Monday, June 13, 2011

Sharing with Writers Carolyn Howard Johnson

/Carolyn Howard Johnson has been on Write On Four Corners many times

June 10, 2011
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 (except when I'm traveling or on deadline) and
it's long!
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~.: ~ ~ ~

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: Using a Hand - Held Reading Device
as a Resource Library
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ˙

This Issue
~Feature: Joan Stewart with a Facebook Promo Tip
~A Laugh for you from Dilbert
~Feature: Autographing a Kindle Book?
~Feature: Advertising Can Help Finance Your Self - Pubbed Book

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

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~.: ~ ~ ~

Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

Well, I‚m home from vacation. A month is a long time to be away and I came
back to several mini disasters that made it even harder to get back in the
swing of things. Our water pressure was so weak it was gasping for life,
so no smelly laundry got done. Our security alarm had given up the ghost
and beeped at our house sitter for days. Both of our computers were lost
to the world and my husband spent days trying to repair them. We finally
just went out and bought new ones so I could go back to work on my next
book. But now I have to jigger all the internal files so I can find things
again.

So, welcome home to me, huh?

But the vacation was wonderful. And my poetry partner Maggie Ball
formatted the next chapbook in our Celebration series while I was gone.
The new cover is at the left (those of you who read this letter in plain
text in your e - mail window will need to use the pdf link at the top of
the newsletter to see it).

Watch for more on its release!

And I finally got caught up on my e - mail. If you sent me something and I
haven‚t taken care of it, please send again. Anything could have happened
during the computer change.

I‚m enclosing a picture of me with a new friend I made in Abu Dhabi. He
very nearly ate my Panama hat, a souvenir from another trip I took.

(To see this get the pdf file by using the link
near the top of this newsletter.)

The other thing to be grateful for is that I think this is a pretty good
issue. Shorter than usual, but pretty good. In spite of all the recent
drama in my life. Ha!

Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn

PS: Authors are retailers, too! We have books to sell. For the best buy
in town on all three of my HowToDoItFrugally series of books for
retailers, including one on blogging and one on Twitter, go to Gift Shop
magazine‚s shopping mall www.giftshopmag./shop/Carolyn - Howard - Johnson.
By the way, my article "Twitter 101" appears in that national trade
magazine‚s spring issue!


PPS: Father‚s Day is coming. You may want to order Maggie‚s and my poetry
chapbook for fathers for him. Poetry and dark chocolate is all the man
needs! Find it in paperback or for Kindle at www.budurl.com/Imagining .
The perfect $10 gift if you buy my favorite chocolate˜Lindt 85% cocoa
bars.


==============================================
Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life?
Something that stays within your budget? Check out Cherished Pulse
(www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. Try
Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine
Apparitions for the men in your life. Sure, they like fusses made over
them, too! (www.budurl.com/Imagining) ($6.95). She Wore Emerald Then
(www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook) ($12.95), for mothers and other women, and
Blooming Red (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed ), to use as Christmas cards or
incidental holiday gifts. Plan next Christmas early. And ask about my
special price on chapbook/cards purchased in bulk! All these chapbooks are
from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
================================================


In the News: Coming from Kindle: A great benefit for writers who must do
lots of research. Called „Kindle Library Lending‰ it allows Kindle owners
to access every e - book available in any library‚s system and it should
work just like other books on Kindle. That is it will allow Kindle to keep
track of where a reader left off reading and allow readers to highlight
and make notes on the text. The difference is, these are library books, so
they may only be „checked out‰ for seven to fourteen days, depending on
the specific library's policies. Reported by the LA Times.

