If you prefer to read this letter in its not - so - glorious full formatted version ( - : copy and paste this URL into your browser:
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Nov_30_2010.pdf

November 30, 2010
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: If You Don’t Want to Do Your Own Book Launch
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column, “On with the Show, This is IT!”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~Feature: Books Ya Gotta Know More About
~Feature: Q&A a la Ann Landers: Traditional vs.
Indie
~Feature: Research Mistakes
~My Memoir and Fruitcake Fun

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

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

Authors love to hate Amazon.com. Trouble is we can't thrive without it. Sadly, most authors and even publishers don't know how to use the features Amazon offers effectively - - especially managing the benefits Amazon offers to achieve bestselling ratings.

Luckily, Aggie Villaneuva learned that stuff the hard way by doing it herself. She’s a fast learner and two of her books achieved category bestseller status in 2010, each book in three separate categories! She freely shares that knowledge with us in two white paper reports that she has combined for me to give to the writers I know. They are How Choosing Kindle Categories Wisely Got Me Two Best Sellers This Year and How to Gain Bestseller Status in Amazon’s Print Bookstore.

Miraculously, I'm offering this double report at no charge to the Sharing with Writers subscribers willing to help other authors learn even more about the writing and publishing world. All they need do is encourage their writing friends to subscribe to this Sharing with Writers newsletter. A double report will go to the author who recommends my newsletter. Another will go to the author who signs up. It doesn't get any better than that!

To do that, put SUBSCRIBE - FREE "AMAZON Secrets" REPORT in the subject line of an e - mail and send it to HoJoNews@aol.com. In the window of the e - mail, list the e - mail address of the recommending author and the new subscriber. Let me know which is which. Both authors will get an e - copy of Aggie's report back in their e - mail boxes (Easy as that!).

One final thing. Be sure to scroll to see my grandmother’s recipe for fruitcake. It will give you a laugh and give you a peek at my coming memoir.
Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn


PS: I’d love to hear from you all at Lillian Brummet’s World of Writing broadcast at 10 am (Pacific Time) on December 7.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions/2010/12/07/world - of - writing - with - c - howard - johnson Our focus will be will be on word trippers, book proposals, and poetry. To learn more about Lillian go to: www.brummet.ca


PPS: It’s not too late to order copies of Maggie Ball’s and my themed poetry chapbook to use as holiday cards. You can’t do better for a combination gift and greeting card. They’re thoughtful. And they’re easy to ship in envelopes. For ordering details and a sample poem from the book go to:

http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday - card - idea - real - poetry.html


PPPS: Have happy holidays. You won’t be hearing from me until next year. We all deserved a break, no?


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Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life? Something that stays within your budget? 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). Cherished Pulse (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. 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. They’re from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Letters to the Editor ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hi Carolyn,

Enjoyed the article on indie authors, especially since I am strongly considering being one myself.

I've published with small publishers, but with the lack of support and the cost of buying my books back to sell, it just isn't worth it. I know I am a good storyteller, but it seems that agents and name brand publishers aren't interested in storytelling. I do reasonably well at book signings and most who have read my stories give me the same comment. "I couldn't put it down.” I know you hear this all the time, but it feels that I am being told the truth when my reader tells me this.

I have written two romantic suspense and one paranormal suspense books and my big, strapping, well - drilling sons are my biggest promoters due to the actions and back stories, etc. in them. Where I'm going with this is that apparently the stories appeal to a variety of readers.

Anyway, I've lost the desire to write just thinking of finding a publisher then making a couple of bucks on each book. My work is worth more than that. My last book went through two publishers - - the first one shut down due to health and family issues. The second publisher was new and willing but the book looked terrible (in my estimation) when finished. Lovely cover - - I had control of that, but the basics weren't anything to brag about.

So thank you for helping to let writers like me know that there may be an answer out there.
Pat Cerise (AKA Pat McCain) author of New Beginnings, www.patmccainworld.com

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.

