Collecting Book

Linda Barnett-Johnson Finds Frugal Book Promoter a Help with Her Book Tour

The second edition of my The Frugal Book Promoter was recently reviewed on Amazon by Linda Barnett-Johnson and I thought I'd use it as an occasion to remind subscribers and visitors to this blog that this multi award-winning book makes a lovely gift for any author or aspiring author because it's a gift that keeps giving, keeps contributing to his or her writing career. This review makes it clear that it is one of those books one can keep referring to again and again.

Title: The Frugal Book Promoter

Second Edition

Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Author's Web site

Available as paperback or e-book on Amazon

Awards: USA Book News, winner business category; Global E-Book Awards, honorable mention; BPSC Irwin Award

Cover by Chaz DeSimone

Reviewed by Linda Barnett-Johnson, originally for Amazon

I am always in the market for books on helping my author clients in promoting their books. The Frugal Book Promoter is one of those books that I bought. What I like about this book is the easy format; table of contents; easy to find categories; how-to’s and much more.

I love the word “frugally” because that in itself is what I am. I don’t have the big bucks to buy ads or other marketing strategies. I like giving my authors reliable information and tactics without them having to pay high dollar for it.

I was interested in the social marketing and blog marketing and “The Frugal Book Promoter” was there to help. Since I have never done a “book tour” before, it was easy to read and follow. I had my first book tour in March.

There are many interesting subjects:

Amazon - How to set up your books and much more;

Blogs;

Book launches;

Book tours;

Contests;

E-mail marketing;

Resources and Reviews;

And don’t forget “writing”

Anything from A-Z. She has researched and used her methods and it shows.

There are many quotes and anecdotes from other authors and writers.

If you want your book promotions to go easier, I would recommend her books. I have them all and will use them over-and-over.

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Linda Barnett-Johnson

Editor/Virtual Assistant for Authors

www.lindabarnett-johnson.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Midwest Book Review Managing Editor Reviews The Frugal Editor

In The Frugal Book Promoter, I advise that authors choose promotions and marketing tools that fit their title, their personalities, and their pocketbooks. Recently I have also learned it's a good idea to be kind to oneself and adapt to the circumstances of one's life. The campaign I had planned for the release of the second edition of The Frugal Editor in paperback is far more casual (and scattered!) than the one I had planned because my husband fell from our roof and broke his vertebrae (four of them!), So, as a full time caregiver, I'm taking my own advice and doing a what we might call this a dribble campaign. Here is the latest review from Beth Cox the new managing editor of The Midwest Book Review.

The Frugal Editor
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

From the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
www.howtodoitfrugally.com
ISBN: 9781505712117
$17.95

Genre: Nonfiction/Writers/Marketing

288pp,

Available as an e-book or in paperback from Amazon

Review by Beth Cox, Managing Editor of Midwest Book Review

Reprinted with Permission from her June newsletter, the Beth Cox Report

June's Book of the Month is about the writing and publishing trades.
Writing/Publishing books are regularly featured in the Jim Cox Report,
so I rarely spotlight them here, but this one is exceptionally worthy:

Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible and film media used to convey information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization, and many other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate and complete work. The editing process often begins with the author's idea for the work itself, continuing as a collaboration between the author and the editor as the work is created. As such, editing can involve creative skills, human relations and a precise set of methods. There are various editorial positions in publishing. Typically, one finds editorial assistants reporting to the senior-level editorial staff and directors who report to senior executive editors. Senior executive editors are responsible for developing a product for its final release. The smaller the publication, the more these roles overlap. In the book publishing industry, editors may organize anthologies and other compilations, produce definitive editions of a classic author's works (scholarly editor), and organize and manage contributions to a multi-author book (symposium editor or volume editor). Obtaining manuscripts or recruiting authors is the role of an Acquisitions Editor or a commissioning editor in a publishing house. Finding marketable ideas and presenting them to appropriate authors are the responsibilities of a sponsoring editor. Copy editors correct spelling, grammar and align writings to house style. Changes to the publishing industry since the 1980s have resulted in nearly all copy editing of book manuscripts being outsourced to freelance copy editors.

The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets for Authors is a complete course of instruction under one cover. From editing query letters to editing final manuscripts to the editorial chores of marketing, The Frugal Editor covers the complete range of editorial tasks and responsibilities -- including common mistakes and errors to avoid. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, The Frugal Editor is ideal for the novice author, and would prove to be of immense value as an instructional reference resource for experienced authors, publishers, publicists, and freelance copy editors.

Bethany Cox
Managing Editor
The Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com

WOW Blog Tour Review Love My Friend Nina Amir's New Book for Authors

Title: Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your

Book

Author: Nina Amir

Web site: www.ninaamir.com

Genre: Writing Craft

Publisher: Pure Spirit Creations

Publication Date: October 22, 2014

E-Book: 85 pages

AISN: B00OT67PPO

Buy the book at Amazon

Or at Smashwords

BOOK REVIEW: AUTHORPRENEUR

Reviewed by Jodi Webb originally for The Muffin

I am good with words. I am not good with numbers, money, business plans. I suspect in that way I am similar to many writers. Nina Amir's book Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your Book addresses that shortcoming in many writers by providing a step by step map to transforming a book into a business that provides an author many opportunities to earn.

When I say "step by step" I am not exaggerating. Amir will provide an idea such as webinar. From there she will provide you with the names of several platforms you can use to set up webinars along with the positives and negatives of each platform. Then she provides both creative and technical directions on how to produce a webinar: how to transform your book/knowledge into a webinar and tips on technical issues such as when to hold a webinar, producing online registration pages, etc. I was amazed by just how much information was in this 85 page ebook! Even if you just adopt one of the ideas Amir provides you will be getting your money's worth. But don't think this book is all about online opportunities. Amir provides the same detailed attention to things just as speaking engagements and creating mini-books.

On the surface, this book lends itself more to nonfiction writing but with some adaption fiction or memoir writers will find information they can use. It will definitely have you evaluating your book in a new way. I recommend that all writers read Authorpreneur: How to Build a Business Around Your Book and see where Amir's ideas will lead them.

More about the Author:

Nina Amir, the bestselling author of How to Blog a Book and The Author Training Manual, is a speaker, a blogger, and an author, book, and blog-to-book coach. Known as the Inspiration to Creation Coach, she helps creative people combine their passion and purpose so they move from idea to inspired action and positively and meaningfully impact the world as writers, bloggers, authorpreneurs, and blogpreneurs. Some of Nina's clients have sold 300,000+ copies of their books, landed deals with major publishing houses and created thriving businesses around their books. She is the founder of National Nonfiction Writing Month, aka the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge, and the Nonfiction Writers' University.

More about WOW Mini-Review Blog Tours:

WOW-Women on Writing organizes WOW Blog Tours of all lengths and types: everything from blog tours featuring interviews, guest posts, review and giveaways to social media reviews to tweet tours. We're also always open to new creations if you have something special in mind to promote your book. Nina is on one of our latest offerings, the WOW Mini Review Tour. The WOW Mini Review Tour launches with a review and giveaway on WOW's blog The Muffin http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/2015/02/authorpreneur-how-to-build-business.html then moves on to at least six other blogs that feature a review as well as reposts of the review on spots such as Amazon, Goodreads, Pinterest, B&N and Powell's. To learn more about WOW Blog Tours contact us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Author Loves Valerie Allen's How-To Book for Authors

Title: Write, Publish, Sell!: Quick, Easy, Inexpensive Ideas for the Marketing Challenged 2^nd Edition

Author: Valerie Allen
Author's Web site: www.ValerieAllenWriter.com
Genre: Non-fiction, Reference for Authors and Writing
ISBN 10: 1480043850
ISBN 13: 978 1480043855
Format: book and ebook
Purchase at: Amazon.com

For writers, new and experienced, as they move from writing to publication and marketing of their work. Practical suggestions to create and increase sales.

Reviewed by Jay Heavner, originally for Amazon 5 Star Review

This is the book you want.

This book is well worth the money. The information inside is very helpful in the fields of writing, getting published, and SELLING. I especially liked the part about SELLING. Once you have written your work, and found a publisher, you have to SELL. I have gotten my money back many, many times over with her helpful hints. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Valerie Allen has written a great 'how to' book. She shares the short cuts she has learned the hard way. You will be a satisfied customer, take it from the author of, "Braddock's Gold," also on Amazon. You need this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Valerie Allen, psychologist, author, and speaker, writes fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. Her articles and short stories have been published in newspapers, online, in literary journals, and educational and mental health magazines.

She conducts seminars for educators, parents, medical and mental health professionals based on her motivational, self help book, Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony. Professionally, she is a member of the National and Florida Association of School Psychologists, and board certified by the National Association of School Psychologists.

She is a popular speaker at writer's conferences, libraries, and community events using her book: Write, Publish, Sell! Quick, Easy, Inexpensive Ideas for the Marketing Challenged 2^nd Edition.

She has written children's books for independent readers in grades three to five, Summer School for Smarties and Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends. She conducts workshops for students to foster their talent and creativity.

She is a member of the Space Coast Writer’s Guild, the National League of American PEN Women, Cape Canaveral Branch, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Creative Arts Foundation of Brevard, FL

She is also co-founder of Authors for Authors,which sponsors book fairs, book launches, and writing seminars for new and experienced writers.