==============================================
My review blog is there for you to use. It‚s a place for you to honor
authors and books you‚ve loved with a review. It‚s a place to recycle the
review of your own book, the one you love most. It‚s f r ^ ^. Submission
guidelines are in the left column at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.
=============================================

Tip: Shelley Hitz posted some of my favorite apps and Twitter techniques
in two parts on her blog.
http://www.self - publishing - coach.com/buzz - about - twitter - part -
1.html
http://www.self - publishing - coach.com/buzz - about - twitter - part -
2.html.You‚ll want to read them or read my book Frugal and Focused
Tweeting (www.budurl.com/Tweeting4Retailers) While you‚re poking around on
Shelley‚s blog, follow links through to all her writers‚ services.
www.Self - Publishing - Coach.com


=================================================
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. Let me know you
did it so I can do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers
page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
=================================================


In the News: LA Times reports that Nora Roberts‚ foundation has funded
what may be a first - ever writing program in romance literature at
McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. One of the things I suggest is
for authors to make their own news to market their books, and Roberts is
sure making her own news. Her foundation contributed $100,000, but small
community colleges will usually work with authors to sponsor something
like a scholarship in writing at a much smaller figure. Read about how to
make something like this work for you in The Frugal Book Promoter
(www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo).
By the way, Roberts will hold an international conference on romance
novels in November.

=================================================
How many media releases are you sending out a year? How do you do it? Find
a list of media release disseminators at
www.howtodoitfrugally.com/media_release_disseminators1.htm and learn how
to build a list of your own media in The Frugal Book Promoter,
www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo.
=================================================


Tip: Here‚s a reminder from The Frugal Editor
(www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor ). Don‚t compare your book to other books
in your query letter or promotional materials. People in the publishing
industry will suppress that eye - rolling reflex if you suggest that your
new fantasy series is the next Harry Potter or even if you say your
literary novel is a cross between Anna Karenina and Eat, Pray, Love. I
know you have read that you should use this gimmick, but trust me, it‚s
overused and no matter what you say is usually way „undertrue.‰


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

Author Successes

Juvenile Fiction Wins Award
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Belle‚s Trial, a book for 8 to 12 year olds by Connie Gotsch, won first
place for juvenile fiction in the 2011 New Mexico Press Women‚s
Communication Contest, making it eligible for National Federation of Press
Women Communication Contest awards.

Belle‚s Trial is the sequel to Belle‚s Star, the story of the arrival of
the rescue dog, Belle into the life of Darcy Simmons, a spunky 12 year
old. To teach her new pet discipline, Darcy enrolls Belle in 4 - H agility
trials. At first, the idea of discipline terrifies Belle because she
assumes discipline means punishment. Soon she learns the word has an
entirely different meaning, which she comes to appreciate.
Belle‚s Trial and Belle‚s Star are based on the life and behavior of
Gotsch‚s rescue dog, Kiri, who came into the author‚s house 16 years ago
and is still there. Gotsch wrote both Belle‚s Trial and Belle‚s Star from
a dog‚s point of view. The books stress pet care and humane treatment of
animals, as well as proper treatment of people. Activity books are also
available are downloadable at apbooks.net upon purchase of the novels.

Gordon Kirkland Publishes New Humor/Mystery Book ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Award - winning Canadian author Gordon Kirkland's new book Crossbow was
released on April 12. It combines his innate sense of humor with his love
for a good mystery. Think Fargo with two deputies and a less than
brilliant police dog in training. The book's first draft was written while
Kirkland starred on the Canadian television series The 3 - Day Novel, in
which he had to write a complete story in just 72 - hours while locked
inside an Edmonton, Alberta big - box bookstore under the constant gaze of
television cameras and curious store customers. More information can be
found at www.gordonkirkland.com/novels.html.