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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.
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Tip: Fr ^ ^ Service from AuthorsDen! Matt Miller, President of AuthorsDen, says, “We have a big surprise for you! You can now sell your books right from your pages on AuthorsDen.com and earn 100% of the profits. See the full information at http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2010/11/authorsden - offers - new - free - e - book.html




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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. I will be able to do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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Books Ya Gotta Know More About ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Want to know more about why people collect things like all of Stephen King’s books, why some book covers attract people more than others and, by extension, why branding works? Read How Pleasure Works, a new book published by W.W. Norton and authored by Paul Bloom. One point: we love fiction not “because it’s an escape, but because it allows us to practice for real life.”
Also check out Copycats: How Smart Companies Use Imitation to Gain a Strategic Edge by Oded Shenkar (from Harvard Business).

Here’s another: Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd by Youngme Moon from Crown Business.
As long as I’m talking books, how about the term “usage books?” I’m surprised more authors don’t know about them. They help with most things that perplex us, like pored vs. poured, even when they seem interchangeable in so many instances. Here are a few “usage books”:

Fowler’s Modern American Usage

Garner’s Modern American Usage

Webster’s Modern American Usage

My favorite grammar guru, June Casagrande says, usage books are “written for our convenience . . . “, meaning they make it easy on use readers and researchers to find what we need. She suggests you check “vale of tears.” Is it “veil” or “vale”?


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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
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Author Successes

May Lattanzio Publishes Children’s Book
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sam, The Grouchy - As - Usual Bear, by May Lattanzio was published by Irish's Story Playhouse Publications. It is illustrated in watercolor by talented Maggie Guinn, well known Panama City, FL artist and illustrator of May's book other book, Waltz on the Wild Side - An Animal Lover's Journal.

Sam is the very last bear created by elderly Arianna, but he is very different. He is an enchanted bear, and he can talk. But, unlike all Arianna's other bears, this one doesn't have a smile.

Sam is shipped to California, and because he is a rather fierce looking, unsmiling bear, he is left on the toyshop shelf on Christmas Eve. He is in despair. But then along comes Katy Morris, a sad - faced five year - old whose daddy has died in the war, and there the story really begins.

"Sam, The Grouchy - As - Usual Bear" was written for those children of military families who have lost a parent in combat, to prepare children for impending loss, or for adults who are experiencing grief. We all need time for hugs from a friend once in a while. To preview and order it go to http://irishstoryplayhouse.com/IrishBookStore.html


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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/bookproposalreport =================================================

Q&A a la Ann Landers

Traditional vs. Indie
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Question:

I enjoyed your newsletter, as usual, however, I'm upset with the people using the terms Indie or Independent Publisher when they don't apply.
Anonymous

Answer:

Actually, the larger publishing industry classify small publishing houses who pay an advance and don’t charge the author fees independent publishers. Some contests even lump small university presses into the indie category. And many insist on including subsidy - or partner presses that do charge for their services in the category, too.

Those like me (and you!) who like authors to all start speaking the same language can usually go along with the first two, but not the third. But mislabeling presses is one of the bit problems too many of us have with definitions; It is a topic I try to cover in my classes at UCLA, but I know I’m barely making a dent.
If we can just start calling the publisher that charge authors for their services subsidy - or partner - publishers, that would be a good start. I hate the word vanity publishers but that at least is specific.
Then there's the term “POD publishers.” That also used sooooo incorrectly! Even the major publishing houses occasionally used POD publishing methods; it only means “print (or publish) on demand.” Usually that means the book is printed on a digital press, but it can also mean that a book is delivered as an e - book. That’s really on demand—practically instantly, as a matter of fact. In the olden days (you know—in the last millennium!), books were mostly printed on offset presses. That’s how most of the big publishers still print their books.

I'm afraid you and I are fighting a losing battle trying to get writers (who should know how important the words we use are) to communicate well by applying the right words to the right process.

The communication problem is exacerbated by many of the larger contests which also appear to clump any publishing house that is small along with publishing houses that provided paid - for services.


