Great Stocking Stuffer for Authors

Title: The Great First Impression Book Proposal

Subtitle:  Everything You Need to Know to Impress 
                a Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Modern History Press
https://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/index.htm
Publisher: Modern History Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.modernhistorypress.com
ISBN: Paperback, 9781615994816, $8.95, 

54pp, 

Available as hard copy, paperback and ebook on Amazon

Synopsis: Carolyn Howard-Johnson, has been a UCLA Extension Writers' Program instructor for nearly a decade. In "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need to Know About Selling Your Book to an Agent or Publisher in Thirty Minutes or Less" she draws upon her decades of experience and expertise to helps authors successfully execute the task they most love to hate -- writing a book proposal. In this 54 page booklet Carolyn has taken the guessing out of the book proposal process with a thoroughly 'user friendly' and effective step-by-step instructional guide and manual.

Critique: The creation of an effective book proposal cannot be overemphasized as a basic skill set for all aspiring authors seeking publication of their work -- and Carolyn Howard-Johnson is a time-tested expert on the subject. Every aspiring (and even seasoned) author needs to obtain and carefully read "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" -- and every Creative Writing class should list "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" on their supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Great First Impression Book Proposal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

MORE 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. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Dr. Wesley Britton Reviews Andrew Himmel's Debut Novel

The Reluctant Healer

Andrew Himmel

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press 

 Release date: October 8, 2018

ISBN-10: 1626345309

ISBN-13: 978-1626345300

Purchase on Amazon

Reviewed by Dr. Wesley Britton originally for BookPleasures

Andrew Himmel's original debut novel is told with a fresh writing style,   an eccentric approach to his subjects and characters,  and a dry, wry wit, especially in the descriptions and observations expressed in the viewpoint of the novel's main character, New York attorney Will Alexander.

The main theme of The Reluctant Healer is the collision of Alexander's legalist, rationalist world view which is challenged when he meets the sexy New Ager Erica Wells. When they meet, Erica reveals she's an energy healer who can perceive Alexander has extraordinary abilities as a natural healer.        Alexander doesn't accept that judgement but finds himself drawn to the beautiful woman who is an intellectual match for him even if her metaphysical beliefs are the polar opposite of his own.

Very reluctantly,  Alexander finds himself being put in situations where his natural energies seem to, in fact, cure all manner of diseases and afflictions. For Erica, natural healers like Alexander are badly needed in a new era where viruses are becoming immune to antibiotics and it's natural energy, energies found in everything, that can be cures when the afflicted are merely in Alexander's presence.

Alexander's journey takes him into all manner of circumstances including long motorcycle rides, theft of an opponent's cell phone,   and situations that ultimately place him in legal jeopardy.   To say more would be to swerve into the world of spoilers.

Himmel's style and tone are extremely cerebral and the book is not light reading.   It's a book with serious intent. In supplementary material at the end of the book, Himmel reveals much of the book's content was inspired by his own journey, very much like Alexander's, as the author' wife Michelle became interested in energy healing and pulled him into her realm of Universal Energy healing.  Jumping off from his real-life experiences, Himmel claims his novel was ignited when he mused, "What if the conventional individual, rigid in his beliefs, developed

the capability of healing others, even as he distrusted much of the alternative world? His struggle would become poignant and pronounced, because he would

be grappling not just with tension in his relationship but also with internal conflict with phenomena that challenged both his sense of self and his worldview."

In a quiz prepared for readers with an academic bent, Himmel says, "The author believes that The Reluctant Healer is a bigger story about how we as human beings get along with and coexist with people who are different from—and

sometimes the complete opposite of— us."

It seems to me larger themes also include a modern twist on the conflicts between the rational and the mystical. In other words, The Reluctant Healer is a brain tickler designed to stimulate thought an reflection in Himmel's readers.  He offers no answers, no final conclusions, advocates no point-of-view, and leaves the story open for a sequel already in progress.

Not a book for all readers, but certainly one for readers who like to digest what they read and be challenged by above average language choices, imaginative imagery,    and be willing to absorb the story slowly. I had to read it in chunks, always eagerly returning quickly to continue the flow.

This review first appeared at BookPleasures.com on Nov. 27, 2019 at:

https://waa.ai/OQKw

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

 Dr. Wesley Britton, author of The Beta Earth Chronicles and 

reviewer for BookPleasures.com.  Learn more at: 

Explore the Beta Earth Chronicles website:

Follow Wes Britton’s Goodreads blog:

Check out Wes Britton’s Beta Earth Chronicles Facebook page:

Enjoy the videos at Wes Britton’s YouTube Channel:

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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 Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Writers on the Move Guru Karen Cioffi Reviews Third Edition of The Frugal Book Promoter

The Frugal Book Promoter

Subtitle: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher

Edition: Three

Awards for all editions: Winner USA Book News, coveted Irwin Award

Award, USA Book News winner, silver medal from Military Writers Society of America, honored by Global Ebook Awards

Publisher: Modern History Press

Publisher’s Website: www.modernhistorypress.com

ISBN: 9781615994687

ASIN: 978161594694

Available in hard cover, print and ebook onAmazon

Reviewed by Karen Cioffi-Ventrice originally for Amazon

Marketing and promotion are changing all the time, from the best ways to get visibility for you and your book to maintaining an effective search engine optimized website.

Continually striving to give her readers the most helpful book promotion tools possible, Carolyn Howard-Johnson has created The Frugal Book Promoter – 3rd Edition.

This third edition provides authors with the latest promotional information and resources. And, it's been reorganized for easier reading.

What's best about The Frugal Book Promoter – 3rd Edition - is that along with well researched tools and tips, it's filled with Carolyn's own marketing experiences. This includes booboos from her early marketing days when her Wiki page was taken down when she was booted off of Facebook.

As Carolyn is a well-known expert book promoter, these tips, insights, and warnings are invaluable.

This latest edition includes everything from writing a query letter to copyright information to using QR codes to backdoor methods for getting reviews. And' there's lots on "You and the Media."

Plus, there are lots and lots of samples, including sample query letters and even a sample blog entry. 

My favorite line in the book is in Chapter 10:

"You can’t count on your publisher. Publishers focus on their next big profit maker when sales of your book dwindles."

This says it all. 

If you're questioning the need to promote your book, even if you're traditionally published, the answer is, YES. It’s essential. And, I can't think of a better book to help you do this than Carolyn Howard-Johnson's The Frugal Book Promoter – 3rd Edition. 

More About the Reviewer

Karen Cioffi is a children’s ghostwriter and author/writer online platform instructor with WOW! Women on Writing. She is also the founder and editor of Writers on the Move.

Learn more about her ghostwriting services at https://karencioffiwritingforchildren.

For her online platform classes, visit:

http://www.articlewritingdoctor.com/content-marketing-tools/

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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 Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Want a Review for Your Book? We've Got Your Back and Hope You Have Ours Too - Plus Hint #8

Lois W. Stern, an author advocate and former educator, is a frequent contributor to this blog and now offers readers of #TheNewBookReview a path to getting free and ethical reviews for their books. No kidding!  She explains how to do it at the end of this blog, and you'll learn more about her other projects that help writers in her biography below that. Please feel free to let those in the publishing industry know about this service. ~CHJ

Want a Review for Your Book? We've Got Your Back.

Plus Hint Number 8

By Your Get Reviews Advocate, Lois W. Stern

__________________________________________________

This is an "Authors Helping Authors" Project. 

We post your reviews but ask that you:

a) Submit your request in the exact format requested. CLICK HERE.

b) Return the favor by reviewing one of our listed books of interest to you -

 CLICK HERE to select a book from your preferred genre choice and contact that author.

__________________________________________________

CAROLYN'S HINT NUMBER 8 

"Online book tours are relatively easy and inexpensive compared to old fashioned book tours . . . and can reach hundreds of thousands and maybe millions of readers with comparatively www.tales2inspire.com  little work." - How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically - Page 103 - Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

                             __________________________________________________

Lois is a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in many varied venues. She has now published ten Tales2Inspire books of her contest winners' stories. Fans of Chicken Soup for the Soul are particularly enamored of Tales2Inspire books, because aside from their inspirational themes, they are filled with original photos to enhance the power of each story. Lois invites interested readers to get a FREE Tales2Inspire sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts and to learn more about entering the next Tales2Inspire contest at: www.tales2inspire.com/contest

Learn more about Lois at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2

__________________________________________________

MORE 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. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Hendrika de Vries Reviews New Self-Help Book on The New Book Review

From Depression to Contentment

Subtitle: A self-therapy guide

By Bob Rich, Ph.D.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61599-435-9 paperback 

http://bobswriting.com/psych/depression.html

Reviewed by Hendrika de Vries

In all my over thirty years of practicing psychotherapy I have read and recommended many self-help books, but seldom have I found one that speaks to me with the spiritual wisdom of Bob Rich’s From DEPRESSION to CONTENTMENT. Here is a book that offers an attitude to life that can change your world-view even if you are not suffering from depression. It is a book not to be read in one sitting, but to be turned to again and again for daily words of wisdom and encouragement.

