Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

ISBN 1-932993-10-X

The following review was contributed by: Sue Vogan: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here

This is the book that every writer needs. In fact, it's the only book every writer needs! Written by an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction, former publicist for a New York PR firm, and an instructor for the UCLA Extension's world renowned Writer's program, Carolyn Howard-Johnson knows what she writes. Thank goodness she has written what she knows so authors everywhere have a chance at success.

Once you have written your masterpiece by the midnight candle, we assume the hard work is over. Not so! Writing is the easy part. The real work begins when you are ready to market your masterpiece, but note that this part of the writing process is not for amateurs. That's where "The Frugal Book Promoter" comes in -- a book I wish I had read before I began my own journey down the path of hard-to-open doors and long nights of worrying about book sales. The Frugal Book Promoter will move you from layperson to expert in the amount of time it takes you to read this brilliantly researched 275-page success-maker.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson makes it all seem so easy with her tried-and-proven insider tips. She provides "no-nonsense basics to build your media kit, media release and a knock-'em-dead mailing list that will be more effective than any you could buy." She further provides "dozens of ideas for promotions that she developed or refined through two extensive book campaigns of her own." Carolyn Howard-Johnson has offered more ideas than shoes in a shoe store -- "sure to match your pocketbook and personality."

You must first decide which group you fall under -- those that "think they must only show up as bookstores with a good pen because that's all that is expected of Hilary Clinton or J.K. Rowling,” or are you the type that digs "in their heels" and goes "into severe state of denial" because you are "frightened by the magnitude" of what may be expected of you to "give birth to this book" of yours? Once that is established, you're ready to address "numbing fears" and "learn to play the PR game."

Carolyn Howard-Johnson offers advice on such subjects as contacts -- where to look and whom to not overlook. She also outlines a simple-to-follow guide so that you can professionally "pitch the media." For example, she suggests you establish a database, breaking your contacts into categories -- "Personal, Writing, Media, Professional, Librarians, Bookstores, Catalogs, Clubs," and "Other Support." I never thought of doing this!

The Frugal Book Promoter outlines a "media release." It is broken down, line-by-line, and space-by-space. Once you read this section, a media release becomes a no-brainer. It is almost as easy as if Carolyn writes the media release for you -- just follow the instructions and drop in your information.

Carolyn hasn't left anything out. Contracts, hire-or-not-hire a publicist, blurbs, a professional photo, promotion items, how to approach editors, when to use postcards, book reviews, media interviews, donating books for contests, book expos, and more! She covers overlooked ideas and points even the most experienced of us miss. If you have any questions after reading The Frugal Book Promoter, it could only be, "why doesn't everyone know about The Frugal Book Promoter?"

The Frugal Book Promoter addresses an eye-opening truth -- "For the public, the magic is in the author's name, her smile, her story, her signature." There are some things that your publisher, editor, or publicist cannot do as well as you can.  It takes you, the author, the one that knows you and the material better than anyone else, to get your masterpiece before the world. Carolyn Howard-Johnson has provided the knowledge, tools, and resources any writer would ever need to accomplish that task. Now, you must find your need to bestow your masterpiece on the industry to get your work in buyers’ hands -- using the knowledge, tools, and resources Carolyn Howard-Johnson has provided. 

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s masterpiece has a permanent place on my bookshelf and would be the only tool I suggest for new or experienced authors.