The only term that seems to be used correctly by most is "traditional." I hope traditional publishers—even small ones - - have that plastered all over your Web site as part of your branding. But even that term is arguable, depending on whether or not you pay an advance. For some that advance is essential to qualify as "traditional." Some small traditional publishers qualify by giving a $1 or $10 advance which seems disingenuous to me. Even if they give a much larger advance, they lose some of the "traditional" cache by virtue of using a digital or POD press. It's unfair but that's the uproad battle many are facing with, I suppose because, changes have come so quickly.
I do hope this clarifies the terms for you. Even publishers who don’t charge for any of their services but take their fees out of the cost of books before they pay royalties, need to be very careful about the label they apply to the way the publish. But authors do, too.

Having said that, I don’t think many readers know or care about the terms we use. So, whatever you do, don’t apologize about whatever banner you choose to carry. Wave it. Don’t explain. Just be proud of whatever words you’ve chosen for it.
CHJ

That “Selling Books” Thing Again . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Question:

Q&A#2 (from my Sharing with Writers blog, (www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com). Linden wanted to know if I sell very many books from my Authors Den site (http://authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson ).

Answer:

Linden, I don't use Authors Den to sell books. In fact, I (almost) don't do anything to sell books. It's my theory that if we get exposure for our books and ourselves, the books sell themselves. 'Course, we have to have a great book! ( - : AD has a huge number of benefits. I use it mostly to distribute my newsletter, as a backup for my regular Web site (www.howtodoitfrugally.com), for networking, and, yep, for exposure! ( - : Besides, you'll hear me say over and over again, when a book sells, it's really hard to know exactly what "sold" it. Usually it isn't one site or one promotion. Usually it's a combination of things the reader has seen or heard that finally gets them interested enough to buy a book.
CHJ


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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 iFOFO. Subscribe at http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html
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Tip: Longtime subscriber May Lattanzio sends this tip for a valuable resource for book promotion: http://www.writing - world.com/links/promotion.shtml


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


Editing Tip: My daughter the PhD candidate sent this tip: “Chicago Style Book recommends omitting periods in abbreviations of academic degrees (BA, DDS, etc.) unless they are required for reasons of tradition or consistency with, for example, a journal’s established style.—CMOS 16, 10.20"


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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 http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/advertising.htm at less per year than most sites charge for a single month. Find classified there, too.
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Writing Tip: Study Peter Goldsworthy's Three Dog Night to learn more about how to use grounding (or “setting” or “place”) in a novel. Come Tweet with me for more #Tips4Writers. www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo

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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.
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On Poetry
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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.

Use My Model for Promoting Your Own Poetry
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Find the blog post/release at
http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday - card - idea - real - poetry.html


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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.
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On Editing

Research: Like Marriage, For Better or Worse . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'm doing some editing for a client right now. She has written a beautiful manuscript. That is, it is beautiful where I can get at the story. This writer has done what many writers do. They fall in love with their research. They want to include every precious nugget they find as they are researching their topic.

When that happens the story gets lost, the forward movement of the story stalls. The novel becomes a nonfiction text. The language often moves into the passive tense, meaning active verbs disappear. The characters get lost in the researched detail, too.

Obviously, details can add texture to fiction. Obviously, they should be authentic to bring credibility to the piece. But they need to be integrated and shouldn't overpower the work. They also shouldn't smack of intrusion by the author. A lecture, as it were.

Before you turn your manuscript over to an agent or publisher, check it. Get a reader to look at it specifically to let you know when you went off on a tangent and told them way more than they wanted to know.

For a recent article on researching by Stephen Tremp, go to Diane Wolf's blog,
http://circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com/2010/11/researching - with - stephen - tremp.html


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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 (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 $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.
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Tip and Fr^^bie:
Blue Horizon Books Journal is a free, periodically published Booksletter for authors. It is filled with percolated tips about book writing, author platform building, and book promotion. You get a bonus for subscribing: A FREE eBook - I Need to Be a Bestselling Author - - Is That True?: The Five - Destination Roadmap to Authorship. Be the any - hundredth person to subscribe to Blue Horizon Books Journal, and you'll win an indigo blue "I Love My Book" Author Wristband as your bonus gift. To sign up go to: http://www.BlueHorizonCommunications.com (upper righthand corner, on the homepage).