Dr. Rich puts our current epidemic of depression in a larger framework that helps the reader understand the nature of suffering and provides incremental small steps, baby steps, to move through the helplessness and overwhelm. He generously shares his personal experiences but also reminds us of the deep wisdom found in such timeless works as Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and Mihály Csikszentmihályi’s Flow. He even includes a chapter on reincarnation and past lives that I found especially fascinating.

It’s like being given a spiritual tool kit. I have a daughter who is a sculptor. When she was a little girl, my father, a craftsman, taught her to use tools. Upon his death, the only thing she desired was his old tool kit. It had everything in it she needed, she said, because his love was in the tools he taught her to use. This book reminds me of that. Not just a self-help book, but a tool kit filled with the timeless wisdom available to us whether we need guidance to move through depression or just a refresher course in the meaning of life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Bob Rich lives inside his computer, because whenever he looks outside it, the news is full of too much horrible stuff. Various countries are acting as terrorists by slaughtering the civilians inside other countries (they pretend that war isn’t terrorism). Those who have so much wealth they don’t know what to do with it are using every means possible to steal more from those who don’t have enough. And the entire global economy is designed to kill all complex life on this planet, for example by bathing everything in chemicals that kill insects, birds, fish and the good bugs inside your digestive system. So, things are MUCH better within that computer. If you want to have a peek in there, visit Bob’s blog, Bobbing Around at https://bobrich18.wordpress.com

Learn more about Dr Bob Rich at Twitter @bobswriting. He writes with two mottos in mind, Commit random acts of kindness and Live simply so you may simply live.  

http://bobswriting.com

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog 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 Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

An Unlikely Book Full of Learning Opportunities for Kids

Title: The Frogs Buy a New House
Subtitle: an economics story for children
Author: Carolyn Wilhelm
Illustrated by Oxanna Cerra's Teacher's Clip Art
ISBN: 0999776630
Available on Amazon 
Also available at an e-book

It is my guess that most parents don't have an inkling that a teaching aid like this available and that they are most unlikely to think about it when they are in the throes of moving.  But here it is straight from a teacher experienced in helping little humans to adjust to new experiences.

It helps understand the process, what to expect from buying a new house and moving from familiar surroundings to new ones. And it does it with imagination. Imagine water as money. Imagine a book that gives a parent (or teacher) a chance to explain the word "equity!" I believe that words like this are age appropriate at whatever age a child might hear them in conversation around the house or at school.

Though a slim book--a picture book--this book is intended for guided reading, for spending special time with adults to read and discuss its contents, laugh, and start feeling comfortable with a subject loaded with learning opportunities!  As a parent and former teacher myself, I wish I this book had been available for me to read to my daughter when we moved high into the hills around Los Angeles where there just happened to be seasonal ponds full of tadpoles in spring and lots of frogs year round!

MORE 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. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Christmas Shopping Time with a Round the World Theme

Title: Sophia
The Christmas Eve Snow bunny and the Real Gift
Author: Wanda Luthman
Illustrated by Mara Reitsma
Genre: Children's Picture Book / Inspirational
Theme: Christmas Round the World
ISBN: 9 780998195889
Paperback: $6.99
Available on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2B7dZwT

I am fast becoming a Wanda Luthman and Mara Reitsma fan.  I love their imaginations expressed in their poetry and art. I love the rhyme (lots of rhythm but rhyme that doesn't feel forced nor cliche).

I love that children are often introduced to a new word in Luthman's books. Words like "hemisphere" in this 'round-the-world story, a theme that is often seen in Christmas books but is especially needed these days as we work to include and understand other peoples and their cultures.

Is it too early to shop for Christmas? Heavens no! Children 'round the world will enjoy cuddling up before bed to partake of this bunny story from right now through the holidays. Bunny story? Of course! No point in labeling. She even wears a Santa hat.

MORE 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. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing