November 31, 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/Sharingwithwriters_Nov_FourthWeek_2006.doc

Learn about an opportunity to participate in the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books -- whether you live in LA or not -- by going to my blog at http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson

The LA fair is one of the nation's biggest and most prestigious with more than 130,000 visitors and the power of the LA Times behind it.

Find pictures of last year's booth at http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskiPHOTOSfair06.html

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Note from Carolyn:

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:

A few weeks ago I ran a letter than turned out to be controversial. I like to include information of current news in the publishing industry and even current opinion. After all, we all need to know what is going on in the publishing world in order to make better decisions concerning our careers. Yep.

But I ended up offending at least one of my subscribers and in the interest of fairness I am sending you her comments on it (see below under Letters-to-the-Editor).

Having said that, I will try to avoid anything that may smack of politics in the future though it will be hard for me (-: .That includes freedom of speech issues, gender and other bigotry in the market place, etc. After all, my goal here is to make this letter a place where you can come share with others and learn from others. I don't want to offend.

Being me, though, I may give you links to my MyShelf.com where I often rant a bit and those of you who want to partake may do so.

Mea culpa.

Best,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
http://carolynhoward-johnson.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepess.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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Letters-to-the-Editor:

Dear Carolyn,

I read with interest the ‘open letter on fairness in publishing’ written by Pauline Field. (Sharing with Writers 21/10/06) I’m afraid I have extremely strong views on this issue.
I’m not a feminist in the true sense, although I absolutely believe in equality for women. That includes equal wages, equal opportunities, equal everything.

However, I do not believe that women should be given special consideration for anything; whatever we get – jobs, opportunities etc – should all be on merit.
That means if there are two candidates for a job (writing or otherwise), the decision should never be made on gender or race; it should always be made on ability and/or qualifications.

Instead of telling writers to ‘pester’ editors (which would not help any writer’s career), writers need to ensure they know their craft thoroughly, and can compete with other writers with dignity rather than expect to be published simply because they’re female.

I have several regular columnists at Writer2Writer.com – not because they are female, but because they came out on top of all the candidates who applied. I also have guest writers on a regular basis, and their gender never comes into the equation, but their ability certainly does.

If Ms Field wants ‘fairness’ in publishing, then perhaps she can begin by ceasing to urge writers to discriminate against male writers, and instead spend her time encouraging writers to better learn their craft.

Cheryl Wright
Australian author and owner of Writer2Writer.com
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See my editorial on the subject below along with a promise -- in spite of my political nature -- to avoid politics in the future. My goal is to help writers, not to alienate them! (-:
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Tip: Learn more about proof reading marks at http://www.writersservices.com/services/s_marginal_marks.htm . That knowledge may come in handy at galley time or when you get your manuscript back from an editor.
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Editorial:

I wish I had seen Cheryl's letter earlier so that it could have run immediately after the newsletter that ran the piece on gender inequality in the USA's publishing industry. That way, the former article would have been fresher in subscribers' minds.

As an editor (both for this newsletter and in my past) I agree with Cheryl. Most people -- even people who must interact with editors -- don't understand the fine art of relating to editors, staff writers or anyone else in the media. Some come to feel that we are the enemy when, in fact, editors need stories and depend on publicists and the public in general (as well as news services and their own research, of course) to help them find material.

In rereading the letter in contention, I wonder if Ms. Field didn't merely mean that we should continue to let editors know our position via letters to the editor (like this one! (-: ) . I know little about equal opportunity in many parts of the world other than the USA. Certainly most people are coming to believe that the playing field is level in my country (USA); I was absolutely amazed at how this study shows it is not. I don't believe that all those men with high position writing jobs are necessarily that much better writers or have better ideas than women who submit or are trying to climb the ladder to editorships within the publishing world. I think that much has to do with this disparity is the fact men often have been around longer (entrenched if you will) and that is hardly their fault.

However, as long as that is true, especially in the press, I take the position that women's voices need to be heard more frequently in order to get a balance of opinion. Even when the issue is not feminism or women at all, there may be subtle differences that need to be heard. It's that old journalism rule about fairness and objectivity that was instilled in me early on but I am concerned about providing that for readers as I am about providing gender equality for writers.

In order to do that editors need to take an extra hard look at letting these voices be heard, especially when the balance does not seem equitable to begin with.

In smaller markets (maybe like mine or yours) we may get a disproportional view. So many of the writers I know are women -- probably all the more reason that this disproportion at the top is more problematic. It may be a function of that famous glass ceiling. The papers/periodicals being examined were all tops in their fields. This appears to prove that though there are tons of women authors working hard -- many extremely talented -- there are comparatively few getting published by the top papers and journals.

I don't know how to fix that but the answer is certainly not in dismissing women writers' submissions because they don't have prestigious connections. We'll never get true equality that way.

Nope, I'm not keen on prejudice going in either direction. But given that men at top levels of publishing outnumber women quite drastically, I don't think it will hurt for them to listen to a few voices (and by extension their readers to hear a few voices) that haven't been heard.

So, certainly we shouldn't "pester" editors but I don't think it hurts to let them know where we stand, regardless of where that might be.

Best,
Carolyn

Anyone interested in my sending you the original letter that included some figures from this study, let me know.
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Tip: Chicken Soup for the Empty Nester’s Soul is looking for true stories or anecdotes that explore your losses and discoveries, rifts and rescues, pandemonium and silences – and the hope and humor that helped you survive it all! Please go to www.emptynesterssoul.com or www.chickensoup.com for story guidelines and submission.
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Feature:

SOME LESSONS FROM A MIDDLE-AGED WRITER

By Christopher Meeks (from his Maplewoods Mirror newsletter)


After the steady and critical interest in my first book of fiction, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea, which shot out of the gates with a great review in the Los Angeles Times on January 2, I’ve been mostly involved in marketing that book, but also keeping my eye on what’s next.

Like many if not most writers, I prefer to work on the next challenging story rather than the next way to promote my work. I’m not naturally outgoing, after all, nor a PR agency. Additionally, until I started teaching, I’d never done anything about my fear of being in front of people. Teaching knocked it out of me. It took me two years, however, before I no longer had to psyche myself up each time before entering my classroom.

Until shepherding The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea into the world, I didn’t connect my years of working in the CalArts Office of Public Affairs to ways of promoting myself. In the nineties, I had helped many others by writing press releases. I needed a V8 moment for me to see I could do it for myself, too. While I have much to learn about marketing books still, I’ve come to realize a few things. If you’re in any of the arts, or yearn to be, many of the following thoughts may apply to you, too. Artists can be timid people.

Here are ten realizations I’ve had as an author with a new book:

1) The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea is one of an expected 200,000 new titles this year with ISBN numbers and available to bookstores. That doesn’t count the probably 100,000 other titles produced without ISBN numbers by print-on-demand publishers such as Lulu, iUniverse, AuthorHouse, Xlibris, and others. So how is my one little title going to stick out from so many other books? If I don’t market it, no one else will.

2) The number of column inches in newspapers and magazines for book reviews is shrinking. In going after those inches, I’m in competition with the major publishers and big PR agencies. Still, having written press releases for others, I learned what goes into a press release, and I grabbed the attention of the Los Angeles Times for my book. It can be done. Learn how to write a press release.

3) I’ve also learned that the Internet is a great place to get attention. There are a number of literary blogs. I’ve appeared in a half dozen blogs in this country, plus ones in Ireland, England, and the Czech Republic. Contact the literary blogs. Start with Mark Savras’s “The Elegant Variation,” http://marksarvas.blogs.com/elegvar/
and then click on his fabulous list of other sites on the left side of your screen. Scroll down a little.

4) Publicity is short-lived. The two best shots-in-the-arm were the reviews in the Los Angeles Times and the mention in Entertainment Weekly. Sales rose for about two weeks each time then quickly fell. Hence, you have to keep at it.

5) Word-of-mouth is the goal. It’s like nuclear fusion. Once there’s a core of people who like your book—created by little jolts of publicity—a chain reaction can start. That’s how The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, a first-time novelist, hit the best-seller lists. A Kaiser doctor, Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and had English as a second language. He was not a sure thing. However, Hosseini’s book is well-written and dramatic. Word-of-mouth spread. Fusion hit. I have not attained nuclear fusion with my book yet.

6) For all the interest in the Internet, including my advice above, it’s been in the print media where I’ve had the strongest sales response. Newspaper circulation is getting steadily eroded, one-and-a-half percent per year. Nonetheless, book readers seem to read newspapers and magazines more than online articles and reviews. Aim for as many newspaper book editors as you can.

7) Marketing is as important a tool for writers to learn as grammar. Of the more than seven hundred writing programs in the country, few seem to offer any classes in marketing. Perhaps such a class doesn’t mesh with writing theory, but America is a difficult place to be creative for a living. You don’t go to the newspaper to find ads for “Help Wanted: Novelist.” Ads for sculptors, dancers, filmmakers, oboists, well-paid actors, and poets are as rare as tiger wolves, too. Hence, you need to educate yourself in marketing. I’ve been helped along by Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t. (Star Publish; ISBN 1-932993-10-X)

8) Print-on-demand technology (POD) is gaining a foothold in the publishing world. A POD press is basically a specialized photocopy machine for books. You pump in digital files for the cover and the text, and out pops a copy of a book, perfectly bound and cut to size. It looks exactly like a “real” book, one printed on an old-fashioned press. Traditional publishing requires a publisher to have a large print run—say, ten thousand copies—in hopes people will buy it. The publisher sends the copies to a distributor, and the distributor sends the books to bookstores that order it after marketing has been done. Bookstores can return unsold books for credit. If a book doesn’t sell, it’s “remaindered”—those special sale books you see for a few dollars at the big bookstores. It’s basically sold for production cost. Hence, there’s a lot of shipping and waste going on the traditional way. POD books are only created when there’s a need. Some of the books you order on Amazon, for instance, are not really on the shelves, but rather are printed within 24 hours and shipped. There’s less waste the POD way, but it costs much more per unit—which is why bookstores usually can’t return them. Hence, bookstores are hesitant to stock POD books. In the future, bookstores may have their own POD machines and act like a one-hour photo. If you want a book, presto, it’s printed. I mention this because right now it’s difficult to get POD books in bookstores. If you want big sales, seek out an agent who will get your book to traditional publishers. Traditional publishers, too, may end up promoting your book far more than you can.

9) Artists on the whole have to be their own best promoters. If you paint a painting, who’s going to buy it if you don’t get it out there somehow? If you dance, how are you going to perform if you don’t seek performances? The truth about POD publishing is, however, that most people do seem to use POD as vanity publishing. They want to be published, so they click along the Internet to one of many new publishing services. They upload their text, and a simple cover is created using a cliché image or two, and, presto, it’s done, with typos, grammatical problems, wordiness, and all. Shoppers can go to the POD publisher’s website to buy books, but most POD titles sell under a hundred copies—mainly to friends and family. Because my first job out of grad school was with a publisher, I learned what a publisher does: engage a professional to edit the text; engage a professional to design a few possible covers; do some market research by trying out different covers; then send the book to reviewers after choosing a publication date at least three months down the road to give the reviewers a chance to review. Hence, I’m using the same model for myself. My upcoming book, Who Lives? (see below) has been with reviewers for two months already.

10) You need a follow-up book. What are you going to do next? I happen to be writing a novel, but Who Lives? is in the pipeline. It’s my next book based on the true story of the perfection of the kidney dialysis machine in the early sixties, Seattle, and how to choose the lucky few chronic kidney disease patients who might live by going on the machine. Who Lives? debuts on December 21st, available at Amazon.com.

If you’d like to sign up for Christopher Meeks’ free newsletter, Maplewoods Mirror, go to his website at www.chrismeeks.com, and scroll to the bottom where you put your name and e-mail address into a form. The free newsletter is mostly about writing.

Also, for another view on marketing books, see what the Miami Herald says at http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/special_packages/business_monday/15984943.htm

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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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Opportunities:

Children’s Book Contest
Only One in 4,000 Children’s Picture Book Manuscripts Ever Get Published

One in 4,000. Those are the odds that a children’s book manuscript will ever get into book form. The ABC’s Children’s Picture Book Competition, now in its third year, cuts those odds drastically.
Rita Mills, one of the sponsors says, "Any of the ten finalists will be a worthy publishing project, but …the winner to be selected by the parents and children who actually read the books not an editor sitting behind a desk."

Entry deadline is midnight February 28, 2007. The competition is open to any published or unpublished writer, over the age of 21 who lives in the US. Learn more at www.abcBookCompetition.org
Contact: Sandy Lawrence at sandylawrence@perceptivemarketing.com or Rita at rmills@ghg.net .
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LA Fair Opportunity--Even for Out-of-Towners: Reach out to 130,000 readers and Hollywood types including producers, directors. It only takes one break to make it big. There are several ways to participate from a signing to our catalogue for booksellers. Learn more about the program in the most recent entry in blog, http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson. _______________________________________________________

Tip: Allyn Evans, author and speaker, suggests submitting your home page to http://www.dmoz.org/ for increased traffic. She says, "Submit only your homepage because they get annoyed with overkill. It takes about six to nine months to be reviewed (once submitted). So do it now! Learn more about Allyn at http://allynevans.com.
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Feature:

Writing, Publishing, Promoting
With Kindred Spirits

Most of you know that I believe in cross promotion. But there are all kinds of ways to cross-promote including a collaboration like the one I just did with my poetry.

Many of your know Magdalena Ball as a poet and the editor of the Compulsive Reader.com. Fewer of you know an artist and soon-to-be published author, Vicki Thomas. We three have collaborated on a book of poetry for Valentine's. Find it at:
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/cherishedpulse.htm

This book of poetry, for instance, is a literary effort but it is also a way to share in terms of promotion. Some of Maggie's friends will become my friends, mine hers. Vicki will bring a new mix to the equation--certainly art lovers read, too! And some readers must enjoy beautiful paintings.

A project like this can bring much pleasure to the participants. That we may bring pleasure to readers in the process, is a bonus. In fact for me it is writing's best benefit--that we get to share ourselves with others and that sharing can simply keep on giving.

Won't you visit the website page Maggie has designed for our effort? Won't you consider our book Cherished Pulse for your Valentine giving in 2007 or for someone you love right now?

How might you network, cross-promote, collaborate to further your writing career?

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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

(You are invited to send me news about your successes. New books, awards and more. If you read about others' successes you'll not only be inspired, you'll glean resources for future successes of your own.)

Betty Dobson, editor of Inkspotter (http://inkspotter.com ) is published by Amazon's shorts program. "Baby Angels" is now available on at http://inkspotter.com/bookstore . We have talked about the shorts program before. Many of the nation's most prestigious authors are doing it--Amazon carefully vets what they publish. Is it something that will help you with your goals?
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Bruce Bauman, author and fellow UCLA instructor: The world-wide film and television rights of Bauman's AND THE WORD WAS, was optioned to Volume One Entertainment, LLC. an LA based entertainment company that develops, finances, co-finances and acquires feature films. Dean M. Leavitt is Chairman and CEO of Volume One. Bruce was represented by Lucy Stille of Paradigm.

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"AC is the current that propels your writing career."
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Authors' Coalition Founder
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Tip: Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author of The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High Tech Twist, has started a series of fiction tips on her blog:
http://www.websavvywriter.com/blog
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Being Grateful: My grandson just returned to US soil from Iraq. This isn't about writing but it is about sharing so I thought some of you might send a Christmas card to a soldier by going to http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html

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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: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success 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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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson; June Casagrande, author of "Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies"; and Kerry Madden, author of "Gentle's Holler," will discuss "The Many Paths to Publishing." at Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101, Saturday, Dec. 2. at 5 pm. May all of you in Southern California come, enjoy and publish.
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Paulette Ensign, board member of Publishers and Writers of San Diego, a SPAN and PMA affiliate, has invited Carolyn Howard-Johnson 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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New for 2007!Coming Saturday April 21, 2007 at 10 am. Led by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Poetry! Don't Let It Molder in a Drawer, Publish It! A seminar and poetry reading at the Glendale City Central Library (California) in the auditorium.
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New for 2007! Mark April 28th and 29, 2007, for the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books. More to come soon in this newsletter.
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New for 2007! Carolyn will speak on "Your Media Release: You Write So You Can Do It! September 8, 2007 at the Valley Cities Jewish
Community Center in Sherman Oaks, CA www.CalWritersSFV.com
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New for 2007! Carolyn will speak at the fourth Annual Pen to Paper Literary Symposium October 6, 2007, Dayton, Ohio. The conference will include tracks for music and screenwriting, in addition to writing and publishing books. Start planning now to attend this elite event and take advantage of the early bird special (www.penofthewriter.com/pentopaper).

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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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Correction:

Star Publish Times has a new URL. Here is how the notice should have appeared: Check out Star Publish Times as an example of what small publishers can do for their authors. It is at http://starpublishnews.tripod.com
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Tip: Those who are smart enough (and daring enough) to speak or teach as a means of promoting probably know about The Learning Annex. If you don't, pick up one of their schedules f r ^ ^ on the street corners of cities where they participate or just send them your credential at: ATTN: New Course LA
11850 Wilshire Blvd., #100
Los Angeles, CA 90025
or newcoursesla@learningannex.com
http://www.learningannex.com/default.taf?cat=about_us&aboutsect=formerspeakers

Write a proposal. In other words, give them a snappy course title and a short synopsis explaining what you would cover and what benefits students would receive by taking your course.
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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 Dotsie Bruegel and Georgia Richardson, editors and networkers supreme, for running a featured article on me in www.boomerwomenspeak.com's newsletter and on the information they gave their members on my co-produced audio on the subject of literary contests. Check out the site and the newsletter.
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To Kristie Leigh Maguire, publisher and author of Cabin Fever, for including the announcement of my new poetry book (along with Maggie Ball and Vicki Thomas) on her blog, Tradewinds. Find it and leave a comment here http://publishinginfo.blogspot.com/2006/11/poets-take-swipe-at-hallmark.html
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To Wayne Crawford, editor of Lunarosity (http://www.zianet.com/lunarosity/ ) for accepting a very short story of mine Lunarosity is a literary journal that published poetry and short fiction. "Artemis" will be published in April or February of 2007. Check it out for your own submissions.
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To Phillip Ellis, editor of Wild Grapes, for posting information on Cherished Pulse on his blog. http://australian-poetry.blogspot.com/. This blog is something poets may want to check out, the Aussie subscribers among us for sure.
Another blog that has featured the chapbook is Sassy Brit's blog, http://tjbook-list.blogspot.com/ . She managed to include the gorgeous watercolor of irises painted by Vicki Thomas.
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To Jill Ronsley, editor and book designer, for including The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't on her new site. Check it out at http://www.suneditwrite.com/book_promo_books.htm . Also, note how she uses a dropdown menu under each of her tabs or links to help navigate the site.

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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: Allyn Evans has her promo hat on this week. A Certified Toastmaster, founder of QueenPower.com and author of "Grab the Queen Power: Live Your Best Life!"
(http://www.allynevans.com/) she found this site when looking for a speaker in her local area. He had posted a summary of his business and it came up high on Google's listings, so she figures it's a high profile site. http://www.zoominfo.com/
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New Feature:

Resources'
From Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor

(Elizabeth will contribute one valuable resource per SWW issue--either a great place to sell material or find writing craft or promotional idea. Here is her first. )

Paying Publication: (MINNESOTA CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER - Pays on publication. Accepts simultaneous submissions. Seeks nonfiction, fiction. Subjects: Minnesota natural resources, wildlife, natural history, outdoor recreation, land use. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/publications/volunteer/writersguidelines.pdf

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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 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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Tip: A relatively new site with an excellent article on navigating conferences can be found at http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/1-annettefix.php. You'll also be interested in the author, Annette Fix, who will soon be releasing a must-have book for authors. You'll see what I mean when you read her biography on the site.

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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. Anyone who remembers the old story problems we were given at math time in grade school will appreciate this:

"The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work."

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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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RESOURCES

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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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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Check out Star Publish Times as an example of what small publishers can do for their authors. It is at http://starpublishnews.tripod.com
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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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Carolyn Howard-Johnson will take a limited number of editing jobs each month. These are complete edits and include a tutorial on edits made. Fiction and poetry only. HoJoNews@aol.com with "Edit" in the subject line.

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Watch for my new website where I will publish extensive lists of resources for writers. It's a horror-in-progress right now but soon it will become a portal for writers.

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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 is a place to share with others and learn from others.

Though I do attempt to verify information used within this newsletter's pages, Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information. Subscribers should research resources

To submit information articles, tips or other information e-mail Carolyn at HoJoNews@aol.com . Please put "Submission: Sharing with Writers" in the subject line.

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 at http://starpublish.com/carolyn_howard-johnson.htm

or paperback at Amazon where it is discounted:
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, published by Finishing Line Press may be ordered at www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7824821-4156653?s=books&v=glance&n=283155