Passing It Forward: A Review Journal That Doesn't Discriminate

This is a bit of a brag, but it is also a mini lesson in going with the flow (basically not driving yourself crazy over all the marketing you know you should do but can't or all the writing opportunities that come to you that may or may not ever come to fruition).  And it's also an exercise in passing it forward.

Midwest Book Review has been around a long time and during that time it has supported indie authors and traditionally published authors alike. It has provided resources that can make a difference for writers free.  It just seemed to me that a a simple thank you for what they have done for me and others isn't enough to make those of you unfamiliar with what they do grasp the opportunities they offer.

So here's the story:

 The second edition of my multi award-winning The Frugal Editor is now available in paperback and because of my husband’s illness I have not been able to plan or execute a marketing campaign for it.  And because it is independently published, I have no one else to do it. And because of my caretaking duties, I have no time to hire someone who will.

 

Still, hit or miss, I consider its launch a success not in sales necessarily (people have to hear about a book--maybe hear about it seven times!-- to buy it) but in the support given it by the likes of James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Book Reviews who featured it in his online magazine Library Bookwatch, in his e-mail newsletter The Cox Report, and in the Writing/Publishing shelf of the Midwest Book Review itself. Two of his comments:

 

“. . .an absolute ‘must have’ for virtually all aspiring and practicing authors in these tough economic times.”

 

“Tips, tricks, techniques and do-it-yourself editing secrets will aid in improving one’s writing at every state of the process. . .”

 

And his managing editor Bethany Cox called it “exceptionally worthy” and included her own review in her newsletter. She also said it is a “complete course of instruction under one cover.  From editing, query letters to final manuscript.”

It is an honor to earn the respect of an institution and the people behind it who have for many years conducted a public service for authors and publishers by providing free reviews and always eschewing judging a book’s qualifications by its publisher or the kind of press it is printed on.

 

I am adding some tips that will help you in the review process excerpted from my book The Frugal Book Promoter in the July issue of my SharingwithWriters newsletter and some links to other resources provided by Independent Book Publishers Assn. If you don't subscribe to that letter, e-mail me at HoJoNews@AOL.com  and I'll send you a copy. Between generous and unbiased organizations like Midwest and others (organizations that don't judge a book by the press a book is printed on) and the information they regularly provide, you too will soon be in a position to pass it forward.

 

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including 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. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor .