Reaffirming Book Marketing’s Most Appreciated Gifts

I just had to share with my #SharingwithWriters blog visitors and subscribers because it reaffirms my persistence about shouting out the importance of using blurbs liberally in the our book promotion!  Adam Cohen, one of the gurus along with Jendi Reiter sent me a message sent by a winner of WinningWriters.com’s 2025 #North Street Book Prize: 

For the partnership consulting I did with WinningWriters.com’s team of experts who won an assortment of book marketing as part of their prize: “"Cannot say enough good things about North Street Book Prize! Thrilled, of course, to receive the cash award. But more important are the fabulous and talented people behind the award. So many of them, Adam, Jendi, Annie along with Carolyn and Laura have reached out to me and provided valuable critique, promotion support, or helpful guidance. I did not expect the personal warmth and human touch—an increasingly rare occurrence in our fraying, detached, and botified world. Won me over!"
—Ben Stubenberg, 2025 North Street first prize for Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Category

Of course it makes me proud to be part of that team, but it also keep me connected with new talent in our industry.  Ben’s “Jamaican Bobsled Captain” is a book made for everyone who loves sports and loves travel as well.  Here’s a big public thank you to Ben Stubenberg and WinningWriters, too. Oh, yeah, this also reaffirms my belief that a book review or a beautiful blurb is the most welcome gift anyone can give as a thank you that stays alive and remembered for a very long time. 

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This badge was a gift from #GeneCartwright, 

award-winning author, author advocate, and 

expert in film acquisitions.

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. 

 Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

It’s Never Too Early or Late for E-book Gifts--But YOU choose!

The frugal ticket for writing, editing, and marketing your books   "Carolyn is a long-time partner for our North Street Book Prize. Her books in the HowToDoItFrugally series are essential reading for authors, whether self-published or traditional." - Adam Cohen     FEATURED TITLES   LEARN MORE LEARN MORE   LEARN MORE TESTIMONIALS "Nothing demonstrates professionalism like a well-edited submission. Follow Carolyn Howard-Johnson's clear, step-by-step editing approach for putting your best book forward and you'll submit like a pro." — Gregory A. Kompes, conference coordinator, Las Vegas Writer's Conference "The Frugal Book Promoter. I love it. Most authors don't have deep pockets for publicity, promotion, and marketing; this is the kind of information we need! The chapter on the perks available on Amazon is a perfect example of the kind of practical advice offered—the kind that took me months to discover." — Rolf Gompertz, author, veteran publicist for NBC, and 30-year UCLA Extension instructor in marketing   ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been an instructor for UCLA's world-renowned Writers' Program for nearly a decade, a columnist and staff writer for the Salt Lake Tribune and the Pasadena Star News, and has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio stations nationally and locally. As a publicist for the Eleanor Lambert Agency in New York, she took part in the creation of the first "10 Best Dressed List" with Christian Dior.   Carolyn was honored as the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment, received her community's Character and Ethics award for promoting tolerance with her writing, and was named to Pasadena Weekly's list of "San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen". She presents at writers' conferences nationwide. Her own writing as a novelist and poet has informed the advice she gives to authors regarding sales and genre. Carolyn has worked with Winning Writers for years as a co-sponsor of the North Street Book Prize, helping winners promote their books. View her many offerings for writers on her website.

Sponsored messages help Winning Writers provide its services to you at no charge. We never share your email address with third parties. If your organization would like to send a sponsored message, please contact adam@winningwriters.com. © 2001-2024 Winning Writers. All rights reserved except for fair use. Winning Writers 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222 Northampton, MA 01060 Unsubscribe | Change My Email Address | Help | Contact

Thank you to Adam Cohen of Winning Writers for his artful ads like 

the one above and the yearlong benefits his WinningWriters.com

offers authors years around. Subscribe for great opportunities like the ones in this ad, for his highly recommended #NorthStreetBookPrize and Jendi Reiter’s thoroughly vetted contest

ideas, too.  Happy holidays to all! Carolyn

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. 

Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Carolyn’s Flagship HowToDoItFrugally Book for Writers on Sale--Along with Others in the Series!

