I
am doing something a little different for this review. I am reprinting with permission a review of the newest in my multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers, How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. I was notified via Midwest Book Review's newsletter and what a surprise that was! But it also a fantastic example of what those
personal contacts (like Letters-to-the-Editor and thank yous) I recommend to clients and readers of my books can do! I hope it
will encourage you to do more of this kind of thing for and with your fellow
authors and your readers!
"Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
'We all know that book reviews can impact and influence librarians
and the general reading public. What is perhaps underestimated is the impact
and influence book reviews can have on the author. Last month I was vividly
reminded of this fact while reading my review copy of "How To Get Great
Book Reviews Frugally And Ethically" by Carolyn Howard-Johnson.
'Here's what I came across in the introduction on page VIII:
"We have all had disasters if we've been around very long. My
book of poetry, "Imperfect Echoes" (bit.ly/ImperfectEchoes)
was released just after my husband broke his back trouncing around on our roof
to save $140 on solar repairs. I became a full time caretaker and part time
writer and had not time to market my book. I did occasionally send out a query
far a review and one was so special that it made up for the sad reality that
few will read the book because few will have heard about it. So, thank you to
Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Book review for that memorable gift."
"I had no idea at the time who Carolyn was or anything about
her circumstances. It was just another self-published book of considerable
merit by an unknown author and I was trying to establish the Midwest Book
Review as a champion of just such folk.
"Since then Carolyn has gone on to a career of writing 'how to'
books for authors and publishers and we became 'cyber-space pen pals'. When I
thanked her for her very kind words in her introduction, she noted that we
first met in person at a BEA convention in Chicago back in 2001. But as I was
meeting hundreds (no exaggeration) of folks at that event I didn't remember her
specifically.
"But I did recall meeting Carolyn at John Poynter's ebook
publishers convention in Santa Barbara, California in 2012 when I was awarded
that Life Time Achievement in Publishing award.
"I think she was also in the audience for my 'workshop' at that
event -- I recall that one was 'standing room only' it was so crowded in that
huge room. A few folks couldn't physically get in because there was no more
room -- there was even a line of people standing along the back and side walls
of the room.
"Incidentally, that John Poynter convention was also the first time
I met in person my managing editor Diane Donovan who for many years prior to
our meeting in the flesh had (and continues to be) the editor for three of my
nine monthly book review publication: The Bookwatch; California Bookwatch;
Children's Bookwatch. Up until then she was a just a voice on the phone and an
email correspondent only.
"I'm now in my 41st year as the editor-in-chief of the Midwest Book
Review. That means at the age of 74 I have now spent more than half my life in
this position!
"Every now and then I get an email or a letter expressing heartfelt
appreciation for myself and the Midwest Book Review from authors and publishers
for what we try to accomplish in their behalf. It's those messages of support
and thanks that give me a reason to keep doing this job for as long as my
health, my wife, and my daughter will allow.
"Here is the review of Carolyn's most recent publication and the
one that started me down memory lane:"
How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically
Series:3rd in the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers,
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
In the pages of "How To Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and
Ethically", Carolyn Howard-Johnson draws upon her many years of
professional experience and expertise spent helping writers to avoid pitfalls,
misconceptions, and out-and-out scams perpetrated on unsuspecting authors --
and helping them reach their dreams of obtaining great reviews, going on great
book tours, and experiencing great launches.
Simply stated "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and
Ethically" comprises the complete, comprehensive, and core manual for
obtaining reviews and utilizing them in a practical, effective, and successful
marketing campaign that includes all those things and for building the
readership necessary for a financially prosperous and emotionally satisfying writing
career.
Covering every aspect of the book review process from solicitation
to exploitation, "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and
Ethically" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content, commentary,
organization and presentation.
Basically, "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and
Ethically" is classified as a "must" for the instructional
reference shelf of any and all authors and publishers be they novice beginners
or seasoned professionals. While an essential and unreservedly recommended
addition to community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "How to
Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically" is also available in a
Kindle format ($9.95).
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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
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The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