Longtime SWW Subscriber Linda Ballou Shares . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She says, „I am honored to be the featured writer on the North American
Travel Journalist Association www.natja.org home page. I have been a
member of NATJA for over decade. It is a wonderful organization providing
a platform and resources for expert, or budding travel writers alike. They
help writers get their pieces placed and provide up to date information
about what is happening in the travel world. Travel World International,
http://www.travelworldmagazine.com/, began as the publishing arm of the
organization for members. It has grown into a very impressive online
magazine with feature articles written by top professionals about trips
around the globe. My interview in the spring issue appears here
http://www.travelworldmagazine.com/node/147



=================================================Book Proposal Help: The
Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell
Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less is now an e - book or paperback booklet
(Only $6.95). Find it at http://budurl.com/BookProposals
=================================================

Tip: Sharing with Writers columnist Mindy Lawrence wrote a review for a
must - have book for writers interested in literature. Find it on my New
Book Review blog at
www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/book - for - book - lovers.html.

=================================================
Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contact and
build a list of readers. The most supportive and interactive one I know
with an associated site for displaying fiction to the movie industry is
iFOGO. Subscribe at http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html
================================================

Dilbert: I may think this cartoon is funnier than you do because I keep
reminding authors˜especially new authors˜to find their expertise through
organizations that vet their instructors, something that often isn‚t done
on the Web. So with that in mind:

Frame 1: Employee says, „How can you compare outsourcing to our restrooms?
Are you a racist?‰
Frame 2: Dilbert says, „Umm . . . I didn‚t say anything remotely like
that.‰
Frame 3: Dilbert gives him a stern look and says, „Did you learn to debate
on the Internet?‰
And his fellow employee says, „How can you tell?‰

Now, mind you. I love the Net. It‚s a miracle marketing tool and lots
more. Just be cautious where you go to get important information on
writing and publishing and who you hire to help you publish, edit, or
improve your writing. Everyone on the Net has an opinion. Some carry more
weight than others. Some tend to sound more knowledgeable than they are.

Thanks to Scott Adams, syndicated cartoonist.


=================================================
I‚ve reworked my Web site. Please use the huge Resources for Writers
section http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. And please
let me know if you find broken links. I need your help!
=================================================


Fiction Tip: Readers won‚t track the time of your characters the same way
you do. Dates often aren‚t sufficient. Neither are phrases like „Two
months later∑ .‰ Just as your other writing is better when it is specific,
so are your prompts for time. Try something like this instead: „Two months
after Susie took found her puppy at the pound∑ .‰

=================================================
I am journalist in residence at Book in Sync which means you can find my
articles in their newsletter each month and even access old ones in the
archives. Go to http://www.booksinsync.com/booksinsyncjournalist.html.
=================================================

Feature

Joan Stuart‚s Facebook Promo Secret
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~

By Joan Stewart

You've written a fabulous status update for your Facebook Fan Page, and
you want to share the link on other social media sites, or in your
newsletter.

But you don't want to give people the URL to the fan page, and then force
them to hunt for the status update on the Wall. What do you do?

You share the unique link for the status update, of course. But Facebook
doesn't make it easy to find unless you know where to look.

Simply click on the time stamp below the status update. It might say
something like "9 hours ago" or "Saturday at 8:52am."

After you click, go to the browser window, and cut and paste the link.

That's an opportunity a lot of Facebook page administrators don't know
about. Learn about a dozen others in the replay of the webinar "12 More
Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on the New & Improved Facebook."
http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity - products/marketing -
tapes/facebook12ways.htm
- - - - -
Reprinted from "The Publicity Hound's Tips of the Week," an ezine
featuring tips, tricks and tools for generating free publicity. Subscribe
at http://www.publicityhound.com/ and receive by email the handy cheat
sheet "89 Reasons to Send a Press Release."


=================================================
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://howtodoitfrugally.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.
=================================================


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.

Online Poetry Book and Contest . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . comes to you from Franklin Christoph. I won last year and the
online book includes this year‚s winners, too. You can sign up to be
notified of next year‚s f r ^ ^ contest and enjoy the winning poems in the
meantime go to: http://www.franklin -
christoph.com/Writing/PoetryBook/Contents.html


=================================================
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.
=================================================


Our Language: I‚m enjoying the new book, The English Is Coming. The title
is a lesson in how singular and plural verbs can affect meaning but the
author has lots of other surprises up her sleeve.


