June 22, 2007
Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs!

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 letter in plain vanilla text, scroll down. To read this newsletter with a bit more pizzazz (not much, though!) at Authors Den go to:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/Sharingwithwriters_June_No3Week2007.doc

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Note from Carolyn:

My fellow AC Members and SWW Subscribers:

Today I have my literary hat on.

Not for the whole newsletter but for this editorial/essay portion. Many of you know that I am a novelist, writer of short stories and poet and I've decided not to neglect this well, er . . . cerebral part of my personality. Besides, from a promotion standpoint, the time is right (see? I can't quite discard that part of a dual personality, regardless of how hard I try!).

This is the thing. Mitt Romney, a Mormon with Utah roots, is running for President. Big Love, a series about a polygamist cult is getting bigger play this year than ever before. When I have a book set in Utah that actually has the father of one of the characters running for a political office and lots of polygamists in it--not modern ones but the true originals, shouldn't I, Ahem!... DO something about that?
Of course. So here it is. I will be contributing to IMBD.com's reviews of "Big Love." The first one was just posted at http://imdb.com/title/tt0421030/usercomments-35.

You will see from this initial post on the IMDB post why I feel qualified to critique Big Love. BTW, these critiques won't be reviews in the traditional sense, they'll be about the authenticity of the program.

Another point that is relevant is that, I sent out a query when Big Love was first in release and actually got a couple of radio gigs, Then I let it slide. I didn't even know about IMDB! It took an author friend and SWW subscriber, Leora Krygier (author of When She Sleeps, www.leorakrygier.com) to put a fire under my computer chair.

Sharing is what this newsletter and Authors' Coalition is all about. And that "finding the angles in the news" that I mention in The Frugal Book Promoter deserves more play.

So there! (-:

Happy, happy writing and promoting!
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
Websites: http://carolynhoward-johnson.com and www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepess.com Blogs: A blog focused on book fairs at
http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson and another blog that is about writing and reading at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com and
www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.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 and ditto for The Fiction Flyer. Membership is reasonable, too.
Tell friends to visit our blog. 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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Help from PR Web-Pal

So What About Prepublicity for a Book, Anyhow?

The lead time for publicity in magazines is four to six months, so you [don't want to wait until the release for some kinds of thing].

Once the book is available for sale then you can start any time on newspapers, radio and TV, BUT if you are really dependant on national distributors and are hoping for bookstore sales are playing . . . then you wait till the books are on the shelves before using media to drive people to
the bookstores.
On the other hand, if you are NOT seeking bookstore sales, but are basically seeking direct and Amazon sales, then you can begin your short
term publicity as soon as you have books available for the media. That means you can send out a [media] release.

You can and should build and then deploy a publicity and marketing plan that slowly and steadily creates and builds more and more public interest.

The other thing you can do regardless of publication date once you've got books is focus on quantity and special sales direct to
clubs, organizations and companies that will be most interested and can benefit from your book, assuming this is something you've
designed it for.
Here are two helpful articles for you:
Timing Your Book Publicity Activities
http://www.directcontactpr.com/free-articles/article.src?ID=40
Creating a Book Publicity Plan
http://www.directcontactpr.com/free-articles/article.src?ID=45
You can also download my free Annual Publicity Plan Calendar Tool at the following link:

http://www.directcontactpr.com/files/files/publicityplan2007final.pdf
Hope this helps,
Paul J. Krupin Custom Targeted PR
Helping People Reach the Right Markets & the Right Media, with The
Right Message
www.DirectContactPR.com < Paul@DirectContactPR.com>
800-457-8746 509-545-2707

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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested in the Free Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, www.howtodoitfrugally.com. I try to add new articles to it each week. If you don't see what you need, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
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Thank Yous

(There are leads here, just as you'll find in all the most innocent-looking areas of this newsletter. You never know when you'll find a name or a site that will help you network or write better!)

To The Reading Tub, for publishing my "Gentle Rant" on libraries that started the long thread of input to this newsletter from authors about their library experiences. Find it at http://www.thereadingtub.com/pdfs/carolyn_howard_johnson.pdf
and remember that there are quite a few articles on the F R ^ ^ Articles 4 Editors, Readers tab at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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To Chris Meeks, author of The Middle Aged Man and the Sea and editor of Maplewoods Mirror, for passing my library rant forward to his readers as well. By the way, this man (and UCLA writing instructor) knows how to write an entertaining (and sometimes even useful!) essay. If you would like a copy of a great sample to help hone your skills, go to this one that features Pastrami and, yes, libraries! http://homepage.smc.edu/meeks_christopher/Maplewoods%20Mirror%20Number%2014

Or e-mail Chris at chrismeeks@gmail.com and ask him to subscribe you.

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at www.howtodoitfrugally.com at less per year than most sites charge for a single month (see the advertising tab at the top of the page) or at www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
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Tip: Children's authors should absolutely try The Reading Tub (www.thereadingtub.com) for reviews of their books. BTW, find lots of other resources for reviews on my site at www.howtodoitfrugally.com on the Resources for Writers page.

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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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Opportunities:

West Hollywood Fair Booth Space
Authors' Coalition is sponsoring a booth at the West Hollywood Fair. The cost is less that the LA Fair because it is a smaller fair. Smaller means fewer attendees but it also means less competition for attention and West Hollywood also means it will be attended by some Hollywood types.(-: I will be moderating a panel there and that should help drive some traffic to our booth, too. So, to learn more, e-mail me with BOOK FAIR in the subject line at hojonews@aol.com or go to the new blog on fairs (got a new one that works!) at www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com. By the way, this is a cross-promotion effort. Participants need to plan to send out media releases (with my guidance) and invitations. (-:
Check out the fair at http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/
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Featuring Carolyn on July 13

Learn from Yvonne Perry's Podcasts

Yvonne says: "What an incredible opportunity is available on Writers in the Sky podcast July 13, 2007. Join us as Yvonne Perry interviews Carolyn Howard-Johnson, the award-winning author of the “How To Do It Frugally” Series of Books for authors.

"This 3-part interview will give you tips on editing, publishing and marketing your book. It is worth your time to listen and learn. The weekly podcast, Writers in the Sky, is available on iTunes.com and may be accessed on Yvonne’s blog http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com

I say, "Use these links now. Yvonne's podcasts are archived so you can always find something that will help you grow."

Yvonne is the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services at www.yvonneperry.net and author of RIGHT TO RECOVER: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America at www.right2recover.com ------
Big New Opportunity from John Kremer: Here it is everyone! I happened on John Kremer's new project by accident but it looks as if it could be huge. It's John's answer to MySpace for people interested in marketing their books. Here is John's profile:
http://bookmarket.ning.com/profile/JohnKremer and here is mine! http://bookmarket.ning.com/profile/carolynhowardjohnson.
I have a sense about this. I urge you to get in early, browse the members and invite a few friends. (-:
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Tip: The Hollywood Book Fair (not to be confused with the West Hollywood Book Fair) is now taking reservations for booths. It is July 28th at Barnsdall Art Park in Los Feliz--corner of Vermont and Hollywood. Learn more at: http://www.hollywoodbookfestival.com/. Your contact is Frances Powell. hollywoodbkfest2@earthlink.net

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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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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. Please get in the habit of using subject lines, though, ones that will not be interpreted as spam.)

Michelle Dunn: The New York Book Festival has named the best books of its 2007 competition. Michelle (www.michelledunn.com), captured their award for her book, Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money, Second Edition in the "How to" category. The runner-up is Mary Greenwood with her book How to Negotiate like a Pro.
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Betty Dobson (http://inkspotter.com), In the wee small hours of the morning on Friday, June 22nd, my short story "Baby Angels" hit #5 on the Amazon Shorts bestseller list! (And it's at #3 for the Literature & Fiction subcategory.)
And all because I joined in on a forum conversation on Amazon.com. Not only did I sell a few copies (bonus), I also made some new friends (which was the main goal going in). See it at: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Angels/dp/B000JMK8KQ

If any of you don't know about shorts, yet, explore them at Amazon.com.

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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. Make it simple; 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, the Frugal Book
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

& Carolyn will be interviewed by popular author and marketer Janet Elaine Smith hosts an online radio program, "Marketing for Fun and Profit," every Monday evening at 9 p.m. ET on http://internetvoicesradio.com/ .
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& Carolyn is sharing her secrets again. This time with hose who tune into Yvonne Perry's Writers in the Sky podcast July 13, 2007. This 3-part interview will give you tips on editing, publishing and marketing your book. It is worth your time to listen and learn. This weekly podcast is available on iTunes.com and may be accessed on Yvonne’s blog http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com .
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& Carolyn will moderate a panel titled
Reach for Your Dream: Prepare for Publication the Professional Way
at the West Hollywood Book Fair on September 30. Circle your calendars. It's f r ^ ^ Even those who are old hands at publishing will learn something new, I promise!
West Hollywood Park
647 N San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Learn more at http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/
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& Carolyn will speak at the fourth Annual Pen to Paper Literary Symposium October 6, 2007, Dayton Marriott, 1414 S. Patterson Blvd Dayton, Ohio, 45409. The conference, spearheaded by Valerie Coleman, 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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New! & Carolyn Howard-Johnson will speak at the Southern Festival of Books (October 12-14) I in Nashville, TN. Details to come.
During the second full weekend of October each year, more than 200 authors converge in Nashville to celebrate books with book-lovers at the Southern Festival of Books. It is held on the Legislative Plaza that surrounds the Capitol building in downtown Nashville. It is like a huge carnival of books. Speakers (including me in 2007) present in meeting rooms at various locations around the plaza. http://tn-humanities.org/festival/
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& The f r ^ ^ Muse Online Writers' Conference, sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, is accepting early registration. More than 1,000 attended last year and openings are limited. Learn more about this year's conference, October 8 to 14, and how you can assure your spot in 2007. We will present an all-new program soon. Go to:
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/presentersregistration.htm
To see the growing list of presenters go to: http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007workshops.htm

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Sign up to receive a copy of my Sharing with Writers blog. It is a focused blog on all things writing and publishing related, from scolding Oprah to free speech. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching for 2008:

& As you can see 2008 is already beginning to fill. I will be sharing with the nation's humor writers again in the spring of 2008 at Dayton University's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. I'll speak twice at the Kennedy Union on campus.

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Booth opportunities at the West Hollywood Book Fair. E-mail me now. They're filling up fast.
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TIP: After I spoke to the Romance Writers of San Diego on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to hear Jill Limber, National President of RWA, speak on writing synopses. She says the three biggest mistakes writers make when writing synopses is that:
 they write stiltedly from chapter to chapter rather than aiming for a fluid story (This suggestion may apply less to nonfiction books other than memoirs.)
 they neglect voice. Voice is important in synopses, no matter how we may feel about writing them (This is an area often neglected by nonfiction writers. Nonfiction doesn't mean the voice must be textbooky.)
 they neglect characterization. The reader must be taken by characters or the purpose of the synopsis is lost. (Fiction or creative nonfiction only!)

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A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books. Let people see that book cover image! So, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. for a year at the same price many sites frequented by readers and writers charge in a year. Yep, the frugal way! Click on the Advertising tab at the top of the page or contact me personally at hojonews@aol.com.
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How Do You Make A Book Fair Work for You?

I started a new blog on the subject and hope you'll all go there. You'll find information on the West Hollywood Book Fair coming up but you'll also find lots of my Q&A format on topics pertinent to promoting--specifically promoting at events. Here is the start of the most recent post:
How do Book Fairs Stack Up? Q&A A La Ann Landers
Question: I have so many expenses and so little money. Do you think [a book fair] would be a good investment or should I save my money for mailing, like to libraries or indie bookstores?

Carolyn's Answer: As THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER suggests, try not to use your money for promotion that can be done as well or even almost as well online. Use Google to the max. Glean the e-mail addresses from indie bookstores and libraries and send out your releases (both the release about your book's release and about your author-appearance at this--or any other--fair) by e-mail.

Question: Also, I get a better discount on my first order of books than thereafter and I was thinking I should buy as many as possible [with the money I have available].
Find the Answer to this and other questions on the most recent blog entry at www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com and leave a comment or question of your own! While you're there, check out what Authors' Coalition is doing at the West Hollywood Book Fair.

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Available: Audios from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career are published by Double Dragon Press. Here is the page where you'll find the full list (http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/glist.php?imprint=AUDIO) including one on "Do It Yourself Indexing." The first audio, "Promoting Easy and Cheap!" is a
F R ^ ^ sample you can download. Each comes with a resource guide. Here is an example of a guide for the audio-lesson Your Divas did on "Contests": http://www.derondouglas.com/audiosample/AwardResourceGuideContests.pdf
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TIP: Write On! Creative Writing Services publishes a free monthly newsletter called Writers in the Sky. The publication provides a rich resource of articles and information about the craft and business of writing, publishing and book marketing. Join the subscription list and get a complimentary e-book Tips for Freelance Writing. This book has some great "how-to" information for those who are trying to get a freelance writing career off the ground! See http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writers-in-the-Sky-Newsletter.html for details or simply subscribe to writers in the sky newsletter now!

