, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

You might want to contact them.
customerservice@amazon.com

IMPORTANT: Please, don't copy my example in your letter to Amazon or they might dismiss your concerns as spam. Just do your own writing about how you feel as a customer.

Suggested by Betsy B. Lee
Writer's Resources at Breezy Bits
http://www.geocities.com/labooks.geo
Educator's Resources at Learning Abilities Books http://www.learningbooks.net

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When was the last time you bought a book from an author you know? "Tracings" my new chapbook of poetry 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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Metaphors and Similes to Make You Smile:

(Every year English teachers from across the country submit their collections of analogies and metaphors actually found in high school essays. I can't acknowledge the resource but I thought they might not mind if I published them one at a time. I also thought some of you might have some favorites you could contribute.)

Here is one of the teachers' favorites:

" They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth."


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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://carolynhoward-johnson.com .

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.

Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information in this newsletter. Subscribers should research resources though I do attempt to verify information used within its pages.

To submit information for consideration in this letter, 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/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-4692447-2218401?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

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