=================================================
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/advertising.htm for only $35 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.
=================================================

Editing Tip: I kinda love semicolons but they are out of fashion. Avoid
them in first contacts with gatekeepers who can say yay or nay to your
work

=================================================
Ta Da! E - books are great tools for promotion
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/ta - da - e - books -
are - great - tools - for - promotion/
The Anatomy of a Free (Read that Promotional!) E - Book
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/the - anatomy - of - a -
free - read - that - promotional - e - book/
=================================================


Tip: Book Buzzr, the site I love so much for great moving book widgets
(and for how they help authors promote) also offers a newsletter with
articles like this one in it: Turbo Charge Your Book Marketing By Doing
Just This One Thing (http://www.bookbuzzr.com/newsletter/NewsLetter -
Feb - 2011.htm ).
To subscribe go to http://www.bookbuzzr.com/newsletters.php.


=================================================
Are you confused about how to credit facts or quotes when you write
articles or nonfiction? Check out my Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor
blog: http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/q - la - ann - landers -
academic - accreditation.html
=================================================

In the News: Agatha Christie is soon to be revived in a film, but her Miss
Marple character will be played by Jennifer Garner. Gotta agree with Time
magazine: They asked, „Why not Helen Mirren.‰ She‚s adorable and sexy,
too, and much closer to the way I visualize the fictional Marple
character.

=================================================
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://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
=================================================

Feature

Run Ads to Help Finance Your Electronic or Self - Published Books
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many of our books˜especially f r ^ ^ promotional booklets and e -
books˜are perfect for paid ads and ads in barter if they are focused on
the book‚s target audience. Now the LA Times reports Amazon has announced
that it will put ads in some Kindle readers and that they will then sell
them at 18% less than the ad - free device ($114.00) So ads will help
Amazon and help subsidize the cost of the Kindle, too! So, if you decide
to put ads into your books, how would you do it?

~Put the ads in the backmatter of your book.
~Accept only professionally produced ads.
~Accept only ads that would interest your target audience. Be prepared to
refuse some with the „not quite right‰ phrase that literary journals use
to pass on submissions.
~Limit the number of adds to just a few.
~Encourage ads that give discounts or freebies so that the ads are seen
as an added value by your readers.
When you use ads this way, your reader will benefit. They learn about new
resources and special discounts may even help pay for the book (yours!)
your reader just bought.

PS: Anyone with a product (yes, books are products!) or a service that
would appeal to readers of The Frugal Book Promoter may e - mail me for
details of how we might partner on something like this. Spaces are
limited.


==============================================
Recent guest blog posts: BookBuzzr.com‚s regular blog for writers:
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/your - stepping - stones -
to - credibility/
Recent podcast links: Elemental Musings from Bev Walton - Porter of Scribe
and Quill: http://budurl.com/waltonporter
Talking with Funky Writer Rob Batista about starting a career, promoting
the hard - to - promote genres:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefunkywriter/2010/07/30/the - funky -
writer - radio - show - episode - 74
=============================================


Tip: After Kindle (http://budurl.com/BigBadKindle), the best $200 I ever
spent is Bacon‚s Directory. If you‚re going out of town for a book signing
or TV gig, it‚s a must. Get it online or at your library. All those
resources for great book promotion! Details of how to use it to make a
difference in promotion are in The Frugal Book Promoter.
(www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo )



=============================================
Here is a list of small publishers for your consideration:
www.howtodoitfrugally.com/small_publishers.htm
=============================================

Thank Yous


Thanks to Nanci Arzivu and Aggie Villaneuva . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for mentioning my services in their podcast series. Learn more
about their programs at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/promotionalacarte/2011/04/12/pac - monthly -
confab - with - aggie - and - nanci
and for publishing my tips for a great book signing at
http://www.promotionalacarteblog.com/2011/04/book - signings - are -
more - than - you - think - by - carolyn - howard - johnson/

Thanks to Sassy Brit . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for running one of my Media Releases on the Eric
Hoffer award on her blog. http://tjbook -
list.blogspot.com/2011/04/media - release - finalist - for - eric -
hoffer.html
Sass is the goer behind the Yahoo Group An Alternative Read. Find it at
An_Alternative_Read - subscribe@yahoogroups.com.


