If you would prefer to read this letter in its not - so - glorious full formatted version copy and paste this URL you’re your browser:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Sept_11_2009.pdf

September 11, 2009
Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs! Associated with the multi award - winning series of HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, www.howtodoitfrugally.com


From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
and Sharing with Writers Subscribers

In the spirit of the advice I give in the Frugal Editor - - that is to use an extra pair of eyes whenever possible - - this newsletter is voluntarily copyedited by Mindy Phillips Lawrence ~ mplcreative1@aol.com ~ www.freewebs.com/mplcreative. I also tell writers to be patient with other writers when they make editing boo - boos. We're all human. This letter comes out weekly and it's long!
~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~

Contents

Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn
~Letters - to - the - Editor
~Thank Yous (where you also find leads and great resources!)
~Tips and News Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find them!)
~Opportunities
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: “Writing as a Meditation”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~ Feature: Learning Book Promotion from Hollywood
~ Feature: Letting the Universe Work On Behalf Of Your Writing Career
~ Feature: Reaching Out to TARGET


Note: You may have better luck with the URLs in this newsletter if you copy and paste. The reason that I leave them long rather than use hyperlinks is because this letter is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as by .pdf.
~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~

Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

Please help!

You may remember that I am launching a new book. I have referred to it in this newsletter infrequently because A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (www.budurl.com/RetailersGuide) is really aimed at retailers more than authors. Though authors with published books really are retailers when it comes to accruing new readers. Readers, after all, are your end - customer. Selling to the end - using customers is the definition of retail, folks! ( - :

In fact, author Shannon Yarbrough says, "I jumped at the chance to review A Retailer's Guide only because I knew I'd find something I could use toward my own book marketing and indeed I did."

Now I am researching how to make Amazon help with a book launch so that I can pass what I learn from a strategic approach to that kind of promotion on to you. I'm working with Denise Cassino (dencassino@gmail.com) who helps launch products (yes, another word you won't like applying to your book but you book is a product!). I'll be asking you in little baby steps to help me out. You'll benefit, of course, when I send you a special edition of Sharing with Writers on propelling sales on Amazon.

I used to be a bit skeptical of the "bestselling on Amazon" approaches to marketing; many smacked of misleading tactics. Denise's approach does not. It's more like authors recommending books (or products) to others, recommending books and products they can believe in. It's like word - of - mouth. We all know that is a wonderful marketing tool. You tell the guy at the supermarket that you love a book, he believes you, buys it and loves it and then tells someone else. Anyway, I'm excited about sharing this with you, step - by - step in this newsletter. You learn as I learn.

As an example, today was my day for narrowing down the tags (or keywords) I establish for my books. You can do that, too, even if you aren't your own publisher. For my retail book they are "Product Management" and "Direct Marketing." Denise tells me I can add more tags later but right now, I need those to take hold and soar on Amazon.

The next step is to ask people we know (in this case you) to go to my page and click three times. One each on the tags "Product Management" and "Direct Marketing." You find the place to do this under "Tags Customers Associate with This Product." Then scroll a bit more and click on the fifth star where it says to Rate This Item to Improve Your Recommendations.
The benefits to you? The follow - along process in this newsletter (or even a f r ^ ^ booklet that I'll produce when I'm done). One does learn more by doing. In fact, you can begin to work this as I give you more information, one step at a time.
So, won't you help? Go to http://www.budurl.com/RetailersGuide and follow the steps above. Just keep scrolling to the specific sections. The place to add or click on tags is right above the "Customer Reviews." You all know where that is!

Happy Writing, Promoting and Editing, too.
Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: Watch for new marketing ideas in this newsletter on how to use F R ^ ^ to market your book.


=====================================================
There is a page of contests on the Resource for Writers page on my Web site: http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/contests.htm Follow the links on that page to other valuable lists on my site, too. =====================================================


Letters - to - the - Editor ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hi Carolyn,

[Regarding my less than stellar recommendation for article bank eHow]

I was just getting ready to order your Frugal Editor book, when I read your Amazon blog post on eHow.

I wanted to correct you on a few things since I am an author who uses eHow.

