Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Amazing
Promotion
Collection of Resources

Here you'll find an ongoing source of information
plus the wisdom Carolyn gleaned from her careers in marketing, publicity, and journalism.


Self-Help Books
Inspiration and Practical Books for Writers

Books for Writers - Carolyn's personal list of self-help books for writers--one of the most frugal ways to learn what you need to know about writing, promotion and publishing.

Publicity and Promotion Services

You'll find direction in the Frugal Book Promoter for building your own media kit and you may download my general media kit as a template of sorts for yours (though every kit must be tailored to the individual book or product); if you choose not to build your own, the information there will make you a better partner for a publicist you might hire to help you.


3D image courtesy of iFOGO

Recommendation

The Frugal Book Promoter - will help you partner with a publicist or teach you to go it yourself frugally. The important thing to know is that authors--even those published by New York's most prestigious publishers--must contribute to their own success. In fact, many of those large publishers tend to prefer authors who have shown that they they have some chops for marketing. So start building your promotion platform now. It's never too early or too late. Bookbaby.com calls it a "classic."

How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically - is the culmination of nearly two decades Carolyn Howard-Johnson spent helping writers avoide pitfalls, misconceptions and out-and-out scams perpetrated on unsuspecting authors . . . and helping them reach their dreams of great reviews, great book tours, and great launches. It turns out that Get Great Book Reviews is the essence for a successful marketing campaign that includes all those things and--more importantly--for building the readership necessary for a prosperous writing career. Highly recommended by CompulsiveReader.com, the review site for the literate.

Recommendation

I have a motto: "Reading one book on book promotion is never enough." Thus, I recommend Michelle Dunn's Mosquito Marketing, a book full of book-marketing essentials.


Author-Friendly Radio and TV

Here is a link where you'll find a list of other shows: http://betsie.tripod.com/literary/id82.html. Do be careful though. Some of them are interview shows that authors must pay for. You probably already know that, in the Frugal Book Promoter I advise against doing that, generally speaking. There are, of course exceptions to every rule.

Sylvia Hubbard founded the Michigan Literary Network. It has been live on blogtalkradio.com since early fall of 2009 where it has accumulated nearly 5,000 downloads.  Our hour-long, weekly show airs live Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. with a focus on everything related to the literary world, from the writing process, to author highlights, to the nuts and bolts of publishing.   Although our show can be heard by listeners all over the world, and our guests come from all over the country, our target audience is readers and writers in Michigan with an interest in the Michigan literary community.

I loved the kinds of tips Karen Leland gives for making Pinterest work for writers. Find it at http://bit.ly/Amazonbook.

Reverend Cherise Thorne is host of an inspirational program called Knowing Spirit. Think of an angle, even if your book isn't specifically inspirational. She is very accessible. Phone: 815-483-1141.  Her web address and podcast is at www.knowingspirit.org/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html.

Connie Martinson Talks Books is a syndicated TV interview show filmed in LA. Here is a host who actually reads the books of the authors she interview. (My This Is the Place and Harkening were tagged and labeled and book marked like crazy.


A few of my favorites of more than a hundred of my guest spots over the years.  Streaming radio shows come and go, but these are perennials.
These, of course, are both resources for your own promotion 
and learning opportunities: 


Book Fairs & Tradeshows

Book Fairs & Tradeshows - plan ahead for Book Fairs, Tradeshows, Conferences and Conventions from Carolyn's working list.


Writers Conferences

Writers Conferences - where you learn to shop your book, better your craft and generally kick-start your writing career.

I cofounded the Free Muse Online Conference with Lea Schizas.

Be sure to check out the free Catholic Writers Conference, too. Soon to be reinstated.

And the free PromoDay conference founded by Jo Linsdell.


Reviewers

Reviewers - See a full listing of major review journals and review-friendly sites, plus tips for your query process.


Contests

Contests - Spotlighting the contests Carolyn recommends and has entered herself.


Author and Review-Friendly Websites

Alternative-Read accepts review requests from publishers, publicists and individual authors.


Web sites that posts free interviews:

Submit your query to this Brenda Weeaks at MyShelf. Your review will be considered by a whole catalog of expert reviews who write for the site. You may also find the Have You Heard page edited by Suzie Housley useful for promotion.

Book Pleasures.

Author interviews and reviews in Writer Advice E-mail.

The Compulsive Reader reviews books. Find interviews, literary news, criticism, a no-cost e-zine, and more. Editor Magdalena Ball also accepts applications for new reviewers.

Women on Writing is an exceptionally author-friendly and useful site. You'll also find a lovely page they did for me that features one of my first-person essays.

Book Connector is a great site for helping writers find other sites that are review friendly! Thanks to Janet Elaine Smith for contributing this.

Children's authors should absolutely try The Reading Tub for reviews of their children's books.

Yvonne Perry is known for her promotion services, especially for authors.
But she is also an author and occasionally reviews books as well.
See why she loved Frugal and Focused Tweeting for her books
and for her business.


Media Release Disseminators

Media Release Disseminators, content providers, and sites that accept book and author information at no cost.


Donate Your Book
Charitable Ways to Donate Books,
Support Reading and Literacy, and Benefit Your Career

Donating your book is not only charitable, it's good book business. Donate for book baskets, for literacy programs, for education, to foster good will among influencers and more.

The Reading Tub supports children's literacy groups through their children's book review program. Contact Terry Doherty, terry@thereadingtub.com .

Bibliophile Action Network: Unleash Your  Captive Books Today! www.2SWAP.com.

Mindy Lawrence of MPL Creative Resources offers this way to buy books and contribute to global literacy and recycling efforts at the same time. Go to: BetterWorld.Com. 


Newsletters
Your Writing, Tech, and Promotion Aids

Sharing with Writers is a community where writers brag a bit, share tips with one another, learn about opportunities for writers.

Keep your finger on the pulse of the lucrative commercial freelancing business with the free Wellfed Writer edited by Peter Bowerman. 

Sassy-Brit writes a sassy letter and offers lots of opportunities for promotion to her subscribers.

Freelance Writing's Newsletter

Read author interviews, market information, and more in Writer Advice. Subscribe or to submit material for consideration.


Children's writer Donna McDine offers "Write What Inspires You" newsletter. Opt-in at :
http://www.donnamcdine.com


Sites and Blogs
Serve, Educate and Publish

Are you looking for someone to host your tour or looking for help putting yours together? Stop by Gillian Felix’s Plain Talk blog http://plaintalkbm.com/.She does author interviews, and than avidly markets Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Plurk, Fark, Tumblr, Stumble Upon, and Diaspora. She’d love to hear from you. Drop by to see just one of the many things she’s done for me (my first person essay on surmounting obstacles)  at http://www.plaintalkbm.com/life-begins-at-60/. And keep in mind that one way to connect with bloggers is to subscribe to the blog, comment frequently, and then pitch your story/interview idea.

Dee Rimbaud's site features free database details over 2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers.

Freelance Writing Organization - Int'l: Thousands of free writing resources.

Writers Advice is for expert and up-to-date advice for writers from writers go to www.writeradvice.com You'll find author interviews, reviews, contests and markets and more. The site, edited by B. Lynn Goodwin is open to submissions.

Writer to Writer features tips on writing, marketing, submitting, selling and more. Regular no-fee contests.

Here is a resource built by librarians. It cites Web sites that are useful for research and more, but not purely commercial.  You can suggest a site that might be useful to librarians (perhaps your own) at: http://www.lii.org/cs/lii/create/todo

Freelance Job Board and Writer's Tips from E. Lucas-Taylor provides publisher lists, freelance, how-to get started, book fairs, conferences, a wealth of links for writing and promoting YOU.

Kim Wilson edits Write From Home for the benefit of those making a career from any corner in their house.

Published. com has hundreds of links to book clubs for you to select from and then utilize in your promotion campaign.

Carrie Lynn Lyons, author of Dream Pictures, also edits Writers and Readers Network.

Learn more about Carolyn Howard-Johnson's blogs, including one that lets authors extend the life of their favorite reviews at no cost.

SubtleTea is an online art journal focusing on--not exclusively--the written word, including artist interviews, fiction, poetry, essays, book/CD/film reviews, visual art, links, and resources. Founded by editor David Herrle. Open submissions from serious artists are welcome year-round. SubtleTea encourages exposure of diverse creators, and a new edition goes online every 2 months

Carolyn's blog, The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor (www.thefrugaledtior.blogspot.com) is an interactive blog on all things publishing.