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Audio divas bring you audios on many aspects of building a writing career:
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.
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Tip: Facebook has a new plan to integrate their messaging using a facebook.com e - mail address that, according to Mark, “isn’t e - mail.” http://www.mercurynews.com/top - stories/ci_16617860?source=pkg


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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
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing


On with the Show, This is IT!
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence


When the Bugs Bunny Show began each week, it started with the song, ”On with the Show, This is IT!” that signaled the beginning of the performance. The end of this year is coming up fast and it’s time to do some planning for 2011 while we buy those online gifts and deliberate over where to hang those decorations. It’s time to plan for our 2011 showstoppers.

Here are some challenges to take on to begin your approaching writing year:

• Make a list (and check it twice) showing ideas that you would like to write on. These can be nonfiction or fiction ideas (or a combination).

• Learn more about the different ways to publish your work (check this issue for wonderful information on traditional, indie, and other methods of publication).

• Figure out how you will edit what you write. Hopefully, you can find someone REALLY GOOD (ahem, like Carolyn?).

• Make a flexible writing schedule that will allow you to get work done.

• Figure out what contests you want to submit to long before their deadlines and read their submission requirements early on.

• Begin!

Helen Simonson, Author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, said something intriguing to several writers who called in while she was being interviewed on the Diane Rehm Show (http://thedianerehmshow.org) on NPR. She instructed the callers to make SURE and find a good editor, or editors, and to LISTEN to what they had to say. Let the editing be harsh. The writing gets much better that way.

So make some plans, have your Rohatsu/Christmas/Chanukah/Kwansaa celebrations, and then begin your writing year with some well - planned direction.


LINKS

Bugs Bunny
http://looney.goldenagecartoons.com/tv/bbshow/

Helen Simonson
http://helensimonson.com/index.php

Diane Rehm Show
http://thedianerehmshow.org/

Working Writers Daily Planner
http://www.amazon.com/Working - Writers - Daily - Planner - 2011/dp/1931520674#reader_1931520674

Free Homemade Calendars
http://homemadecalendars.blogspot.com/2010/07/free - homemade - calendars - 2011 - printable.html


~ 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.


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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
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Tip: It’s easier to keep e - books current than paper books, especially with information that covers Web sites. That’s because Web site administrators love to make changes and Amazon is the king of changges. There is a section on using Amazon to promote your book in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) but Dana Smith has a new short e - book out on the subject. You will love it! http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/savvy_book_marketer/how - to - sell - more - books - on - amazon.html. The two (my Amazon chapter and her e - book!) complement one another.


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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
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Tip: Here is a blog called Writer Beware: I always approach complaint sites with caution. It is so easy in this technical age for a disgruntled nut to ruin someone’s reputation. But it is also easy for dishonest folks to take advantage of the unsuspecting. So use this resource, but use it with caution. http://accrispin.blogspot.com


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

Thanks to WordPress Expert MaAnna Stephenson . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for including some of my books on the resource page of her new site: http://www.blogaid.net/resources If you need help setting up a professional Web site or blog (or combination thereof), she is your gal.


Thanks to Tony Durso . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for including my how - to books in his launch of his new book The Black Book of Sales Secrets – Generate High Interest to Sell Anything.
http://tonydurso.com/winning - ways.html


Thanks to Elysabeth Elderling . . .
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. . . for including me on her list of recommended authors for gift giving on her recent blog post:
http://thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/2010/11/guest - author - elysabeth - eldering - perfect.html


Thanks to Heather Paye . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . and her subscribers for the most amazing surprise post I’ve ever had. I had been on vacation. Then I had computer problems. When I came back, this! You must go see what she did. And use the post as an example of how to win friends who will want to let people know about your book in return. Really, that’s what real marketing is about.
Here’s the address:
http://heatherpaye.blogspot.com/2010/11/carolyn - howard - johnson - vists.html


Thanks to Laurel Marshfield . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for her blog post on my personal story about overcoming writing obstacles. Laurel is a writing consultant. She tweets at www.twitter.com/bookedinglm. Here’s the link to the blog post: http://www.bluehorizoncommunications.com/a - successful - writing - life - that - began - at - sixty/


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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
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Tip: So you’re just starting your trek to being a bestselling author! Think ahead. Buy as many of the domain names you think might apply to your branding now and lock them in. That would include your name, for sure. Maybe the titles of your books. Yes! Even before they are done!


