A Write to Brag

December 2009

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:48:00 -0500

Janie Franz says: My short book,The Bowdancer, was released from Breathless Press on December 4. It's taken me 40 years to achieve this milestone so I'm

stoked. Here's the link:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/the-bowdancer.html

(And no it's not an erotic book. They had to add a new heat category

for this book and a few more being released this month: Sweet

Confections. Really tame stuff.)

And there will be more Bowdancer stories coming. They are already

looking at cover art for future books.

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Magdalena Ball says:

My new book Repulsion Thrust was released by BeWrite Books in Dec 2009. As with my first poetry collection, Quark Soup, Repulsion Thrust tackles the big subjects not often the fodder of poetry: astro and quantum physics, time travel, ecological destruction, and technological singularity, all viewed through the lens of the human condition. It’s an extraordinary and original collection that author, inventor and futurist visionary Ray Kurzweil calls “wonderful … singularity-aware art with a poetic sensibility”.

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Gloria Teague says:

I've been chosen as the 2009 Tulsa NightWriter of the year! I was told I was in the top five under consideration but my story in Woman's World October issue put me over the top and that's exactly where I feel I am--on top of the world. I'm humbled by the honor and still in a mild state of shock.

November 2009

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

Helen Szymanski (Polaski) says: Christmas Traditions, True Stories that Celebrate the Spirit of the Season, edited by Helen Szymanski (Polaski) and published by Adams Media, is now available at all major bookstores. Filled with the individual voices of 70 authors whose unique holiday stories span the years from 1930 to the present day, Christmas Traditions is a moving anthology that is as nostalgic as it is poignant. It is the perfect gift for every person on your holiday gift list.

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Janie Franz says: My fantasy romance novelette, The Bowdancer, will be published as an ebook by Breathless Press toward the end of November.

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

For Immediate Release

Contact: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Reflections on Motherhood a Prize Winner

Award-winning Poets From Two Hemispheres Awarded for Chapbook

"a different kind of future

airy and permanent

the dry bliss of yellow bows

and shiny shoes"

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood was conceived by Californian Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Aussie Magdalena Ball as part of their poetry chapbook series designed to commemorate holidays; their efforts were rewarded October 19 when it was named as a finalist for poetry book by USA Book News.

They believe that many need an alternative to the cloying greeting cards usually available for mothers' birthdays, Mother's Day and other holidays in card shops for about the same price as a card but--being poetry--with a high perceived sentimental and monetary value.

Howard-Johnson's first chapbook, Tracings (Finishing Line Press) was honored for excellence by the Military Writers Society of America and named to Compulsive Reader's Ten Best Reads. Her poetry has also been published in journals like Pear Noir, Montana State University's literary magazine, Writings from the River, Mt. St. Mary’s College journal Mary, The Pedestal magazine and in the soon-to-be released anthology by UCLA’s own Suzanne Lummis. She is the author of several other award-winning books. She is also an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

Ball’s novel Sleep Before Evening received unanimous 5-star reviews for its linguistic beauty and the intensity of its plot. She is also the author of an award-winning poetry chapbook Quark Soup, and a nonfiction book The Art of Assessment: How to Review Anything. Her website The Compulsive Reader, http://www.compulsivereader.com/html, has become a benchmark for high quality online literary criticism.

Artwork for She Wore Emerald Then is by May Lattanzio. She is a freelance writer/photographer, and author of Waltz on the Wild Side -- An Animal Lover's Journal and contributor to Native West's anthology Least Loved Beasts of the Really Wild West - A Tribute".

Learn more about Magdalena Ball at http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/MediaRoom.htm

Learn More about Carolyn Howard-Johnson in the Media Room at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com

Find a catalog of Lattanzio's writing at http://maylattanzio.blogspot.com and her photographs at http://www.jpgmag.com/people/may or http://www.thelensflare.com/u_may.php.

Find She Wore Emerald Then is available on Amazon at: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook

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Support materials are available on request.

October 2009

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:26:00 -0400

Iris Deurmyer says: My article is to be published in the Thanksgiving edition, Issue 47 of Woman's World. The article is in the angels corner and is a true story. This is my first non-fiction article to be printed in a national publication!!

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson reads poetry with playwright Kim McMillon as host: at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Profile.aspx?userurl=onword&year=2009&month=09

Besides poetry, they talk process, storing metaphors in bras and nude bookcover pictures.

September 2009

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:49:00 -0400

Norman S. Smith says:I'm going to be launching a monthly newsletter. It will be calledPanther News - it will be thought provoking, educational and fun andwill be hosted by wordpress. Start up date TBA

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson will be a host for one day at the Green Book Pavilion with The Green New Media Life at the convention center in Ontario, CA. http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com/ I'll be interviewing authors for their videos and speaking as well. The expo offers a $290 expo package to help authors promote themselves and their books both onsite and with New Media (meaning video, interview, CD, booth, etc), but they can also take a table (with no new media extras) for a mere $89.

Interested authors may contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at 702 467 9411 or 760 961 2728. He has other Expos, other dates, coming up, too

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Gloria Teague says: My article in Woman's World will be in the Oct. 5 issue but hits the stand on Sept. 28, along with photos the company commissioned a local photographer to take. I also have three book signings this moth, one of those following being a part of a panel of published authors, fielding questions from an audience of interested adults and advanced Lit class students from local high schools.

August 2009

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0400

Carolyn Howard-Johnson says information on an upcoming event will be posted at a later date.

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Sue Hornbach says: I've had two submissions accepted by Stories For Children Magazine. One is a story titled, "A Bath For Drooper" which will publish in their September issue, and the other is a poem/craft titled "Humpty Pumpkin Sat On A Well" which will publish in their October issue.

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Gloria Teague says: My article I Didn't Know My Family Cared will be in the Turning Point section of issue #40 of Woman's World magazine that will be on the newsstands September 28 (October 5 issue). WW sent a photographer to my home to take pictures of me and my family to accompany the article.

June 2009 Brags

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:27:00 -0400

Janet Elaine Smith says: My latest book, Maiden Rock Mistress (a historical novel), is now available from most online bookstores and in brick-and-mortar stores. It tells the tale of an egotistical riverboat man, a new-to-town schoolmarm, and an adorable Indian orphan girl who does her best to mend their rifts. Lots of fun, as well as warm hearyfelt moments.

Also, the new cover to her time travel, House Call to the Past, is available. It was prompted by the wish of the fellows who head up the Whydah Museum, where the real treasure of the pirate of the book is housed.

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Beth Cagle says: I have signed another contract! This time for a shifter novella Gypsy Moon with Red Rose Publishing!

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Dorice Nelson says: I am teaching Introduction to Mystery and Suspense - an online course through Writer's Village University

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Janie Franz says: On June 1st launched an online music magazine called Refrain Magazine.

I write for three other music sites, as well as being a staff writer for a

pavement industry trade publication and I write about art and organic gardening

regularly.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson says: Editors of the new literary journal Dash chose Carolyn Howard-Johnson's poem "Long Before They Closed the Napster Down" for their just-published spring edition. The new book is sponsored by the Creative Writing Club and the Department of English, Comparative Literature and Linguistics at California State University, Fullerton.

May 2009 Brags

Fri, 08 May 2009 12:47:00 -0400

Carolyn Howard-Johnson says:

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

For Immediate Release Contact: Kathe Gogolewski

E-Mail: kgogolewski@sbcglobal.net

From TRI Studio LLC:

The Fiction Flyer?s Flash Fiction Contest for Writers

?Old Mold New Milieu?

TRI Studio LLC, owner of the free ezine for writers, The Fiction Flyer, www.tri-studio.com/ezine.html announces a contest for writers of fiction, judged by youth book illustrator and author Kevin Collier, his author and wife, Kristen, and author and promotional guru, Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Old Mold New Milieu challenges authors and writers to choose two characters from one of their books or works and create a flash fiction story based on several prompts provided in the contest guidelines. Winners will receive certificates and modest cash prizes, and their stories will be published in the July/August issue of The Fiction Flyer with a subscriber list of about 1,000.

The contest will be judged on the following criteria: Character strength and credibility, dialogue and short story development. The deadline for contest entries is June 30, 2009. Contest details may be viewed here: http://tri-studio.com/contestguidelines.html

Kevin Collier is the Art Director for the Grand Haven Tribune newspaper, and is author or illustrator of over 100 published books. He also appears on KICKS Club TV. www.kevinscottcollierhomepage.blogspot.com Kristen Collier is the author of "King of Glory," a critically acclaimed Christian novel released in 2005. She is also a columnist for several newspapers and feature writer for The Chronicle of the Horse magazine. http://collierauthors.blogspot.com Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of numerous novels, books of poetry, and the best-selling how-to Frugal Book series on book promotion. http://carolynhoward-johnson.com/

TRI Studio members include president Kathe Gogolewski, author of TATO, a middle grade fantasy adventure published by Red Engine Press http://www.tristudio.com/kathegogolewski.html and Ann Durand, author of A Promise to Keep, a romantic suspense published by Double Dragon Publishing at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com and Ray Grant, author of short stories and flash fiction http://www.tri-studio.com/RaymondGrant.html Writers are invited to submit their flash fiction to The Fiction Flyer. Guidelines are in each issue at http://www.tri-studio.com/ezine.html

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Gloria Teague Shirley won three awards at the Oklahoma Writers' Conference. She won 2nd place in adult short story, 2nd place in technical article and 3rd in inspirational prose. On May 22 she will be one of seven authors featured in a panel open to the public, discussing books, followed by a meet/greet/sell & sign afterward.

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Yocheved Golani says: The online video about my book has prompted invitiations to appear on multimedia programs. On April 19 2009 10:30 am Israel time, I will be taking questions about health and how to cope with medical crises on so-kewl The Rusty Mike Radio Show http://www.rustymikeradio.com/. Tune in and talk to me!

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Dorice Nelson says: I will be teaching an Introduction to Mystery and Suspense at the Writers' Village University. www.writersvillage.com

April 2009 Brags

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:42:00 -0400

Carolyn Howard-Johnson will launch her new book for retailers Monday, May 18, at 9:30 AM at the National Stationery Show at Javits Center, NY, NY. Carolyn will present to the retail trade and sign A Retailer?s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. One of Carolyn?s HowToDoItFrugally books, this retail-focused how-to book will be the first in a Survive and Thrive series utilizing Carolyn?s nearly three decades experience as founder and operator of a chain of gift and home décor stores. Learn more at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/frugal_in-store_promotions.htm

Yojeved Golani: The online video about my book has prompted invitiations to appear on multimedia programs. On April 19 2009 10:30 am Israel time, I will be taking questions about health and how to cope with medical crises on so-kewl The Rusty Mike Radio Show http://www.rustymikeradio.com/.

Tune in and talk to me!

Dorice Nelson says:

I will be teaching an Introduction to Mystery and Suspense module course, on-line, at the Writer's Village University. See below.

Introduction to Mystery and Suspense Fiction
Course Length: 8 Weeks
Mentor: Award-winning author, Dorice Nelson
Begins May 9, 2009
Text: How To Write Killer Fiction
Tuition: $100
Save $20 using PayPal and enroll for $80.

Bonnie Eaton says: Hazel Hart and I recently attended the Border Queen Book Festival in comanche, Oklahoma, to introduce their new short story collection of dark fiction, Edge of Nowhere.

Brynna Curry says: I signed a contract for my paranormal/romantic suspense novel, Blood Shield, with Lyrical Press, Inc.

March 2009 Brags

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:19:00 -0500

Kathy Strelow says: I am now the Chicago Historic Living Examiner at www.examiner.com. You can find my articles at http://www.examiner.com:80/x-3669-Chicago-Historic-Living-Examiner

Gloria Teague says: My new book, Beyond the Surgeon's Touch, has been released. I have an interview on March 16, 9 pm CST on www.blogtalkradio.com/theoddmind. On March 7 I was one of 62 authors that had a mass meet/greet with the public in southern Oklahoma.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson sends a:

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

For Immediate Release

Contact: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Remembering Mothers a New Way

Award-winning Poets From Two Hemispheres Co-Author Chapbook

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood was conceived by Californian Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Aussie Magdalena Ball as an alternative to the cloying greeting cards usually available for mothers in card shops. In fact, originally it was to be a thoughtful digital substitute for a card. That decision was probably influenced by the pair’s awareness that the Net was, in fact, what allowed them to meet and collaborate.

The chapbook turned out to be both digital (for greenies who want to save paper, postage and airline fuel) and a lovely to have-and-hold book for those who still have room in their hearts only for the real thing.

Howard-Johnson's first chapbook, Tracings (Finishing Line Press) was honored for excellence by the Military Writers Society of America and named to Compulsive Reader's Ten Best Reads. Her poetry has also been published in journals like Pear Noir, Montana State University's literary magazine, Writings from the River, Mt. St. Mary’s College journal Mary, The Pedestal magazine and in the soon-to-be released anthology by UCLA’s own Suzanne Lummis. She is the author of several other award-winning books. She is also an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

Ball’s novel Sleep Before Evening received unanimous 5-star reviews for its linguistic beauty and the intensity of its plot. She is also the author of an award-winning poetry chapbook Quark Soup, and a nonfiction book The Art of Assessment: How to Review Anything. Her website The Compulsive Reader, http://www.compulsivereader.com/html, has become a benchmark for high quality online literary criticism.

The two poets collaborated last year on a book of what Howard-Johnson calls "unsyrupy" poetry for Valentines Day. It is available at http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/cherishedpulse.htm

Artwork for She Wore Emerald Then is by May Lattanzio. She is a freelance writer/photographer, and author of Waltz on the Wild Side -- An Animal Lover's Journal and contributor to Native West's anthology Least Loved Beasts of the Really Wild West - A Tribute".

Learn more about Magdalena Ball at http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/MediaRoom.htm

Learn More about Carolyn Howard-Johnson at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com

Find a catalog of Lattanzio's writing at http://maylattanzio.blogspot.com and her photographs at http://www.jpgmag.com/people/may or
http://www.thelensflare.com/u_may.php.

Find She Wore Emerald Then on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/She-Wore-Emerald-Then-Reflections/dp/1438263791/

February 2009 Brags

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:17:00 -0500

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Nickie Fleming says:

My latest novel, Maria Gonzalez, was released 1st February with Rogue Phoenix Press. It got a wonderful review from Coffee Time Romance. More can be read at my website, www.nickiefleming.com

Janet Elaine Smith has a new contemporary romance out. Hi, Daddy! takes an "extended family" to the max with Bob Jones and his four ex-wives, seven kids, a hugely successful business, and more skeletons in the closet than you'll find on Halloween. But what happens when the cat's let out of the bag?

Janet is also awaiting the soon release of her next historical romance, Maiden Rock Mistress, which is at Star Publish LLC. It should be out by mid-spring 2009.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson will be speaking on writing picture perfect query letters at the November session of Scribblers' Retreat Writers' Conference, www.scribblersretreatwritersconference.com at Sea Palms Resort, St. Simons Island, Georgia. Scribblers Retreat Writers’ Conference offers four conferences of specifically chosen genres throughout the year. It is brand new and one of the few chances I will speak on the East Coast in 2009.