You can promote your own book in the resources section of your article. For example, if you wrote an article about editing, you could include a link to your editing book in the resources section. I do this all the time with my own titles, and book that I promote through Amazon. eHow doesn't have a problem with this.

In fact, my affiliate commissions have been edging up ever so slightly because of my eHow articles.

And besides that, I do get paid on my articles. I have 35 articles to be exact, and this month I'll be getting a PayPal payment for $19.80. Not a fortune. But it's no big deal. I can promote my e - books and any other books I choose. That's what I'm there for.

One final tip, don't mention your book title in the article. Give your how - to steps only. Only mention the book title and URL in the resources section, which is on the article entry template.

Good luck!
Alexis Dawes, http://www.DesperateBuyersOnly.com Alexis teaches readers how to create information products that buyers are hungry for in Desperate Buyers Only.



=====================================================
The Green New Media Life Expos (http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com/content/green - book - pavilion - featuring - carolyn - howard - johnson?destination=node%2F10 ) offer Green Book Pavilions this fall at expos at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA; Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento; and the Pomona Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA. An author's package for each expo is available to help authors promote themselves and their books. Contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at 702 467 9411. =====================================================


In the News: Recently the Global Language Monitor tracked English's 1 millionth word. It was "Web 2.0." Mmmm. That's a word?


=====================================================
Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or Web site: To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com or go to www.howtodoitfrugally.com for an auto subscribe box. Ask for a f r ^ ^ classified ad on my Web site in return. Let me know you did it. I will be able to do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Let me know you did it. We'll find something I can do for you!
=====================================================


In the News: Time magazine reports that the top Ivy League colleges are falling all over themselves to give the public free lectures using video. You can use it by going to YouTubeEdu. But more than that, you can take a page from their book (rarely a bad idea to learn something from the ivy league!). That is, use videos to promote what you do. Teach? Sponsor writers' conferences? Produce expos? Do poetry readings? As they say in the song, give 'em that ol' razz ma taz.


=====================================================
My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. It includes a segment of frugal ways to help our troops and veterans. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
=====================================================


Tip: I participated in Tony Eldridge's Twitter contest. He did a great job. Now he's writing a book on strategic marketing using Twitter. Many of his ideas will work for any of your social networks. Find an excerpt on how to target your friends/followers here: http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2009/09/importance - of - targeting - excerpt - from.html


=================================================== Book Proposal Help: Phyllis Zimbler Miller and I ran a fun Tweetchat on book proposals. She edited it for easier reading and posted it for those who missed it. There is lots of info in it on shopping your book to agents, too. Remember, you read tweet chats like you follow blogs. From the bottom up. http://budurl.com/bookprotweetchat Another book proposal help is "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less" for 49 cents at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ =====================================================


Opportunities
Call for Your Title To Be in a Cross - Promotion Catalog . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From Book Launch Guru Denise Cassino
Hi Friends,
We are creating a spectacular online Spirit of Christmas Catalog. This exclusive catalog will feature books, products and even services for your friends and followers to consider for holiday gifts. Our plan is to launch the catalog by each of us mailing to all of our contacts and social networks on December 1. Well provide everything you need for the announcement. This is explicitly for selling YOUR products. Each product will offer a detailed description, product image, price and buy button. If your response is strong, we’ll create a page where you can submit your info as we do on the book launches we do.

We want to give Sharing with Writers subscribers first dibs on featuring your books, products, and services in this beautiful online catalog. Our contact lists have grown immensely and what better way to utilize our expertise than to allow you to sell via our Spirit of Christmas Catalog.

December is a busy gift buying season. What a great opportunity for you all to make money selling your stuff and to bring in a little extra cash for the holidays.

The Spirit of Christmas Catalog will be organized by sections such as Spiritual, Motivational, Abundance, Body, Mind, Transformational, Fiction, Non - Fiction, Children etc. We can even offer handmade products. Your item will be placed in the category you indicate. The actual purchases will be made from your own page when they click the Buy Button. This way you keep control of your sales and fulfillment.

