<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <title>Tips

The tips below are taken at random from one of Authors' Coaltion's official and free! newsletter, "Sharing with Writers." You will see that the style differs slightly as the format of newsletters is wont to do. You will also see that subscribers and members share their tips with others and that, in the process, benefit with exposure for their own books. Authors Coalition is where writers help writers and, in doing so, help themselves.

Tip: In her Kennel Club tip, Joan Stewart passes on Fern Reiss's idea for starting one*s own trade association. Go to http://www.publicityhound.com/kennelclub/tip.html to glean a little more information on the subject. This seems to be relevant to what is happening with our AUTHORSS' COALITION booth at the LA TIMES/UCLA FESTIVAL OF BOOKS. This booth happened rather organically. It started from a seed and has grown. It was more successful this year than last. and next year will be even better.

Tip: This tip also appears in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to do What Your Publisher Won't, but because Connie Martinson was a star interviewer at the LA TIMES/UCLA FESTIVAL OF BOOKS, I thought I would mention that she has a syndicated TV show out of LA in which she interviews authors. She does not accept self or subsidy published books but if yours is pubbed that way, write one whale of a query letter (see FRUGAL for tips and a sample of how to do this!) and she might make an exception. Reach her at Connie Martinson Talks Books, talksbooks@lycos.com . Remember, however, that unless you can come to LA to tape, there is no point in sending her a query letter.

Tip: Judith Sherven and James Sniechowski, best selling writing team, has just finished their fourth book THE SMART COUPLE*S GUIDE TO THE WEDDING OF YOUR DREAMS published by New World Library. They researched hundreds of wedding stories for this book and found that compensated for *the stereotype of the lonely writer, cut off and isolated* and suggest a call for submissions as a way to combat lonely writers syndrome. They are master promoters and have been guest experts on over 900 television and radio shows including Oprah, The O*Reilly Factor, 48 Hours, Canada AM, and The View. Visit their website at www.themagicofdifferences.com and sign up for their relationship e-zines.

Tip: If you write horror fiction or related nonfiction (biographies on mass murders or the like) and would like a review, contact: Hank Kellner author of SHADOWS AT GARNER LAKE at hankpix@juno.com. See his book at www.iUniverse.com

Tip When we, as authors and publishers, call book stores to solicit for our books, ask for a signing, etc. we should never use their toll-free number! They pay for each of those calls. Would you like someone to call you on your toll-free number to solicit you to do something for them? You know, so that you get to pay for the privilege of listening to their sales pitch? I think not! If they later invite you to use their toll-free number, then it is acceptable. If you are calling to BUY something from a book store, or inquire if they have a title available, then, by all means, use their toll-free number. This from Carol White www.roadtripdream.com

FTip: One of the e-groups I get the most from each year is Publishing and Promoting. Give yourself a holiday gift and subscribe! Send an e-mail to: publishingandpromoting-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Sign up for the PubProAuthor newsletter mailing list, too. Go to: http://pubproauthors.bravehost.com/

Tip: The Houston Festival of Books presented by CenterPoint Energy, is looking for presenters, authors who would like booths and, of course, “attenders.” (-: If you are interested in teaching a workshop or speaking contact them at

http://www.houstonfestivalofbooks.org

Tip: All of you self and/or subsidy published authors! Barnes and Noble.com doesn’t offer the promotion possibilities that Amazon.com does but if your publisher has neglected to fully utilize what they do offer (including sections called “From the Publisher,” “From the Critics”), here’s how you go about doing it for yourself. Go www.barnesandnoble.com. Find the “Services” section at the left of the page and click on the link that says “Publisher and Author Guidelines.” There you will find several ways to submit content. Take advantage of it. Your page on sites such as this is your most targeted sales tool. Anyone who would like a sample copy of the letter I sent I sent to them may e-mail me for it at ****************.

Tip: This note could go in the thank you column, too, for MaryJo Holmes has generously included my webmaster’s site, my website link and “my” conference links (UCLA and SDSU) on her site but her site has so much information on it including articles on grammar and other resources, I thought you all would rather see it as a tip. Go nose around. http://www.mary-jo-holmes.com/mycustompage0001.htm Aren’t you glad you did?

FTip: Learn writing skills, book promotion, technology for writers when you*re on the go. Access new audio classes regularly in MP3 or CDRom at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/audio.asp. Learn more about the instructors and find a list of the coming classes at http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskieAUDIOCLASSES.html or go to our own Authors* Coalition site at http://authorscoalition.redenginepress.com/ddp_teleclasses.htm.

Listen to a mini podcast of one of the audio classes here: http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskiAUDIOCLASSES.html

FTip: Authors* Coalition member Patricia Harrington, author of Death Comes Too Soon, (www.patriciaharrington.com ) offers us her goal for for the new year. "I try to do one kind of promotional/publicity-related thing each day; if nothing else, adding a contact name with info to my source list for promotion. My goal in is to have a list of 1,000 names that I can send out fliers, postcards, announcements to."

Tip: If you need help with your marketing, check Author Marketing Experts, Inc. They specialize in non-traditional marketing. They custom design campaigns to suit your needs and budget. They offer a variety of marketing plans including The Virtual Author Tour and the Amazon Bestseller program. For a free initial consultation send an email to: servicesame@getresponse.com or visit: http://www.amarketingexpert.com/

Rarely Seen Tip: I began to receive the American Book Association newsletter automatically because I have had a press badge for the ABA*s Book Expo. However, you can now subscribe, too. Fill out their form at http://news.bookweb.org/services/56.html. Why would you want to do this when it is a newsletter for booksellers? You will find names of independent bookstores, the newest buzz in the industry and come to understand the problems booksellers face. All valuable stuff for people in our business.

Tip: You may want your book seen at the St. Louis Book Festival & Craft Art Fair, this year. Learn more at: www.stlouisbookfest.org. Email questions: to: Barbara Davis at BookFest@stlouispublishers.org

Tip: One of my hometown newspapers, the Glendale News-Press, just began to publish a syndicated column on grammar by June Casagrande. She addressed the matter of improper usage of one dimensional to mean shallow or lack of depth. I don*t remember seeing this topic in any of my grammar books so I thought I would pass it on.

Portraits and paintings are two dimensional; they have width and height but are still flat, i.e. two dimensional. If a person has depth (as well as width and height), she would be three dimensional. So if she has no depth, in fact has a regular Valley Girl-type intellect, we would say she is two dimensional, not one.

Tip: Mystery and Christian horror books author Marilyn Meredith (http://fictionforyou.com) shared her sources for the cardboard displays she uses at signings and book fairs with our LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books booth participants (booth 610, near the Barnes and Noble Pavilion). http://www.displays2go.com/sub3.asp?ID=754
http://www.bookdisplays.com/index.shtml

Tip: Allyn Evans says she interviews people for her newsletter and then, "I supply the person I interviewed with a .pdf version of the interview so that they can add it to the media information on their sites. It gives them something of value and also provides a link from my site to theirs." Learn more about Allyn at: http://www.queenpower.com.

Tip: Do you need an editor? I met Stephanie Dupre who was a marketing director for a huge international firm when I was a columnist for the Pasadena Star News. She is starting a business of her own. She is an award-winning communications professional with a flair for lively general assignment, business, and feature writing. She has a background in journalism, public relations, and marketing communications for global broadcasting and consumer companies. She will send you her portfolio electronically on request. at stephdupre@hotmail.com or 310-985-4037.

Tip: Leora Krygier (www.leorakrygier.com ) author of WHEN SHE SLEEPS added a personal blurb to the "Author Gallery" at http://www.readerville.com/. It costs $250, but it's $50 off for PEN members (which Leora is). She tells me that my "other Leora" (Leora Skolkin) is also part of the gallery. It may be right for you, too.

Tip: Poets & Writers has an Author Directory that is F r e e . If you have published a book of fiction you probably qualify. Check it out at www.pw.org.

Tip: Here is a FRUGAL idea. I took the monetary award that I won at Pedestal Magazine and applied it to an ad in their e-zine. This is a way to support those who support you and get additional exposure without actually writing a check from your campaign budget account. This online journal pays its writers for fine fiction, poetry and reviews. To subscribe to the newsletter go to: http://www.ThePedestalMagazine.com/Secure/su-mp8.asp .

Tip: Aside from the fact that they use the term “press release” instead of “media release,” here is an excellent site for learning more about how to do a professional release of your own: http://www.press-release-writing.com/ The name, of course, is perfect for attracting newbies to the craft so there is a purposed behind the title. Sign up for their newsletter while you are checking this out.

Tip: From Pinkie Paranya, author of RAVEN WOMAN (http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=feature&id=145):

“Even though my publisher sent out post cards to the names I gave them, I went through my personal address book of friends and family and sent them all autographed book marks saying that if they bought TIANA, GIFT OF THE MOON, I thought they might enjoy a special laminated bookmark. Turns out I heard from a great many of them who hadn't gotten around to buying the book yet but said now they would do it right away.” This fits with one of THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER’S BASIC TENETS: Repeat contact is essential.

Tip #2 from Pinkie:

"I divide the pages in my guest book by dates, events and book signings (in FRUGAL I call it “coding.”). “So if I'm going to be at a certain place out of town, I address an envelope and send a bookmark to each person who bought a book before, telling her I'll be in town a certain date. And after a conference I look back on who previously bought a book and write a short note to each person who didn't buy the second book at the later conference and tell them sorry I missed them and send a bookmark. “

Tip: This is really more of an example than a tip. Go to this website http://queenjawjaw.com/ for an example of what I mean when I nag you all to BRAND. Queen Jaw Jaw is a humorist with a new book coming out. Everything about this site tells you about her--not so much the book as The Queen Herself. That intrigues the visitor enough to be interested in her book. Remember, the most interesting thing about any promotion campaign is people. Have you seen the new Coke brand campaign? All those PEOPLE--you can’t take your eyes off them. This site does the same thing. An eye and giggle treat. It would only work for THIS author. That’s how all of our sites should be. So, do as I say, not as I do! (-:

Tip: Annette Gisby, author of SHADOW OF THE ROSE (http://www.annettegisby.n3.net) sends shares a few sites that might be useful to you:

§ http://www.newspaperlinks.com/home.cfm, media list, mostly US.

§ http://www.affairedecoeur.com/, reviews romance books, interviews romance authors.

§ http://www.blether.com/ , a self-posting book review site, all kinds of books

§ http://www.themysteryreader.com/ , for mysteries. It has sister sites for other genres.

§ www.slake.com, for books with romance in them. The discussion board could get some buzz up for your book.

FTip: Christopher Meeks, one of my former students at UCLA and an instructor there himself, sent information on the Independent Publisher Book Awards, thinking it would work for my book of poems. (It doesn*t because Tracings is published traditionally but I thought it might be useful to many SWW subscribers who are new at this game.). Here*s the website: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipaward.lasso

and here are the contest details:

http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/v4/IPPY2006EntryGdlines1.pdf. Chris is the author of The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea, http://www.lulu.com/white-whisker

FTip: My husband Lance, the author of Everything Asians Need to Know About America A to Z (to be published in China in December in simplified Chinese) sent me the link to this site which I absolutely loved!