Introductory Comments
In praise of a deserving colleague

Having familiarized myself with the amount of effort that goes into writing, not to mention promoting one’s own writing, I continue to be impressed and awed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s persistence in doing so. Thus I feel I should pass on news of her successes, both in recognition of her achievements and to provide inspiration for me and for others who need a motivational boost. I also have utmost respect for Publishers and Writers of San Diego, so I feel that a mention of Carolyn’s honor is of great significance. Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by members of the California Legislature – you go, girl! You’ll find all the details below.

...and as always, send me your feedback

Media Update
A comment on ‘Book Talk’ (with apologies for tooting my own horn)

I read the ‘Empress of Book Talk’ newsletter on a regular basis to keep apprised of popular trends, but I must say I was a bit taken aback by the most recent issue. Although I am happy to note that ‘Chick Lit’ is alive and well, I couldn’t help but wonder (as ‘Sex and the City’s Carrie so often has said) why my own much-praised Travels With My Lovers couldn’t garner as much attention as the book that the ‘Empress’ has recommended, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. The themes are similar, detailing the search for a woman’s self-discovery in stages of her life, set against the background of colorful travelogue. The author, having survived a devastating divorce, leaves on a journey-quest. Sound familiar? Well, that said, I feel much better. And I am definitely going to take the Empress up on her offer and send her an email with my thoughts. Nothing to lose, right? If you’re curious, or a fan of my book and would like to share this with the BookTalk forum (hint, hint). Hmm… I think I’ll check it out myself…

Kudos for Carolyn Howard-Johnson

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT:
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com
Phone: 818-790-0502

For Immediate Release

Writers Group Names Carolyn Howard-Johnson Honorary Member According to an announcement by Board Members of the Publishers and Writers of San Diego, Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been voted an honorary member of their group. They say, "PWSD has become more knowledgeable in the publishing industry, grown in numbers, and increased in professional enthusiasm as a direct result of [Howard-Johnson's] contribution."
Howard-Johnson is the author of The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, USA Book News' Best Professional Book 2004 and winner of the Irwin Award. Upon the release of The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success in October of 2007, it will be the flagship book in what will then be the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books aimed at helping authors. The author's first novel, This is the Place, won eight awards. Her book of creative nonfiction has won three. Her chapbook of poetry, Tracings, received Military Writers' Society of America Award of Excellence and was named to the Compulsive Reader's Ten Best Reads list. She is an extension division instructor for UCLA’s Writers’ Program and speaks at writers' conferences nationwide. She was also named Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by members of the California Legislature.
Learn more about PWSD
Learn more about Carolyn Howard-Johnson

For And About Writers
Sign on now for the Muse Online Conference!

This year the fantastically successful Muse Online Conference will have an encore performance. Lea Schizas, writer and editor extraordinaire, worked tirelessly to make last year’s Conference a force to reckon with, and this year’s promises to be even better. I enjoyed my presentation so much that I couldn’t say no to doing it again this year. (You can see a sample of my topics here. The presenters are listed alphabetically, so scroll down about halfway to find me.) I wanted you all to know about it. It’s geared towards authors, but truly there’s something for everyone, writer and non-writer alike, in the dazzling menu of tempting subjects. And the format is varied and totally cool. Best of all, it’s absolutely free! So read on and check out the site. I have used Carolyn’s Media Release to provide details, plus I’ve included her comment below. You’ll find details on my presentation below the Media Release. And as always, do send me your comments.

Dear Erica:
You are such a doll to be so generous with your newsletter. I hope your journalers find they can benefit from some of the presentations. Bet they could! Lea and I want to help as many authors as we can!

M E D I A R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lea Schizas
E-Mail: museitupeditor@yahoo.ca
Or Publicist Carolyn Howard-Johnson
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Free Muse Online Writers Conference Becomes 1,000-Strong Force for Authors

The Muse Online Writers Conference served more than 1,000 authors in its inaugural year and registrations are running double that in this, its second year.

Scheduled for the week of October 8-14, the conference is sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. It was conceived to serve authors who otherwise may not be able attend onsite writers' conferences. All workshops and presentations are free of charge for attendees, certainly appealing to emerging and starving authors and those homebound.

A growing line-up of authors, publishers, editors and others who specialize in different aspects of building writing careers:
Promotion, Shel Horowitz ;
Grant writing, Hope Clark ;
Publishing, Deron Douglas Carolyn Howard-Johnson ,
Promotion and editing; the king of writing book proposals, Terry Whalin ;
The website-for-authors guy, Marshall Turner ,
And many more.

The online conference will feature a Virtual Interactive Chat Lounge where attendees will engage in real-time dialogue with presenters, Presenter Kathe Gogolewski, says, "This conference is unique in that it offers the same benefits that other conferences but this one has unlimited seating, no crowding, more opportunities for interaction, and a smoke-free environment! This conference represents some of the best that technology has to offer!"

Learn more here.
Those interested in attending or presenting should email Lea Schizas

“The Write to Remember: Journaling for a Better Life”™
- Erica Miner

Journaling is such an empowering tool that Oprah Winfrey actually credits it for saving her life. In this workshop, based on her popular, top-rated Journaling lecture series on Celebrity Cruise Lines, award-winning author Erica Miner brings an expertise developed over a near-lifetime of Journaling.

Erica will discuss her own experiences in Journaling, from her angst-filled teenage years through her life-altering crises and culminating in her journal-based award-winning novel, Travels With My Lovers. She will demonstrate her Methodology of Journaling with techniques, both tried and true and experimental, focusing on such aspects as:

1)Why journaling is such a life-altering, powerful tool
2) How self-dialogue can help you heal yourself
3) How capturing your thoughts and feelings on paper can transform your life
4) Creative, fun techniques to preserve your valuable ancestral legacies and precious memories
5) How to find inspiration - and keep it going
6) How to make journaling fun, even if you hate to write!


'From My Readers' / Closing thought(s)
You've inspired me to journal...

Talented writer and all-around lovely person Michelle Cummins took a moment to send me her supportive comment, which I’d like to share with you: “Always great to receive your newsletter each month. You've inspired me to journal (since November).” Many thanks to Michelle for confirming that my journaling mission is still motivating and influencing those of you who are willing to take the plunge!

Closing Thought(s)

This month’s NL is positively brimming over with wisdom – some heavy, some amusing, some about writing, some not; and some just plain entertaining. I just love these, and I hope you do, too. If so, send me your thoughts!

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."
– Ray Bradbury

"Every writer I know has trouble writing."
– Joseph Heller

"Writing is pretty crummy on the nerves."
– Paul Theroux

"I shall say what I feel and talk about myself unto the last page, and I shall make no apologies."
- Elizabeth Smart

"The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new."
– Samuel Johnson

"Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them."
– Nathaniel Hawthorne

"I would sooner live in a cottage and wonder at everything than live in a castle and wonder at nothing."
- Joan Winmill Brown

"If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people."
- Virginia Woolf

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."
- Louisa May Alcott

"We cannot escape fear. We can only transform it into a companion that accompanies us on all our exciting adventures.... Take a risk a day--one small or bold stroke that will make you feel great once you have done it."
- Susan Jeffers

"I never fight, except against difficulties."
- Helen Keller

"Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially scared me to death."
- Camellia M. Johnson

Until next time.