July 13, 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_July_No2Week2007.doc

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Note from Carolyn:

My fellow AC Members and SWW Subscribers:

Sometimes a review so good comes along that authors are loathe to let it die. They might include it in their media kit or add it to their websites. Now its life can be extended even further with my new blog, The New Book Review. (www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com).

Here is a review blog that doesn't judge a book by its cover or by the press used to print it. If one reviewer loved a book, that qualifies it for more coverage. Authors are asked to follow the guidelines given in the left column of the blog and, in return, are asked only to let their fans and the media know it is there. That helps expose every review on the blog (a cross-promotion of sorts) and gives authors an opportunity to reach out to the public.

I have mentioned this new blog in this newsletter and am surprised at how few SWW subscribers have taken advantage of it. Of course you qualify! Are you waiting until you can write a great release for the media or cozy invitation to fans? Well, maybe I can help you with that! I'd like to be able to post a new review every other day or so, so let's get with it! (-: It's a great way to build your footprint on search engines.

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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Letters-to-the-Editor

Dear Carolyn,

Thanks for another great newsletter! Each issue is packed with so many resources and helpful tips. You are a true "writer's writer"! I look forward to listening to you on "Beyond Words" (www.kclu.org ) -- one of my favorite shows, and Fran is fabulous. . . . Keep up all the wonderful work you do, and keep in touch. You are a treasure to the writing community.

Best always,
Dallas
www.dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com
www.zest.net/writeon

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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 Erica Miner, author of the Travels with my Lovers (hot, huh?), for taking such good care of her subscribers, including me. Find her newsletter at http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter-archive/July07.htm . Also note how she utilizes media releases for content. I'm often surprised at how many editors of blogs and newsletters think of a release as
1. something they have to print complete, as its sent to them or
2. don't consider them as food for whatever they're doing but rather as merely friendly communication (which they are but they should be far more useful than that!)

So, thank you Erica. And those who want to subscribe to a fine resource go to www.ericaminer.com/newsletter.
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To Charlene Austin, editor of Writers and Readers Network, for two great reviews, one of my new The Frugal Editor and one of The Frugal Book Promoter. Go to. http://www.writersandreadersnetwork.com/html/body_spotlight.html While you're there, notice her great use of verbs. Thank you, too, Charlene for the exposure on your home page!

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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: Did you know I add new resources to my website almost every week? Sometimes many, sometimes only one or two. You'll find sites, people, blogs, lists, and more that you can use all over the site but start with the Resources for Writers and Resources for Readers pages. How might you or your book or your site fit into that? Wanna trade what is known in the advertising biz as display ads? Just want to be there? Let me know.

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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. Paid participating AC subscribers are Joyce Faulkner, Carol Wood, Erica Stux, Janet Goliger, Jay Bern, Leora Krygier, Walter Brasch, Sona Ovasapyan, Christine Alexanians, Kevin Gerard, . 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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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, lines that will not be interpreted as spam.)

Sylvia McClain is contributing to three anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause (www.scribalpress.com/Books.htm), Eyes on Fire: Witnesses to the Detroit Riot of 1967. and the newly-released Gumbo for the Soul: The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community (www.barnesandnoble.com).

Sylvia McClain, founder of RPM Enterprises, can assist other aspiring writers in workshops and one on one consultation with tips and instructions on how to become a successful writer. (www.scribalpress.com).
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Christine Alexanians, a former student of mine, just published a poem with Salute!, edited by Pat McGrath Avery. Many of her poems are based on her heritage/experience with the Armenian genocide. Anyone interested in contributing to this military-oriented newsletter or just in receiving it should send an e-mail to riverroadpress@yahoo.com with "Subscribe: Salute!" in the subject line.

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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:


Yvonne Perry's Writers in the Sky podcast/interview is still 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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Carolyn Howard-Johnson will speak at the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word (October 12-14) I in Nashville, TN. Time and subject to be announced later. And don't you just love the title of the fair? You'll find more information on this fair and others you might participate in at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on the Resources for Writers page and scroll down. For more on this specific fair, go to
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. http://www.humorwriters.org/

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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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The State of Bookstores

Because there is at least one developer out there who is tuned to the pulse of his neighborhood, Dutton's Brentwood Books will survive. Charles T. Munger has changed his development plans and will now rearrange his design to let Dutton's stay; he will also charge them a low rate for their rent and build around them in small segments so they can remain open during construction. Now here's Munger's statement and it is, unfortunately, all too true. "Bookstores are fragile. Jostle them slightly and they never reopen."

Now, if we could have only had a guardian angel for the 25 books stores on a list of fewer than 600 that Authors' Coalition sent a catalog to as part of our value-added promotions for the 2007 LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books. Those 25 catalogs were returned with an "undeliverable" message stamped on them in glary-red with a big finger pointing at the address. Presumably these stores had closed (allowing for an incorrect address or two). Most of them were treasured independents that the participating authors had lovingly supplied to us. A couple of them were parts of large chains.

There is little we can do about this trend other than support bookstores, particularly the bookstores--both chains and indies--that support us writers. But it is important to be aware of the trend. We writers-of-books will need to find ways other than the traditional book tours to create a buzz about our books. Lucky we'll still have Duttons, but we also have the many bookish sites on the Web. I believe that authors can work with both bookstores and websites to benefit one another and their readers. So, let's not neglect one in favor of the other. We can do that by encouraging our readers to support the stores and sites that are supporting us. So here are some ideas:

 When a bookstore gives you a signing, promote it.
 As long as the bookstore continues to carry your book, list its website URL as a resource along with your favorite online bookstore.
 Send thank you notes to them.
 Give bookstore gift certificates as gifts (UCLA Writers' Program often does this when they want to gift someone for supporting their program).