Thanks to BookBuzzr . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for having me as a blog guest to talk about Twelve Big Blog
Booboos! http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/twelve - big -
blog - booboos/


Thanks to Barb Hodges . . .
. . . for including my release on my short story becoming a finalist for
the Eric Hoffer Prose Award.
http://barbhodges.blogspot.com/2011/04/great - news - from - carolyn -
howard - johnson.html?spref=fb BTW, she loves to post great author news!


============================================
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 35 - page handout from one of my
UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
=================================================

Feature

How Do You Sign a Book for Kindle
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By Pamela C. Reese
(Suggested by novelist and Sharing with Writers member Linda Morelli)

From Shelf Awareness:

Sign my Nook/Kindle, please?
For e - reader fans, an author signing presents a unique challenge - -
How many autographs can you fit on the back of your iPad or Nook or Kobo
device. The New York Times reported that one possible solution will debut
at BookExpo America.

Autography is the brainchild of T.J. Waters, an author and senior
consultant for U.S. Special Operations Command Headquarters, and Robert
Barrett, an information technology executive.

The Times noted that at an Autography e - book signing, "a reader poses
with the author for a photograph, which can be taken with an iPad camera
or an external camera. The image immediately appears on the author‚s iPad
(if it's shot with an external camera, it's sent to the iPad via
Bluetooth). Then the author uses a stylus to scrawl a digital message
below the photo.

When finished, the author taps a button on the iPad that sends the fan an
e - mail with a link to the image, which can then be downloaded into the
e - book."

Rachel Chou, chief marketing officer for Open Road Integrated Media - -
which has organized e - signings - - observed that a number of digital
signing alternatives will soon hit the market, though she also cautioned,
"We're struggling with the idea: is it about the autograph or is it about
the takeaway that you met that person?" In our "look at me!" age, Chou
thinks it may be the latter, the Times wrote.

http://www.shelf - awareness.com/ct/uz4650477Biz10901455
http://www.shelf - awareness.com/ct/uz4650477Biz10901456
http://www.autography.us.com/


================================================
Unsolicited endorsement from Chaz DeSimone, book cover designer
extraordinaire (www.chazdesimone.com): „Carolyn, the Frugal Book Promoter
is amazingly comprehensive, understandable, and is using up all my
highlighter ink.‰ Heidi (one of his clients): „Start reading! It'll get
you excited about promoting, and getting your promotion all ready ahead of
time.‰ ================================================

Opportunities

iFOGO Offers F r ^^ Web Site to Members . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo), I recommend
that authors begin their writing careers by getting a Web site long before
their books are published. Maybe when they first begin to think about
writing a book . . . and that they use a freebie site to start. I‚ve long
recommended AuthorsDen.com and still do, but now a great alternative comes
from Gene Cartwright at iFOGO. Premium and new members can learn more at
ifogo.com/buy/order/html.



Apply for Fellowship∑ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A suggestion from Sharing with Writers subscriber Jamie Schaffner:
Emerging Writers: Yes, YOU, why not apply for the PEN Center USA Emerging
Voices Fellowship? I'm a current Fellow and have been posting on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/jamieschaffner) about my experience all year: Weekly
author evenings, public readings, writing workshops, a seasoned author
assigned to mentor you one - on - one and most importantly, you become
part of the PEN literary community. APPLY! http://penusa.org/emerging -
voices - 2012 - apply

Here's what a recent reviewer said about Jamie's work: "Get the Girl" by
Jamie Schaffner perfectly captures the intensity of a teenage affair that
has to be kept secret from protective parents.‰
http://kissedbyvenus.ca/?p=2882.



Want to Cover a Beat∑
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
∑for an online newsletter/commentary. Think in terms of covering a subject
that is associated with what you write. The Morton Report is always
looking for excellent, established writers who are interested in covering
a "regular beat." If you're interested, e - mail
eric.olsen@themortonreport.com.

The Morton Report, where popular culture meets swanky living, is the place
where everything on the pop culture radar is covered in style. The breadth
of our coverage is exceeded only by the quality of our writing, so if
you're looking for informed, entertaining, and articulate commentary, The
Morton Report is the place to look.

Press inquiries: Bronagh Hanley, bronagh.hanley@themortonreport.com, 415 -
314 - 7262

Editorial inquiries: Eric Olsen, eric.olsen@themortonreport.com, 330 -
562 - 4692, 330 - 562 - 8314


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A free book from my marketing friend Dana Lynn Smith:
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/04/free - e - book - from -
master - marketer - dana.html
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Writing Tip: If passive construction is difficult for you to overcome, you
must see this guest post from Aggie Villanueva.
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/06/passive - writing -
plagues - us - all.html

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I know. I am a glutton for punishment and everyone hates me for my zero -
tolerance rule on italics. But I was inoculated with it during UCLA‚s
Writers‚ Program classes and I know anyone would be hardput to find a
major writers‚ program that doesn‚t agree with them. So why risk the ire
of exacting agents and publishers. Know the guidelines!
http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/lets - talk - italics -
again.html . Learn other publishing - friendly editing ideas in The Frugal
Editor, www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor.
=================================================

An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Using a Hand - Held Reading Device as a Resource Library
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

As the number of books for electronic devices blooms, I got the notion to
build a resource library on either a Kindle or Nook so I could carry it
around with me. The books are not all available yet but I am waiting
patiently until they are.

Here are some of the resources I want in my dream hand - held library: A
good dictionary (and, yes, I know this comes with some devices already), a
good thesaurus, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style and Documentation,
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, a good
rhyming dictionary, a good book on poetry writing.

I‚ve found several of these are available but some appear not to be
searchable. This cuts down on the fun of having them on the device.
Others aren‚t on either Kindle or Nook format as of yet although there are
some short forms that are downloadable but not the entire books.

I think my idea is sound. It beats lugging a suitcase of books through an
airport. Good nonfiction books on individual topics would also be good
additions for an electronic resource library. Choose according to your
needs.

Of course, ALL of Carolyn‚s FRUGAL books are on my list. I can‚t think of
a better way to reference how to write, promote and work than her
excellent selections. And they are already Kindle - fied.

If you are interested in building a similar electronic library, I‚ve
listed a few Kindle books below that you might want to consider. Check
out Nook, Android and Blackberry versions which may also be available.

PLEASE read ALL the reviews of these books before you buy them. Some are
searchable and some are not. Some are shortened versions. If this makes a
difference to you, better to know upfront before downloading.


LINKS

*Merriam - Webster Collegiate Dictionary
http://www.amazon.com/Merriam - Websters - Collegiate - Dictionary -
11th - ebook/dp/B000SEGJ5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307916443&sr=1 - 1

(Nook/Android) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/merriam - webster -
collegiate -
dictionary?page=results&domain=search&pos=&box=&store=ebook&keyword=merria
m+webster+collegiate+dictionary

*A Concise Guide to MLA Style and Documentation
http://www.amazon.com/Concise - Guide - Style - Documentation -
ebook/dp/B00533VUUI/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2

* The McGraw - Hill Desk Reference for Editors, Writers and Proofreaders
http://www.amazon.com/McGraw - Hill - Reference - Editors - Proofreaders -
ebook/dp/B000MAHC4K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=130http://www.amazon.com/Essentials - Formatting - Perfect -
Punctuation -
ebook/dp/B003CYLCVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307918396&sr=1 - 17918650&sr=1 - 4