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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

Contest Op with LA Book Festival
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LOS ANGELES The 2010 Los Angeles Book Festival has issued the call for entries to its annual celebration of books deserving more attention from the world publishing community.

The Los Angeles Book Festival will consider entries in general nonfiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children’s books, cookbooks, science fiction, business, spiritual, genre - based, how - to, photography/art, spiritual, poetry, foreign language, romance and mysteries, teenage/young adult, how - to and the wild card (anything goes!) categories published on or after Jan. 1, 2007. There are cash prizes and other benefits for winners. Learn more at

http://www.losangelesbookfestival.com/

For more contests go to www.howtodoitfrugally.com/contest.htm.


New Online Journal Wants Submissions
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Fellow creators,

I've just gotten back in touch with a friend from junior high, high school, and college days who became a professional editor and now in his later years has an absolutely fascinating online publication of international arts and literary interest called Ragazine. (http://ragazine.cc/ ). It is "a collaboration of artists, writers, photographers, poets, travelers, and interested others ..." It is open to contributors for fiction, creative nonfiction, photography, and specifically could use people writing about the arts in their part of the world. (There is already an LA "on location" writer writing about the arts in LA. But except for that and his Ohio State U connection, he needs stringers from other areas.) Learn more about their submission guidelines at http://ragazine.cc.
Cheers,
Bill Treziak

Support an Indie Author This Holiday Season... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Darcia Helle, an online friend of mine, is offering a selection of books—some paperback and some e - books. E - books are a neat way to save on postage and still remember your special friends. Here is the link to the main event page:
http://www.quietfurybooks.com/holidayevent.html
Darcia says, “We have forty - seven authors participating and hundreds of print and e - books to give away. The event launches on December 1.

F r ^ ^ Review Service . . .
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The Review Depot is a free service, which allows authors and publishers to submit their review requests in one location and have those requests routed to one or multiple review companies. As each review company completes its review, their star rating and review excerpt will show on the Manic Readers website.

The current list of Review Depot members include: Blackraven's Reviews, Book Lovers Inc., Dark Diva Reviews, Fallen Angel Reviews, The Readers Roundtable, TwoLips Reviews.

Authors and publishers can access the Review Depot by logging into Manic Readers (www.manicreaders.com) and clicking on the "Manage My Books" link under their "My Links" menu. The Review Depot gives authors and publishers an easy - to - user interface to request book reviews, while also providing a realtime interface to track the status of each review request.


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This is an example of one of my tweets: "FrugalBookPromo New trend? Borders will 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 for more great tips. Make a profile page and invite me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo. =================================================

From Carolyn’s Coming Memoir/NoCookbook:
Grandma’s Inedible Fruit Cake
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~1 C. Shortening
~5 eggs, separated. Add the white last.
~ 1 cup flour
~1/2 tsp salt
~1/2 tsp ground cloves
~1 1/2 lb raisins
~/2 lb. walnuts - chopped (now here's the thing. If one is harkening back to the 40s, one must buy the walnuts with their shells still on. Or one must pick the walnuts and unhusk them, black gunk under the fingernails. And these walnuts must be shelled by hand using nutcrackers and picks and some shell bits must be left with the meats—though that will certainly be easy enough to do if one isn't too meticulous. Part of the charm of this cake, put very simply, is that one was always in danger of cracking a tooth or worse.
~1 cup sweet wine or sweet fruit juice. (Mind you, the fruit juice here is to appease those Mormons who didn't admit to stocking anything stronger in their pantry or who didn't want to go to the state run liquor store to buy it. They might, after all, be seen by the neighbors there. Grandma, for the record, used Dago Red Wine or Apricot Brandy but not nearly enough of it to make this cake either moist enough or get those who ate it drunk enough to appreciate it!
~2 cups brown sugar
~1 tsp baking powder
~1 tsp cinnamon
~1 tbls cocoa
~1 lb. brilliant mix (For the uninitiated these are the bright little fruits, all glossy, that look a bit like Gummy Bears, only brighter and more cube - shaped rather than bear shaped. Come to think of it, cut up Gummy Bears might do very nicely.)