As many of my followers/subscribers/visitors know, I have been supporting WinningWriters #NorthStreetBookPrize for years--since its inception. Because of its credibility. Because of its value-added benefits over most respected contests out there.  Because of the low cost compared to its overall value. I also know that its audience of savvy authors is similar to my audience of savvy writers, thus I love my ads with them including ads for the occasional discounts my great publisher, Modern History Press, offers those same loyal authors! Ahem.  I hope you can use to this one to buy one of the books you haven’t yet read--perhaps for yourself. Perhaps as a gift for a fellow author who deserves (or even NEEDS) it! (-:  Here it is: 

See bottom for your special discount code   The Frugal Book Promoter: 3rd Edition On Sale!     The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been a must-have book for authors since its 2004 debut as a text for her UCLA Extension Writers' Program class in book marketing. Modern History Press today offers the third edition sporting a complete update including a new cover, bibliography, and reference section. Like the previous editions, the 3rd edition of The Frugal Book Promoter helps give your book the best possible start in life. It's full of nitty gritty how-tos for getting nearly free publicity. Carolyn shares her professional experience in journalism, PR, and retailing as well as the practical tips she gleaned from her own book campaigns. She tells authors how to do what their publishers can’t or won’t, why authors can often do their own promotion better than a PR professional, and shows them how to work best with their publisher’s publicist or the one they hire on their own. Past editions of The Frugal Book Promoter have received an Irwin Award, a USA Book News pick for Best Professional Book, and a Dan Poynter Global Ebook Award. When more than 30,000 authors downloaded it as a promotion for BookBaby, they dubbed it a “classic”. It is the flagship book in Carolyn's HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers. Carolyn says, “Frugal has been a labor of love, a way to share what four decades of loving publicity, writing, and publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry has taught me.” The Frugal Book Promoter can be yours for $19.96 in paperback (plus shipping). Be sure to use the code GOFRUGAL at checkout to receive your 20% discount. Buy it today! "The most expensive parts of book promotion are the mistakes. This book will save you time and money." —Dan Poynter, legendary author of The Self-Publishing Manual "[Carolyn Howard-Johnson is] an incessant promoter who develops and shares new approaches for book promotion." —Marilyn Ross, founder, Small Publishers of North America and coauthor of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing "The Frugal Book Promoter has given me ideas that would never have occurred to me and has changed the way I think about book promotion." —Mark Logie, award-winning poet and short-story writer   Buy The Frugal Book Promoter - Use Discount Code GOFRUGAL

P.S. Your discount code GOFRUGAL is good for 20% off all of my books at Modern History Press. That includes The Frugal Book Promoter, The Frugal Editor, The Great First Impression Book Proposal, and Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers.     Carolyn Howard-Johnson   Author

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

The Only Event I Recommend for Book Display without the Presence of the Author

Those of you who have hung out with me for a while know I recommend this even for display of books when the author can’t be present  based on its very low price and the value-added benefits it offers like networking. So your book gets seen--perhaps in a region where your get very little or no “in person” exposure, then it provides their AuthorsForAuthors group on Facebook where you get to post a little promotion and thank and anything else that might interests the group. You get an image of your book on display rather like this one --I can’t remember the year because I forgot to date it and I have at least a dozen or more them. They usually use book stands, too. One of their members writes a newsletter for authors in that region and if you put him on your media list, he’ll probably use your news even in you live in the Upper Peninsula!  Hi, guys! So have at it.  What do you have to lose but a few minutes to get to know the director of the even, Valerie Allen, $5. per book, and the cost of sending her your display stuff including bookmarks and/or business cards or even a stack of sell sheets! And Valerie--smart promoter than she is--has even featured my HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers in one of her presentations! 

 SAVE the DATE!  Coming soon.

MEET The AUTHORS' BOOK FAIR

Nov. 23 & 24, 2024,

at the Eau Gallie Civic Center

from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Registration will open on 09/01/24.

VENDOR TABLES ARE LIMITED. 

Find out more at AuthorsForAuthors.com

Hope to see you there 📖  🤩

-- 

~  Valerie Allen  ~

                                          ValerieAllenWriter.com                                                    VAllenWriter@gmail.com

Amazon.com/author/valerieallen

Write, Publish, Sell! 2 ed

Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony

Understanding Mental Illness: A Guide for Family and Friends

Amazing Grace
Sins of the Father

Suffer The Little Children

The Prodigal Son

Stories for the Man in Your Life

Love Stories for Your Valentine

A Gift for Mom: Short Story Collection

'Tis Herself: Short Story Volume One

'Tis Herself: Short Story Volume Two

'Tis Herself: Short Story Volume Three

The Sun and The Moon

My Precious Little Kitty Cat

Summer School for Smarties

Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends

 MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. 

"The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. 

 Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Best Writing Contests Winner North Street Book Prize Nearing Deadline!

As many of you know, I am a proud associate of WinningWriters’ #NorthStreetBookPrize because of all its value-added benefits but also because of it credibility, the quality of the winners I have seen honored over the years, and that it’s a “Best Writing Contests Winner” in its own right. He as added even more to his lineup of benefits and it’s time to enter again!  How lovely it would be to see one of online friends and subscribers on the winning list this year. 

Hugs,

Carolyn

North Street Book Prize More Than Just Cash While our North Street Book Prize will award $20,400 in cash prizes, we're also pleased to provide other valuable benefits from our co-sponsors Carolyn Howard-Johnson, BookBaby, Book Award Pro, Laura Duffy Design, and Self-Publishing Made Simple. They have a wealth of marketing, design, and publishing knowledge to share.   OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE $10,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $500 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service (a $207 value) and a $250 account credit from Book Award Pro, a book cover consultation from Laura Duffy Design (a $1,100 value, can be assigned to a future book), and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value)   EACH CATEGORY WINNER WILL RECEIVE $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $500 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service from Book Award Pro (a $207 value), design for a custom merchandise item based on the winner's book cover from Laura Duffy Design, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $175 value); the winning children's picture book author will also receive a phone consultation from April Cox at Self-Publishing Made Simple (a $289 value) and access to Authorpreneur Summitsessions (an $89 value)   ONE HONORABLE MENTION IN EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE $300 and three months of Plus service from Book Award Pro (a $207 value); the honorable mention children's picture book author will also receive a phone consultation from April Cox at Self-Publishing Made Simple (a $289 value) and access to Authorpreneur Summit sessions (an $89 value)   New! One finalist in each category will receive a free, full-length private critique from Winning Writers (value: $90-$240)   We will publish online excerpts from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges The deadline is July 1. Submit your self-published or hybrid-published book for $79. Books published on all self-publishing and hybrid-publishing platforms are eligible. Any year of publication is eligible. Free gifts for everyone who enters. New this year: All entrants who submit online will receive a brief commentary from one of the judges (5-10 sentences). Winning Writers is one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2024), and this contest is recommended by Reedsy. Click to learn more about our contest.   Submit online     Prefer to enter by mail?   You may mail one copy of your book and the $79 entry fee to Winning Writers, Attn: North Street Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3998, USA. Please note that feedback will only be provided for entries submitted online, and not those entries submitted by mail. If you would like us to return your book at the conclusion of the contest, please request this at the time of your entry and enclose an extra $5 for postage and handling.

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

Great 3D Book Images by @GeneCartwright 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers.  

Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. 

Carolyn also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

PatZii Gill Debuts a New Resource for Writers, Joy on Paper Live!

...And, after a sabbatical of several years, I’m joining her!  Couldn’t be more excited about her sharing her audience with me as her Book Marketing Go-To Girl!  - CHJ

From Lifestyle News Today (Trusted Since 1995

Patzi Gil Celebrates the 9th Anniversary of Her Radio Show by Introducing a New ‘Joy on Paper’ for YouTube 

“Joy on Paper” is heard in the Tampa Bay area on WTAN, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time). It’s also available at http://www.tantalk1340.com. 

         "Patzi's passion for books and her incisive insights into      them runs deep, making ‘Joy on Paper’ one of the most entertaining hours on radio.” 

— Mary Glickman 

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, March 7, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- 

Nine years ago Patzi Gil launched a radio show called “Joy on Paper” (https://radio-joyonpaper.com) that went on to become a nationally syndicated program. Now she’s adding a new program on YouTube. 

The goal of both: Promote authors and inspire readers. 

“I launched the radio program on March 17, 2015 — St. Patrick’s Day,” Patzi said. 

Patzi’s program can be heard in the Tampa Bay area Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.” (Eastern Time)  on WTAN 1340-AM and 106.1-FM, which is part of the Tan Talk Radio Network, http://www.tantalk1340.com. 

The new YouTube program starts St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17. It’s called “Joy on Paper LIVE!” (https://www.youtube.com/@joyonpaperlive) and builds on the success of the radio show  {featuring old-timers like Carolyn Howard-Johnson every month to talk about HowtoDoItFrugally For Writers. 

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/

 ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is "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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.