We will design, create and organize the catalog. The cost per person is $69 for the entire season. This includes placement of up to 5 items for that price. If this catalog goes well, we will continue with a Spring, Summer and Fall edition. That’s only $23. per month and we handle the website design, labor costs, staffing, etc. You will keep all the sales proceeds yourself. In this difficult economy, we can all benefit from inexpensive advertising. We want you to have a great experience and at the same time benefit from the tremendous number of contacts that we have accrued during the last year. We want to respond to your plea of "Why can't I just sell something?"

All items will have standard alphabetical ad placement. However, we are also offering specialized featured placement for an additional cost. In other words, we will have special ads on the home page that click through to the buy page. We will also offer ads on every page in the various categories. So, if you want your spiritual book to appear on every spiritual product page, we will have an additional fee for that. Let me know if you have an interest in the special placement.

If this catalog goes well, we will continue with a Spring, Summer and Fall edition.
We will launch on December 1. We will provide you with our ad copy and banners to that you can place them on your site or in your newsletters, blogs, tweets and social networking.

We are so excited by this venture and know this will be a great opportunity for all of us to get our products and services in front of perhaps 2 - 3 million people! Let us know by return email if you are interested. We can only take so many, so it's a first come first serve basis. When we assess the interest level, we will take the next step. You payment can be made via PayPal.
Be sure to share this with your friends who might also want to be a part of this exciting opportunity! We want to reward those who supported our launches and their friends. Our way of giving back. Let's make this the most prosperous Christmas ever! Here’s the link: www.spiritofchristmascatalog.com – you can fill out the form here.

Merry Christmas!
Denise Cassino
303 838 3399



Contest: Win a Book and Get a Poem or Short Published . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . on my blog. Because poetry can be so important in our lives if we will but let it, I am running a contest to remind people to slow down a bit and read a poem (or write one). I will select a winner from those who send me an e - mail with TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING in the subject line. The prize is an e - copy of Lillian Brummet's Towards Understanding. I'll randomly pick a winner on Sept. 30. The winner will also have an opportunity to publish one of their poems or a short excerpt from their prose in my newsletter—a piece that fits with the theme "Towards Understanding." Send your entries to HoJoNews@aol.com . Learn more about Lillian's book on my blog at http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2009/07/sharing - with - writers - offers - first.html .



===================================================== So you got As in English. You know grammar and spelling. That's great but an editor of you those skills alone doth not make. An editor knows formatting, front and back matter, indexing, structure, the elements of fiction and on and on. But mostly she'll see your manuscript in a fresh, new light. Learn how to hire a great editor and learn to be a better partner for any author, awful to superb, in The Frugal Editor. http://www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor
=====================================================


Tip: Drive traffic to your site by meeting people elsewhere. Submit articles at www.articlesbase.com. (Tip submitted by Patrika Vaughn, your Author's Advocate. www.acappela.com)


===================================================== Recently Yvonne Perry, owner of WritersintheSky Creative Services, and I chatted about editing, everything from em dashes to why what works on the Web but doesn't work for you book's manuscript. Yvonne offers you the f r ^ ^ podcast on her blog: http://ow.ly/hUNM . Other new ones for your Frugal and F r ^ ^ enjoyment include:
Raleigh Pinskey and I chat about hiring a publicist and the joy of writing: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Raleigh - R - Pinskey
Cheryl Antier and I talk promotion, memoir, process at
www.blogtalkradio.com/cheryl - antier.
Irene Watson, Victor R. Volkman's Author Access and I chat on several f r ^ ^ including a new one on writing book proposals just at http://authorsaccess.com/archives/category/carolyn - howard - johnson
And I read poetry with Lillian Brummet as host at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AuthorsRead/2009/08/14/Carolyn - Howard - Johnson - She - Wore - Emerald - Then
Just the FAQs MaAnna Stephenson and I recorded a couple of different podcasts. One on marketing fiction (Part II). Find them at http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml
=====================================================

Feature

Learning Book Promotion from Hollywood ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The movie about Anna Wintour and the Making of Vogue, needs no introduction among fashionistas. Wintour is the guru behind Vogue magazine, and the movie will soon be "in a theater near you."

But look! It is not using the old promotion model of presenting it as a sneak preview in theaters! That's been done before. It's coming as a gift from Bloomingdale's (or rather a gift - with - purchase) and Bloomie's is generally thought to be the leading department store for clothes horses.

I'm sure you are getting my drift here. The marketing people behind The September Issue are stepping out of the usual same old, same old box. Stylishly.

Here's the advertised deal: Stop by participating Bloomingdale's locations (Beverly Center, Century City and Sherman Oaks - - all in LA) and purchase $150 or more in the fashion accessories and handbags department (a mere pittance by Bloomie standards) and they'll give you "a chance" to see the film September 10. You're to see a Bloomingdale's sales associate for details on the VIP screening pass. You can also ask to be put on a waiting list by sending an e - mail to SeptemberIssue@latimes.com. There are only 100 passes available. Ahem!

Sounds as if - - when the thundering Jimmy Choo shoes come stomping in for their chance at this event (not just a prescreening but a chance to look at a whole theater full of other fashionistas willing to spend $150!) - - they will have fodder for some follow up stories for the business pages of newspapers and news Web sites across the land.

Are we authors taking notes? Apparently so. I just mentioned this marketing event on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/carolynhowardjohnson) and many authors (including Barbara Techel, Connie Gotsch and Tammy Banks) who have written books about dogs are busy trading secrets for getting events at pet food stores and vet offices.

The thing is this event goes a few steps farther than just finding compatible retailers or other businesses to sell products (in this case a movie and handbags).

It helps, of course, that Vogue already has a fan base. But here are the important lessons to take away from this brilliant promotion.

~It's limited, thus more desirable. Same with Michael Jackson's memorial performance and some other recent events.
~It points out these limitations, thus increasing the mystique.
~It plays to its fan base. In other words, it isn't trying to appeal to anyone but the crowd who buys handbags that cost $150 to many, many thousands. So who is your prime fan base? Go after another business that caters to that same base as a partner.
~It asks for participation (a purchase or taking action by e - mail). That gives Bloomingdale's (and the marketing house behind The September Issue) a list they can build on for the future.
~The most important feature of the campaign is the premarketing. This would be nothing without all participants contributing resources and working up the excitement before the event.
~Notice that, though limited, they haven't closed off the idea that there may be a chance for everyone to attend (even though they admit they only have 100 passes available!). Hope springs eternal for those who care. In fact, hope consumes those same people because it is limited. It's a lottery! Women who love Kate Spade just need to be there!
~And, of course, there's that post publicity I mentioned. Don't think they don't already have those media releases written and waiting to plug in the amazing statistics about the success of the event. Once that's done, they can do their media release e - mail blitz or start their phone banks rolling. There'll be a few cameras at the event too, for sure.

Oh, and PS! This movie uses one title and two subtitles. It is The September Issue: Fashion is a Religion. This is the Bible. The second subtitle is Anna Wintour & The Making of Vogue. If that isn't more excitement making verbiage, I never saw it.

PPS: Can you think of another aspect of this campaign we can learn from?
- - - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson is a former publicist for Eleanor Lambert publicity in New York. She has written media releases and done photo shoots for former fashion greats like Pauline Trigere and Rudy Gernreich (the topless bathing suit designer of the 60s). She has turned her marketing talents to promoting her own fiction, poetry and multi award - winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers including The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo). Learn more about her at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.



=====================================================
No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/advertising.htm at less per year than most sites charge for a single month. Find classified there, too.
=====================================================


Tip: If you are a new writer considering self publishing, there is a ton to learn. It may pay to get help. Have you thought about publishing your book? Patrika Vaughn's Advocate House helps you pub a book you can be proud of once you do know more: www.acappela.com


=====================================================
Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested
in the F r ^^ Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/free_content.htm I try to add new articles to it frequently. If you don't see what you need for your blog or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
=====================================================


Feature

Letting the Universe Work On Behalf Of Your Writing Career
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From past newsletters many of you are aware that I am a proponent of using the law of attraction for making your life more fulfilling and your writing career more successful. Now comes a step - by - step way to make it work for you. It is Awakening: Fulfilling Your Soul's Purpose on Earth, by Ping Li

Awakening: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Purpose On Earth is an amazing guidebook to uncovering, exploring, and achieving your higher purpose in life (and, in the process, achieving all your heart’s other desires!). What Ping Li has laid out in an easy - to follow fashion, is a 22 - day process of daily mental exercises, journaling, and meditative journeys. Each day, you explore another aspect of spiritual development with her.