Author Laura Hinds writes reviews and promotes them, too!
Here's her pre-promotion for her review of Frugal and Focused Tweeting.
Notice how she benefited from reading books that target
related industries. Also notice the Amazon carousel
in the right column. That's a great way to make buying easy
for readers and to reap some of monetary reward for your efforts.


Quick Links for Other
Helpful Pages for Writers on This Site

List of Media Release Disseminators

List of Book Publicists

List of Agents

List of Major Review Journals

List of digital (print-on-demand) printers

Writing Oriented Organizations

General Writers' Services

Event Planning

Legal Services

Illustrators, Graphic and Book Cover Designers

Sample Reader's Guide (Template)  for Fiction Writers

Sites and Blogs

Carolyn's Editing Services

How-To Books for Writers Free Content
Writers' Programs at US Universities List of Book Fairs, Tradeshows, Writers' Conferences, Conventions   Contests
List of Small Publishers FREE Muse Online Writers Conference Editors
Author-Friendly Reviewers Carolyn and Eve's Writers Retreat in Rome Event Planning
Carolyn's Consulting and Coaching Return to the Main Writers' Resources Page Sample of Writing in the Passive Voice for a Reason

Articles
Ta Da! E-books As 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/


Buy Links for Carolyn's Books

Great Fiction
Purchase THIS IS THE PLACE
and
HARKENING at Amazon in their new and used feature.
Both of these books are out of print. They are available only on Amazon's New and Used feature for about $1.

Great Poetry
Purchase TRACINGS (Finishing Line Press) at Amazon.
IMPERFECT ECHOES: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters,
lie and oppression with Small

Give the gift of poetry with a chapbook from Magdalena Ball's
and
My Celebration Series

CHERISHED PULSE: Unconventional Love Poetry
IMAGINING THE FUTURE: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions
SHE WORE EMERALD THEN: Reflections on Motherhood
BLOOMING RED: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
DEEPER INTO THE POND: Celebration of Femininity
SUBLIME PLANET: Celebrating Earth and the Universe
 

HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers
Purchase THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER,
THE FRUGAL EDITOR
Second Edition
GREAT LITTLE LAST MINUTE EDITING TIPS FOR WRITERS
GREAT FIRST-IMPRESSION BOOK PROPOSALS
HOW TO GET GREAT BOOK REVIEWS FRUGALLY AND ETHICALLY

Survive and Thrive Series of HowToDoItFrugally Books for Retailers
A RETAILER'S GUIDE TO FRUGAL IN-STORE PROMOTION
FRUGAL AND FOCUSED TWEETING FOR RETAILERS
YOUR BLOG, YOUR BUSINESS

Most of Carolyn's books are also available for the Kindle reader.
Did you know that with the Free app, Kindle can be adapted to any reader--even your PC!

"Careers that are not fed die as readily as
any living organism given no sustenance." 
~
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Studio photography by Uriah Carr
3 Dimensional Book Cover Images by iFOGO
Logo by Lloyd King

To subscribe to Carolyn's FREE online newsletter send an e-mail.

Learn more about Carolyn's newsletter and blog.

Read past issues of Carolyn's Newsletter.

 

Other Links

 

Carolyn's Commercial Acting

 


Celebration Series of Poetry Chapbooks
 

 

This is the Place, a novel

 

Speaking

Tracings, a chapbook and memoir in one

Harkening, true short stories

Carolyn's Poetry

Helps For Retailers

Helps For Writers

Full Published Works Almanac

Travel and Poetry

Published Books

 

Frugal E-Book Tip

Kindle E-Books Aren't
Just for Kindle Anymore

Did you know that Amazon’s Kindle e-books are a low-cost/no-cost way to access books even if you don’t have a dedicated Kindle reader? You can read Kindle's e-books on smartphones, desktop computers and any e-device in between. You can even store the books on the Amazon cloud.

~ Quote from Diana Schneidman, author and marketer



Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers Newsletter

and get a FREE copy of
Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

"I have been a professional writer 40 years, and am also a tenured full professor of journalism. Carolyn's Sharing with Writers newsletter is  most useful for me--and for my students. I emphasize to them that while research is 90% of writing, and the actual writing is about 10%, there's another 100% out there called promotion. Carolyn shows numerous ways to get the message to the mass media."
~Walter Brasch, author and educator

"A decade of bettering writers' careers with how-tos, tips, and publishing news."


Find Carolyn on the Web

  writers retailers

Carolyn's Blogs

Sharing with Writers
All things publishing with
an emphasis on book
promotion. Named to
Writer's Digest
101 Best Website list.


The New Book Review
Great way for readers, authors, reviewers and publicists to get more
mileage out of
a great review.


The Frugal Editor Blog
This is the Frugal, Smart
and Tuned-In Editor blog.
Covers editing, grammar, formatting and more.
Get the answers you need.



Carolyn's Awards

Awards for Carolyn's Books, Blogs and More

The New Book Review
Named to
Master's in English.org Online Universities'

101 Essential Sites for Voracious Readers

Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites
for
Sharing with Writers blog.

 


Best Book Award for The Frugal Book Promoter (2004) and The Frugal Editor (2008) and the Second Edition of The Frugal Book Promoter (2011).

 

Reader Views Literary Award for The Frugal Editor

New Generation Award for Marketing and Finalist for The Frugal Editor

Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award

Military Writers Award of Excellence for
Tracings, A Chapbook of Poetry.


A Retailer's Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotion wins author Military Writers Society of America's Author of the Month award for March, 2010

 

Gold Medal Award from Military Writers Society of America, 2010. MWSA also gave a nod to She Wore Emerald Then, a chapbook of poetry honoring mothers.

The Frugal Editor Named #! on Top Ten Editing Books list.

Finalist New Generation Book Awards 2012, The Frugal Book Promoter; Finalist 2010 The Frugal Editor;
Winner 2010 Marketing Campaign for the Frugal Editor


The Oxford Award
recognizes
the alumna who exemplifies the Delta Gamma precept of service to her community and who, through the years, devotes her talents to improve the quality of life around her.

The Frugal Book Promoter is runner-up in the how-to category for the Los Angeles Book Festival 2012 awards.

Glendale City Seal
Winner Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts
Glendale California's Arts and Culture Commission and the City of Glendale Library,
2013

And more than a dozen other awards for Carolyn's novel, short story collection and poetry. See the awards page on this site.


Carolyn's Published Works Almanac


Carolyn's Awards


Other Interests

Acting
Speaking
Travel

Tolerance


Carolyn's Poetry

Tracings
Imperfect Echoes
Celebration Series
Travel


Carolyn's Literary Works

This is the Place
Harkening
Published Shorter Works


Carolyn's How to Do it Frugally Series

For Writers
For Retailers


Publishing Tip

One way for self-publishers to make it easy for librarians and bookstore personnel to shelve their books correctly is to publish a BISAC number on their  copyright page. Find the right one for your book here.

Find at least one tip on writing, promotion or tech on every page of this Web site. 


Selling Books

Authors are often surprised to find that they are also retailers: They are selling a product. They're also often surprised that some of their most fruitful partners for book sales are retailers. My series of books for retailers will help them understand retail marketing better and this blog post from master marketer Dana Lynn Smith will be useful, too.

  Find tips on writing, promotion or tech on every page of this Web site. 


Free Content

Carolyn's  Reviews for Riters  (tm)--include reviews of her recommended books for authors. These reviews are available for reprint at no cost.  See a partial list of  the articles at the free content page of this site. For more information e-mail Carolyn.


Site Sponsors

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Proud Member

www.wrwa.net
Honorary Member



ABWA is a group of highly skilled networkering women in business.

Military Writers' Society of America

Also, honorary member of Publishers and Writers of San Diego, Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (GLAWS), IWOSC, and Publishers Association of Los Angeles (PALA)


Book Publicists of Southern California (BPSC)  Pix: Proud Irwin Award Winners
Carolyn and Janet Goliger.


Promotion Tip

In The Frugal Book Promoter I advise authors to beware of paying for services that traditionally have have been offered at no cost to authors. There are times when you will want to make exceptions, but in general you will not need to pay to be on the radio, to get your book reviewed, to be the host of a radio or TV program or to get an agent to read your manuscript. 

Find at least one tip on writing, promotion or tech on every page of this Web site.                                  


Carolyn's Calendar

Please click on my Google Calendar button to learn more about my upcoming UCLA Extension Writers' Program classes, my writers' conference and book fair appearances, and more.