Valerie Allen can be contacted via Facebook.com/Valerie.Allen.520, Twitter, VallenWriter@cs.com or http://ValerieAllenWriter.com

Author Love, Loves, Loves New Book for Authors

Title: Writing from the Senses

Author: Laura Deutsch

Published: May 2014

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

ISBN 978-1-61180-044-9

www.shambhala.com/writing-from-the-senses.html

Reviewed by Simi Silva originally for Goodreads

As soon as I saw the title ‘Writing from the Senses’ and read its description, I had to get my hands on this book. I couldn’t wait to delve in and find out the secret to writing a better novel. My glossy review copy with the inviting autumn lake scene on the cover arrived in the mail within two days, and I immediately tore open the package and started right in. Thankfully there wasn’t anything else vying for my attention at the time. I planned on reading it once through and then go back and make notes and do the exercises so that I could properly see the progress I could make on my novel which was sitting dejected in the corner collecting a film of dust. The idea tap on how to improve and finish it had run dry.

Honestly, I only made it through the first run-through before the motivation to get working on the manuscript was running high. Every chapter gave me so many ideas that I really wanted to write them all down, and I should have but dang, I wanted to keep reading and savoring every morsel of every page, every paragraph, sentence and word the author had put before me. Yet without even doing the exercises at the end of each chapter, my creativity had been ignited and I was more than ready to revitalize my writing! (Side note: I will definitely go back and reread it, make many notes in the margins, and do the exercises.)

I started with one scene in the middle of the manuscript and before I knew it things were being described so vividly that it not only transformed the scene, but the storyline itself began to blossom, taking on a life of its own. Scene by scene I started changing things around, adding more depth to them and the characters within. My fingers were flying across the keyboard trying to keep up with my brain. Now instead of telling what was happening, I was showing the reader through descriptions via every one of our glorious senses. And I wondered, why didn’t I see any of this before?

Maybe because as storytellers we’re programmed to tell the story. But by learning to write from the senses we allow the reader and ourselves in the process to enter into the characters’ head and feel like we are actually there with them.

When we are in tune to our senses we live more deeply, more productively. New memories are created and old ones relived. The suggestion is to keep a small notebook with you at all times and write these sensory experiences down as they happen or at least shortly afterwards. Capture the moment. For instance, what images, feelings or memories come to mind when I say - freshly baked bread with dollops of creamy butter melting into every crevice, warm sunlight shining through the mist onto the dew-kissed grass on a cool spring morning, the sweet fragrant scent and silky hair of a newborn baby, the sharp pain and instant rising heat from a wasp’s sting, or the delightful crunching sound of a car slowly driving over gravel? Internalize and make it personal. Now write about it.

This just touches the surface of what ‘Writing from the Senses’ is all about. Travel to the exotic places the author has traveled to and relate to the same emotions which she and some of her students have through their amazing pieces of writing, along with trying out the 59 exercises that are certain to ignite and revitalize your writing.

If you want to know the secret of how to take your writing to the next level, this is the book for you. Having it as a valuable reference guide with all the exercises and writing prompts in and of itself is a must for professional writers, those on their way to becoming professional writers, and those who just write for the sheer pleasure of writing.

Also, if you are in Mill Valley, California, sign up for one or more of Ms. Deutsch’s classes. Be sure to check out her website – http://www.lauradeutsch.com

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Simran Silva is the author of Tangible Dreams is available on Amazon.
“Sometimes, words alone aren’t enough to express how you feel…but set those words to melody, and you have music that says it all. If you’re in love, watch and share this with your special someone.” ~ Navin Kundra

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Midwest Review Raves About Book as Author Aid

Title: Book Fairs for Authors

Subtitle: How to Leverage Book Fairs to Build Your Author Platform
Authors: Larry DeKay with Peggy DeKay
Authors' Website: www.tbowt.com
Genre/Category: Writing – Reference – How-To
ISBN: 9780983414438
Journal Published: Small Press Bookwatch: January 2015

Reviewed by Jim Cox originally for Midwest Book Review and for MidWest Book Review Newsletter

Synopsis: Dozens of book fair links are included in "The Author's Guide to Book Fairs", an essential resource and reference for all authors, both traditionally published and self-published, who want to learn how to leverage book fairs to build their platform and sell more books. "Book Fairs For Authors" covers why you go to a book fair; who can be in a book fair; where to find book fairs; applying to be in a book fair; preparing to go to the book fair; tips on engaging buyers at the book fair; post book fair marketing; and book fair traps and pitfalls. "Book Fairs For Authors" is enhanced with the inclusion of a list of book fairs by state; a list of book festivals by state; resources for authors; book expos and trade shows.

Critique: Informed, informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, as well as thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Book Fairs For Authors" should be considered mandatory reading for authors and publishers who hope to expand the audience for their books -- and the financial revenues that expanded readership would engender.

Available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Fairs-Authors-Peggy-DeKay/dp/0983414432

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.