Cream sugar and shorting until fluffy. Beat in the egg yolk one at a time. Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with liquid. Add fruit and nuts (flour all fruit and nuts before adding so they won't settle to the bottom).

Bake 2 1/2 or 3 hours in wax paper - lined loaf pans (Can you still buy wax paper at the grocery store?). Do not remove from paper - lined pans.

Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes. Turn oven down to 250 degrees for one hour and 45 minutes. Test with a toothpick because cakes make take longer to bake.
Make in October and keep in a drawer. Wrap it in whiskey or wine - soaked dishtowels. Wet the cloths with more booze as they dry out. When fully stewed with wine, the cakes may be wrapped in foil and frozen.
My cousin Kathi notes "This doesn't all seem to make sense—all this separating of the eggs and changing of oven temperatures—but then this was always a cake without peer. ( - :”And yes, she did write in the happy face.

And here is a quote from Grandma Ruthie's mother - in - law, Sarah Jane Browell Howard (who, God forbid, may have given Ruthie the recipe!)

"Anyone can be a good cook if they can go to the store and buy whatever they need. A good cook goes to her cupboard and fixes a meal from what she finds there."
Kathy's mom, Helen Graff Howard, always had to make sure the canning jars came out even. Apparently a number seven was not acceptable. And Kathy remembers that "we'd have to wait until November 1st to eat anything we'd canned." No reason, certainly. Grandma always was foisting small loaves of fruitcake on anyone too polite not to accept them (and everyone was too polite!) up to Christmas and beyond. Heavens! Wonder if we could eat the fruitcake before that. Maybe it would have been moister earlier, rather than later.
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Watch for my memoir (Here's How I Don't Cook), now being shopped by super - agent Terrie Wolf. And keep your fingers crossed for her success. Please!


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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.
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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 Carolyn Howard Johnson and Lillian Brummet will discuss book proposals and common word trippers. And Carolyn may read from her new poetry chapbook (with Magdalena Ball) on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 10 am Pacific time. Guest may call 646 478 4758 to ask questions or offer ideas. Learn more at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions
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 I’ll be talking to Sylvia Hubbard on Michigan Literary Network (www.michiganliterarynetwork.com) and Motown Writers Network (www.motownwriters.com) sponsored BlogTalkRadio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michiganliterarynetwork) on Wed. Dec. 15 at 3 pm Pacific time. Tune in any Wednesday to hear this popular show for writers (and pitch to Producer Andrea Daniel for a guest spot at adaniel0089@comcast.net ).

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 Carolyn Howard Johnson, author of 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, will make a guest appearance on Paul Bruno's Career Czar® radio program. At 10:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar, we'll talk about making retailing work in a down economy and how authors can make their case to retailers to let them boost profits with a book signing on December 17, 2010. You can also listen at www.alltalkradio./careerczar/career121710.mp3 In the meantime, listen to his other shows at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar or at the show's blog at www.careerczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.


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New!  Carolyn will chat with writers (yes! fiction writers, too!) on how to make Twitter work for them. The Catholic Online Writers’ Conference, March 27, 2011, at 10 am Pacific Time. Registration required but it’s free. Limited enrollment so do it now! ( - : http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/.


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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.
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
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(Fun with language from The Washington and other publications.)

Sarchasm(n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.


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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:
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,
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136

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

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://budurl.com/MotherChapbook

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
www.budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

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