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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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Technology in the News: Very advanced touchscreens are coming from Apple for their iPhones and from Microsoft on something codenamed Milan. Milan is like an interactive screen that is quite large. Because it is sensitive and may be used by several people at once it might be used by artists, in classrooms and we might find them installed at our restaurant tables for interactive ordering. What application might be used by writers is yet to be seen, but we'll think of something. (-:

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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Authors' Coalition Founder
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Resources
From Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor

(Elizabeth contributes at least one valuable paying resource per SWW issue--either a great place to sell material or find writing craft or promotional idea--and sometimes throws in a resource for you.)

Resources:

DREAMWALKER GROUP – a f r ^ ^ opportunity for writers/authors artists and other creative people to promote themselves and their work at online bookstore http://dreamwalkergroup.com
Authors are indexed by their first names and a list of your works and active links to your work is provided. The website has a list of 3,000 participants, and growing. At the bookstore, each profile page gives a historical list of the artist’s works. Each work has a link so that a reader can buy the book immediately via Amazon.com. The profile also gives a list of the author’s favorite authors and books … and each of these links to a profile page for that author. This special kind of networking enables readers to find other authors recommended by the authors they already like. In addition, there are subject links to other authors. So if your author writes romance novels, her or his profile page will have a link to other romance novels or mysteries, etc. To be listed, contact: Michael Walker info@dreamwalkergroup.com
To see my link: http://dreamwalkergroup.com/bio/e/elizabeth_lucas_taylor.htm
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Find Elizabeth at http://www.authorsden.com/elucastaylor or her new blog at http://www.elucas-taylor.blogspot.com/ or at MySpace http://www.myspace.com/elucastaylor
where you will find a writers' community.

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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 any of my books -- the HowToDoItFrugally Series to my chapbook of poetry -- for a place on my Resources for Writers or Resources for Readers pages on www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
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Opinion: From SWW Subscribers

Subsidy/Self-Publishing as Opportunity for Future

Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for your newsletter! I have some great news! Because I have three poetry books published now from my "Poems on Life, Love & Their Consequences" series and my newest book is almost done I've put a promo together w/a letter of introduction, the new covers I designed, one page from the Table of Contents, one illustration and six poems. I've sent it by e-mail to every major publisher in North America and the UK and this week I received two serious inquiries about it. They had me fill out a questionnaire and I sent the first half of the new book to them. One of them said that they would have an answer in just two weeks! Unreal!
So you might want to pass along this news. In self-publishing my first three books I have opened channels to get major publishers interested in my newest work. And of course I have a powerful web site www.poemsonlifeandlove.com and I have 25 Reps promoting my three published books to the USA Public Library System. Obviously this is impressive to big publishers...
I do not use an agent any more. I have fired three agents in the last three years. They did not have the vision that I had for success, they do not work as hard as I do, and they are not dependable.
I formed my own company, recruited investors and got published on my own with XLibris. This has obviously led to bigger and better things...
Regards, Geral John Pinault
Note: Of course, some may prefer to never publish traditionally. Each book is different. Each author has different dreams, different needs.
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TIP: Calling all romance writers! I just spoke to a local group of Romance Writers of America. If they are all run similarly, every romance writer in America should be a member. Check out the local possibilities for your own membership at: www.rwanational.org

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TIP: Hope Clark is always helping writers--with her many newsletters, her books and more. Because one of my new goals is to explore fund-raising for writers, I was excited to see that she posts new opportunities on this blog regularly. http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

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The New Book Review is a service of this newsletter and Authors' Coalition. It allows authors to get more exposure from their favorite review and reviewers a chance to have more readers see their reviews--with links, of course. Please check the guidelines on the blog site at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. =======================================================

E-Tips for E-Promotion
Find the list of online media release disseminators at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Go to the Resources for Writers page. You aren't limited to using one and many are free. I include brief assessments of each one.
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This is a regular Sharing with Writers feature by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of USA Book News' Best Professional Book THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T and the soon-to-be released THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS. (E-tips for E-promotion was originally a regular feature of SellWritingOnline.com.)

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Endorsement:
"www.HowToDoItFrugally.com , by Carolyn Howard--Johnson [is] a top website for writers . . . I'd say my ROI is over 1,000%. The advice is particularly strong in addressing the new author where they are in learning the publishing/selling process. Very practical. The site is excellent." ~ Hill Kemp, author of Capitol Offense, http://www.capitoloffense.com/, and contributor to Secrets, Fact or Fiction? I, ISBN 0-9737282-5-6 and Secrets, Fact or Fiction? II, ISBN 1-59594-062-6, LOC 2006904627, http://www.secretsfactorfiction.com
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
(Every year the Washington Post conducts a neologism contest. These are the winners, one at a time. You might have some favorite neologisms metaphors or similes that make you smile. If so, please contribute.)

"Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late."

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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