Can you think of any other ways? Send them to me as tips. (-: Better still, go list them as comments on the version of this editorial that I posted on Amazon's AuthorConnect. http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3JH18T58CY65P/002-3692730-7456014

Why? That gives you a chance to help others and say something about your book AND list your own URL. (-:

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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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On Finding an Agent

By Francine Silverman
Reprinted from her Book Promotion Newsletter http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
http://www.nystatetravel.com

I've got an agent!! Since I never used one before, I didn't know you could send proposals to more than one at a time. So I decided to write a column called "Waiting To Hear Back from a Literary Agent," which you can read at http://mysite.verizon.net/resockeb/e-zine/id22.html

I turned to three subscribers who I knew use agents. All responded with good information, although I could not follow Anne Fletcher's advice since my book can become dated if I wait too long. Anne, whose latest book is Weight Loss Confidential: How Teens Lost Weight and Kept It Off-And What They Wish Parents Knew (Houghton Mifflin 2007), believes authors should create a relationship with an agent before sending anything out. "I've had two different agents during my 20-some year book-writing career," she wrote. "And I never sent a manuscript 'blindly' to an agent. Both times, I met with the agent, either in person or by phone." http://www.annemfletcher.com

Marlene Shyer, a novelist and children's book author, has two agents and didn't know how long a response should take. But she would not wait to hear. “If I were doing it, I think I'd send the proposal simultaneously to a few agents," she said. "After all, agents send ms to six or eight editors at a time these days, so why not?" http://www.marleneshyer.com

Julia Buckley, author of The Dark Backward (Midnight Ink 2006), suggested searching for agents at http://www.agentquery.com , which is where I found mine. Another good site is http://www.writers.net/agents.html

Waiting six to eight weeks to hear back from an agent is not for me. I emailed this agent one day and the next she wrote back. From day one, even before signing me on, she made suggestions on improving the table of contents and showed great enthusiasm for my project. Now she wants me to provide her with numbers, numbers, numbers, i.e., size of potential audience, number of competing titles, how many people I expect to reach with my new book. This is not an easy task, but something we should all do before writing our books.

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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: Facebook was once for the college crowd. I haven't tried it but Justin Fox at Time Magazine says it has become "potentially a much more useful tool." I haven't tried it. I'm using Linkedus and John Kremer's targeted Ning group, but this may be perfect for those who want to focus on interest groups outside the writing community.

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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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TIP: Mary Emma Allen was interviewed at http://www.growyourwritingbusiness.com/?p=. The interview is worth reading and the site may be a resource for you.

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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.)

SHORT STORY RESOURCES: The Short Story Website (UK)- http://www.theshortstory.org.uk/introduction.html

List of Short Story Publishers - http://www.topicsites.com/publishers/short-story.htm

Short Story E-zines - http://www.maryzwolf.com/epub3.html

Paying Short Story Markets - http://www.redinkworks.com/short_story_markets.htm

Short Story Contests - http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/2363.asp

More Short Story Contests - http://collectedstories.com/files/storyteller/contests.html

Short Stories/Collections Competitions- http://www.mwgraves.com/Writers/sscontests.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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Technology

In Time magazine Anita Hamilton reports that a new trend in media is personalized radio. Not only can you pick your songs, but once you've done it, logorhythms (or something! Ha!) help you select other music you might like so you at least you get exposed (selectively) to new stuff. To check it out go to last.fm, Pandora.com and slacker.com. How might this trend affect you? How might you use it? I'm thinking. I'm thinking!

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I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate, depending on the deal of the moment. Even at that, the prices generally are good, the products they offer excellent quality and they do short runs. (I don't advise long runs on promotion material because your needs can change very quickly.) Please use this link:
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=815651421184
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Web Advice from WebforAuthors.com Expert Marshall Turner

Adding Video to Your Website

Here is a fun and easy way to add video to your website.

1. Create video
The video can be created from any source that can produce a digital file for your PC - video camera, still camera with video feature, and some cell phones. Practice your pitch or edit to suit.

2. YouTube
Go to http://www.youtube.com, create an account, and then upload the video
to your account.

3. Add video to your site
When you watch a video on YouTube, look to the right for information on
"Embed." Copy the text in the box next to Embed and paste it on your website
page.

That's it! Now you have added a video clip from YouTube to your website.
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website at http://www.webforauthors.com/ or contact Marshall at mturner@webforauthors.com.

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TIP:Use your writing skills to win a 2,000 gift to your favorite school. You only need 100 words and a bright idea (I assume!) Go to www.hopeforeducation.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

Here is a calendar edited by Sylvia McClain that I always send my events to. Her calendar can be a resource for us readers (learning opportunities, events to attend, etc) and as authors (letting people know where they can find us!). Here are the details straight from Sylvia:
Guidelines

Book signing submission:
E-mail sylmcclain@juno.com with “Book Signing” in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail list author, book, date, time, location (city and state), contact information (phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web addresses welcomed). No more, no less, please.

Conferences and seminars submission:
E-mail sylmcclain@juno.com with “Conference or Seminar” in the subject line. In the body of the e-mail list conference name, date, time, location (city and state), registration deadline, contact information (phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web addresses welcomed). No more, no less, please.

Newsletter recommendations submission:
E-mail sylmcclain@juno.com with “newsletter” in the subject line. In the body give name, type, host, web site (if one).

To subscribe to this newsletter, send blank email to sylmcclain@juno.com with “Subscribe Scribal News” in the subject line.
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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.)

" Glibido (v): All talk and no action."

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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