* Essentials of APA formatting and Style (Perfect Punctuation)
http://www.amazon.com/Essentials - Formatting - Perfect - Punctuation -
ebook/dp/B003CYLCVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307918396&sr=1 - 1

*A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations:
Chicago Style for Students and Researchers
http://www.amazon.com/Manual - Writers - Research - Dissertations -
ebook/dp/B003TSELAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307918791&sr=1 - 1

*Pocket Rhyming Dictionary
http://www.amazon.com/Leonard - Pocket - Rhyming - Dictionary -
ebook/dp/B002FL4LT8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307919279&sr=1 - 1


*The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won‚t
(Kindle) http://www.amazon.com/Frugal - Book - Promoter - Publisher -
ebook/dp/B0011EK7PC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=130791
6729&sr=8 - 1

* The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and
Ensure Success
http://www.amazon.com/Editor - 3a - Forward - Humiliation - Frugally -
ebook/dp/B0011EK6VC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307919009&sr=1 - 10

* Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers
http://www.amazon.com/Last - Minute - Editing - ToDoItFrugally -
booklets -
ebook/dp/B0042JT1UA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital -
text&qid=1307919143&sr=1 - 5



~ 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. 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.



=================================================
The New Book Review is a f r ^ ^ 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.
=================================================


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

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk with the famous Career Czar Paul Bruno
on Friday, September 30, 2011. Tune in then or anytime thereafter at:
http://www.careerczar.com/mp3/career093011B.mp3Air

NEW! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk books with Dr. Marlene Siersma on
her Amazing Women, Brains, Beauty & Style Show on the #1 Rated show on
VoiceAmerica Variety Channel and World Talk Radio Wednesday, June 15,
2011 at 2 pm. Call in at 1 - 866 - 472 - 5788. Amazing Women is also Mobil
with your smart phone iPhone, Blackberry and Android and available through
the Apple iTunes App Store, Blackberry App World, or Android Market.

NEW! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be guest speaker at UCLA‚s Fiction and
Novel - writing class taught be award - winning instructor and author Eve
LaSalle Caram on June 18, UCLA campus. It‚s time to consider signing for
summer quarter now.

=================================================
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
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Fun with language from The Washington Post and other publications.)


Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.



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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

The HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers

Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't
http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and
Ensure Success
http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know
About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less,
Paperback: http://budurl.com/BookProposals
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042JT1UA


Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal
Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3422926

The Survive and Thrive Series for Retailers (Authors need to know about
retailing, too!)

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
Order in paperback: http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other
Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
Order in paperback direct from Amazon:
http://budurl.com/Tweeting4Retailers
Order for Kindle Reader: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H4XCCS
Order an e - book from the publisher: http://www.createspace.com/3439623 .

Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer‚s Frugal Guide to Getting Customer
Loyalty and Sales˜Both In - Store and Online

Sponsored by Gift Shop Magazine
To Order: http://budurl.com/Blogging4Retailers
To Order for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Carolyn‚s Fiction and Creative Nonfiction

This Is the Place: http://budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace

Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered:
http://budurl.com/TrueShortStories

Carolyn‚s Poetry

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood. Coauthored with
Magdalena Ball Paperback: www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena
Ball
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW
In print to be used as a greeting card or booklet:
www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry.
Coauthored with Magdalena Ball.
Paperback: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook

Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine
Apparitions. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3419505
To order as a paperback: www.budurl.com/Imagining
Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

Contact Information

Website
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com

Blogs:
http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things
publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and
ungrammatical. On editing, formatting, and craft.
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
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. It is no longer active but there are lots of ideas you
can use here, just the same.

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




Visit Carolyn HowardJohnson at:
http://www.authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson


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