As you progress through these simple steps, you can feel your spirit lifting, your daily burden lightening, confusion and depression dissipating. If you haven't tried the path it this book will also explain nature’s Universal Laws of Attraction, Giving and Receiving, and Manifestation as well as showing you how to let them work in your favor to create the life you dream of.

You may want to visit Li's Web site, http://www.awakeningbooklaunch.com/bookpromo.html for many glowing reports other readers have shared.

Ping’s own story, her transformation, has been both remarkable and inspiring! And the process she followed to turn her life around is precisely what she shares with you now in this book.

Li also has a Book Launch Special that you may want to emulate. Her friends and colleagues have banded together to make the official launch of her book a hugely over - the - top success for her AND for you by offering over $7500 in bonus gifts just for buying her book! http://www.awakeningbooklaunch.com/bookpromo.html

Or visit Li's page at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Awakening - Fulfilling - souls - purpose - earth/dp/1425180558/


=====================================================
Fun and F r ~ ~: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, I'd love 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 a handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
=====================================================


On Poetry
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is a running feature for the poets among us and those who would like to try writing poetry but feel, well, inadequate about the writing or the promotion. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

I thought you'd like to visit the Moe Green Poetry Hour where Joan Gelfand, Rebecca Foust, host Kim McMillon and I talked sex, stowing snippets of poetry in our bras and more. Yeah, we read some poetry, too. It's archived on Blog Talk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword/blog/2009/09 Just click on the big blue rectangle to hear our show and others as well.

=====================================================
Endorsement: I wanted to tell you how your workshops, reading your newsletter, and just chatting with you has been a great help to me. I have a background in marketing from the fashion world and even though it has helped me get my foot in the door, I honestly have to say that after getting to know you, reading your books, and everything else I just said has truly helped me put Stories for Children Magazine on the map. ~ VS Grenier, Founder and Editor - in - Chief Stories for Children Magazine. http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org.
=====================================================

Feature

Targeting Target ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Last week I included a tip on Target's new interest in emerging writers and asked if subscribers would share if they learned more. A couple of subscribers willingly helped out. Scroll down a bit from input from Virgil Jose; Here, too, is information gleaned by Stuart Atkins, MBA, MA www.atkinsmarketingsolutions.com, Thank you, Stu, for contacting Target and getting the straight story right from them! Here it is:

Dear Stuart Atkins,

Thanks for your interest in having your book sold at Target. We're always looking for exciting new titles to offer our guests and I'm glad you thought of us.

To have your book considered, just have your publisher fill out this form and e - mail it to Bookrequest@target.com so we can process it quickly. If you would rather mail it, please send it to:

Book Buyer
Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN

Once we receive your publisher's request, we'll get back to you about the next steps if there's interest in carrying your book. There's no need to check on the status of the request; we'll take care of it as soon as we can.

If you don't receive the attachment we can send it again, but your spam settings could be blocking us. So before you call us back, please make sure to allow e - mails from boomarked@target.com.

If your publisher already submitted the request form to us, our buyer has the information and will get in touch with your publisher if we're interested in carrying your book.

Because there are so many exciting books for our buyers to consider, we can't answer every request. If we want to carry your book at our stores, our buyers will contact your publisher as soon as they can.

Thanks for visiting Bookmarked. We hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Matthew
Target Guest Services
www.target.com/bookmarked
PS: Anyone interested in receiving the vendor form that Target needs before they can buy merchandise need only e - mail me with a request. Put TARGET in the subject line and I'll send it by attachment. Thanks to Stu for this form, too!
PSS: Here is another resource from subscriber Virgil Jose, author of The Examined Life, a murder mystery"? He says, "I played detective, came up with this:

Target partners with Levy Home Entertainment to provide our guests with a wide assortment of reading materials. Typically Target stores will carry the top titles reported on BookScan for Hardcover, Trade and Mass Market Paperback new releases and best sellers across all genres. Due to the limited shelf space for books, Target’s core assortment focuses on new and/or top best sellers in the following categories: cooking, inspiration, wellness, current events, parenting, young adult and kids.

Your publisher may contact Levy Home Entertainment to determine if there is an opportunity to sell your book at Target stores. http://www.levybooks.com/yourbook.html


=====================================================
A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books (because they are products, like it or not!). Let people see that book cover image! To do that, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com for only $25 to $30 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.
=====================================================


Author Successes

Military Writers Society Announces Finalists . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Military Writers Society of America Announces 2009 Book Award Nominees

Nominees for the Military Society of America Book Awards for 2009 were announced by MWSA president Joyce Faulkner, founder Bill McDonald, lead reviewer Rob Ballister, award - winning author, Richard Lowry, and Veterans Radio host Dale Throneberry at www.veteransradio.net on August 29, 2009. The winners in each category will be announced on www.veteransradio.net at 9am EST on September 12.

The nominees for the 2009 Book Awards are listed here in no particular order. For more information on these fine books, go to www.militarywriters.com.

For an Anthology.
Home of the Brave by Jeffery Hess
By Dammit, We’re Marines! by Gail Chatfield
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Salutes the Military by Andrew Lubin, et. al.

For a Children's Book:
The Elementary Adventures of Jones, JEEP, Buck & Blue, Jones, Books 1 - 4 by Sandra Miller Linhart
Memories of Me by L.M. Romagnoli
You and Your Military Hero by Sara Jensen - Fritz, Paula Jones - Johnson, Thea L. Zitzow
If I had a Daddy by Mary M. Sullivan

For Fiction:
The Take - U s by John Raymond Takacs
The Sandman by David Lucero
Child Finder by Michael Angley
Honor Defended by D. H. Brown

For Historical Fiction:
Hollywood Buzz: A Pucci Lewis Mystery by Margit Liesche
True Colors by Erin Rainwater
The Final Salute by Kathleen M. Rodgers
Virginia's War by Jack Woodville London< /SPAN>

For a Memoir:
Embedded: A Marine Corps Advisor Inside the Iraqi Army by Wesley Gray
The Lady Gangster, A Sailor’s Memoir by Del Staecker
Cat Lo, A Memoir of Invincible Youth by Virgil Erwin
Immeasurable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior by Latoya Lucas

For a Music CD:
Goin Home by James Jelle rson

For Non - fiction:
Sacred Ground by Tom Ruck
The Ether Zone, US Army Special Forces Detachment B - 52 by Raymond Morris
Fire in the Night: Creative Essays from an Iraq War Vet by Lee Kelley
A Vietnam Trilogy by R aymond Monsour Scurfield

For Poetry:
Tears for Mother Earth by Jim Greenwald
Poems of Passion & Songs for the Soul by James Randy Jellerson
Sugar, Zeroes, and Lemon by Jim Greenwald

For Reference:
Strike from the Sea by Tommy H. Thomason
USAF Prototype Jet Fighters by Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis
The Book of War by Dwight Jon Zimmerman
America's Film Vault by Phillip W. Stewart

For a Spiritual Book:
God in the Foxhole by Charles W. Sasser
Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II by Larkin Spivey
Bible Promises for Soldiers by J. M. Barnes
I Will Never Give Up on God Again by Derek W. Clark



Military Writers Society Announces People’s Choice Award Finalists ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . Mindy Phillips Lawrence (your SWW copyeditor) included!
The Military Writers Society of America announced the finalists for its 2009 People’s Choice Awards on September 12, 2009. Marc Yablonka, Rob Ballister, Mike Mullins, Pat Avery, and MWSA President, Joyce Faulkner, appeared on the Veterans Radio Show, http://www.veteransradio.net/, hosted by Dale Throneberry to announce the finalists. The list includes:

Mindy Phillips Lawrence (your SWW Editor) - - Calling
Jack L. Wells - - Six Bronze Men
James R. Jellerson - - Freedom Isn't Free (MP3)
Jerry Yellin - - Iwo Jima, August 14, 1945
Bonnie Bartel Latino - - A Rush of Butterflies
John Cathcart - - Flag from a Grateful Nation
Marlyce Stockinger - - The Choice We Make (MP3)
Jeff Senour & CTS - - Way Back Home (MP3)

Writers composed their entries after reviewing four photographs and choosing one of the four as a stimulus for their work. The entries ranged from poetry to essays to song lyrics.

Those interested in reading or hearing the entries and voting for their favorite may go to this link: http://www.militarywriters.com/2009ConferencePeoplesChoice.html#Finalists to vote. One vote per person, please. Voting continues until October 10, 2009.

The winner will be announced at the close of the Military Writers Society of America’s Conference in Orlando, Florida on October 11, 2009.


=====================================================
Audio divas brings you audios on many aspects of building a writing career: http://www.tri - studio.com/writers.html. Titles include Contest Facts: How to Add “Award - winning” to Your Name, Do It Yourself Indexing: The Way to Sell Your Book to Libraries, Schools and Anyone Else That Buys Nonfiction, Fury and Destruction: How to Use Violence Effectively in Your Writing, and more.
=====================================================


Tip: If you're writing a will, consider letting your family access your online writing after your death. Use: www.deathswitch.com or www.legacylocker.com.


=====================================================
I highly recommend Jozette Aaron's f r ^ ^ DeSilva's News for writers: http://jozette.webs.com/ not just because I write a column for her. =====================================================


Tip: Subscribe to P. Casto's Flash Fiction Flash for a chance to brag about publication and tons of resources for publication.Send an e - mail to FlashFictionFlash - Subscribe@yahoo.com.


=====================================================
Yes, I do consult. I tailor my fees to your needs - - everything from coaching to full edits (sorry no partial edits) to hour consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/consulting.htm
=====================================================


Tip: If you're interested in writing better short, short stories and would like to join a list serve of fellow - minded writers and critiquers, send an e - mail to listserv@listserv.uta.edu. Do know that you will be expected to participate.

=====================================================


Thank Yous


Thanks to Tony Eldridge
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for frequently linking to my Sharing with Writers blogs on his Marketing Tips for Authors blog: http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/ BTW, he is a great resource in many ways. Make him a fellow tweeter: @tonyeldridge


=====================================================
If you're starting your own blog or want to market the one you have or focus it better here’s a f r ^^ chapter from Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s and my coming book. Download it now at http://budurl.com/bloggingchapter. =====================================================



Most Frugal Postcard Printer: Longtime subscriber and contributor to this newsletter Raff Ellis (www.RaffEllis.com) was kind enough to share this resource that costs about 1/2 or more less than most of the sources I have heard about. Here's what he says, "Carolyn, I have no financial interest in the company GotPrint but their prices are the cheapest around. Go to:
http://gotprint.net/g/showStaticPage.do?page=postcards_pricing.html .
1,000 postcards, color front and back - - 46.55. I've used them for cards and posters and am very satisfied.


=====================================================
I now have a social media page on my Website. I’m including the link for you to see so you can use it as a sample if you don’t have a similar page on your own Web site. And yes, this can work even if you only network on one site. Just use more space giving your visitors an idea of how they will benefit if they join you. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/new_page_4.htm =====================================================


Tip: Rule #1 in Marketing: Don't take offense. If someone contacts you but seems to want only favors and offers nothing in return, it may be out of ignorance in the niceties of great marketing. That doesn't mean they may not be a good cross - promotion once you've taken the lead.

=====================================================
This is an example of one of my Twitters: "FrugalBookPromo New trend? Borders to buy nonreturnable books from HarperStudio in return for a deeper discount." My tweets cover everything from news to more tips and resources, all in 140 characters or less. If you don’t want to Tweet, at least follow me. Make a profile page and invite me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo. =====================================================


Tip: Use Amazon's Amapedia feature to post articles related to your book - - even if it's fiction. Whet the appetite or readers about the place your book takes place in, as an example. Find it on your Amazon sales page. Scroll down. Scroll down. It's there - - probably looking lonely.


=====================================================
The New Book Review is a service of this newsletter. 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.
=====================================================


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Writing as a Meditation ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

I’ve touched on this topic before but I’ve been thinking about it more lately, especially after watching an entire family sitting together, non - conversant with each other because all had cell phones in their ears. Writing can also become a technological disconnect from the source of Muse.

I use the computer to do my writing almost exclusively. However, when I need to have a writing catharsis, I often run to my journal where I post my thoughts, ideas and feelings. Just a pen and notebook support me. No keys, no Web sites, no text messages.

On top of using writing with pen and paper as a meditation, I am now designing Japanese - bound (stab bound - - see below for a link to an article explaining stab bound) journals. My meditative practice now extends from the creative aspect of art to the creative aspects of writing, all bound together in one unique space.

I have friends who still write everything without a computer. I don’t see that as the most effective way to work professionally but I understand their need to have a connection between the hand, the pen and paper. That’s what I am seeking when I let my thoughts flow from my mind through the ink in my pen to the pages of my journal, a certain quiet unity of purpose.

The links below will show you some ideas for meditative writing with a pen and paper and links to some beautiful handmade journals I’ve found online. My page isn’t up yet showing my handmade books but feel free to e - mail me for information as to when my site will be up.

LINKS

Journal Writing
http://42explore.com/journl.htm

Life's Companion: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest
http://www.amazon.com/Lifes - Companion - Journal - Writing - Spiritual/dp/0553352024

Writing for Wellbeing
http://www.dailywriting.net/WritingWell - Being.htm

Writing as Meditation
http://www.zenpens.com/writing_meditations.htm

Writing as Meditation: Write, Journal, Novel, Create or Compose Your Way to Inner Peace
http://meditation - techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/writing_as_meditation

Japanese Stab Binding
http://www.transientbooks.com/stabbinding.html

Handbound Books
http://www.quietfiredesign.com/journals.html

Priscilla Foster Handmade Books
http://www.priscillafoster.com/

~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/.
Her specialty is helping writers with their media releases. Reach her at mplcreative1@aol.com.

=====================================================


Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be a host for one day at the Green Book Pavilion with The Green New Media Life at the convention center in Ontario, CA. http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com/ I'll be interviewing authors for their videos and speaking as well. The expo offers a $290 expo package to help authors promote themselves and their books both onsite and with New Media (meaning video, interview, CD, booth, etc), but they can also take a table (no video extras) for a mere $89.
Interested authors may contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at 702 467 9411 or 760 961 2728. He has other Expos coming up, too.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mark October 12 to 18 on your calendar for The Muse Online Writers Conference cosponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson:

Get in under the wire for reservations for the conference. See my presentation there at http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ and below. This year we’ve added pitch sessions: http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/2009workshops.htm
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will Talk Twitter on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 11 am EST (8 am Pacific) at the Muse Online Writers Conference, http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ It is f r ^ ^.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson offers two seminars at the f r ^ ^ Catholic Writers Conference on Monday March 1. "Your Query Letters Perfected: Straight from the Mouths of Literary Agents" is at 9 and a casual chat, "Twitter: How Writers Can Make It Work for Them" is at 10. It's online from Feb 26 to March 5 and is open to everyone. http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/index.php



=====================================================
Sign up to receive a copy of my Sharing with Writers blog in your e - mail box. It is a focused blog on all things related to writing and publishing. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
=====================================================


Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Definitions in the next few newsletters are from www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/definitions.htm. You might have some favorite neologisms, metaphors or similes that make you smile. If so, please contribute.)
KISSING: A means of getting two people so close together that they can't see anything wrong with each other.

=================================================
~ ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~.` ~. ~. ~. ~. ~. ~

Essential Book and Record Keeping:

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

Although 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 newsletter, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "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 to friends or e - groups. It needn't be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter, and the individual contributors with anything you snip and paste.

Ordering Information:
Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2 - 1/
The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less, http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U/

A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide

To learn more about This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, and She Wore Emerald Then: www.carolynhoward - johnson.com.

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry coauthored with Magdalena Ball. http://www.amazon.com/She - Wore - Emerald - Then - Reflections/dp/1438263791/

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1 - 1/

Contact Information
Websites:
http://carolynhoward - Johnson.com (literary)
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com (all things about writing)


Blogs:

http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, a blog focused on editing, formatting and craft
http://www.WarPeaceTolerance.blogspot.com War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers.
http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com, a blog where you can learn to get some mojo behind your own booth by learning from the successes and mistakes of others.

Tweeting at:
www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo
www.twitter.com/frugalretailing

Squidooing at:
http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson