I am thrilled to welcome author, poet, and literary marketer. Carolyn Howard-Johnson to Plain Talk.

First, a bit about Carolyn Howard-Johnson. While in college, Carolyn was the youngest person ever to be hired as a staff writer for the Salt Lake Tribune–A Pulitzer Prize Winning Newspaper. Carolyn wrote features for the society page and a column under the name Debra Paige.

Later, in New York, Carolyn was an editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping Magazine, where she wrote releases for celebrity designers like Pauline Trigere, Rudy Gernreich, and Christian Dior.

Carolyn went on to consultant for the Oak Park Press in Chicago and have written columns and reviews for The Pasadena Star News, Home Decor Buyer, and the Glendale News-Press.

Carolyn was an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

Her novels, This Is the Place, and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, are both multi award-winners. A chapbook of her poetry, was named the Ten Best Reads by the Compulsive Reader and the Military Writers Society of America honored it with a silver medal for excellence.

Carolyn was awarded Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by the California Legislature members.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the author of the wildly successful The Frugal Book Promoter.

 

You have an amazing body of work. When did you begin your career as a writer?

Very early on I was a journalist. Then a marketer in New York. Then I took a long time raising a family and building a retail business. I think all of them made me a better creative writer and author of “how-to” books. The journalism experience (The Salt Lake Tribune and a couple of columns for the likes of The Pasadena Star-News) made me [a] pretty fast [writer].

Your How To Do It Frugally series has won numerous awards. What opportunities have opened up to you because of these awards?

That is sometimes hard to measure, Gillian. But I think awards help [to] set books and entire careers apart from the rest, that may be just as good or even better. But the field is so inundated, an award helps people decide to buy, hire or whatever it is we are after in our careers.

Do you feel that it is easier to market your books now because of the awards?

Oh, absolutely. An award is of little use if the author and publisher (preferably both) don’t do some bragging. Dan Poynter says an award can be used for a lifetime. I agree.

There is so much advice about book marketing going around about what works and what does not work, what marketing practices have worked best for you?

Aha! You hit my soft spot. I wrote a whole book on the subject. Every promotion idea in The Frugal Book Promoter is one I tried for myself. And I’m not shy about saying what works, what doesn’t, and how authors can make things that are sometimes humdrum (like book fairs) a whole lot better.

One author I spoke to has had much success with offline marketing and none with online marketing. Which do you prefer?

If we can do both, then definitely both. Online is great for authors who are shy or not very mobile or live outside of large population hubs. And one can reach many more people in a short time. But in-person marketing is so much more personal. It builds loyalty more quickly. My favorites are speaking and teaching.

No matter how much we love what we do, at times we get the blahs. How do you keep yourself motivated?

I travel. A lot. It inspires me. And honestly, I don’t get the ho-hums very often. I feel fortunate to have found something that gives me lots of joy.

Poetry books are not the most popular genre like say women’s romance fiction. How did you find an audience for your poetry book(s)?

Reading at poetry slams, etc. are one of the best ways. But I have to tell you that authors who put a very high priority on book sales, probably shouldn’t write poetry exclusively.

Which do you prefer to write, fiction or non-fiction?

I love them both, but I need to carve out more time for fiction.

What advice would you give to new authors?

Persistence. And don’t write because you think it might be an easy way to get rich or make a living. Write because you love it. The two of these are very powerful partners.

What is a typical day like for you?

I spend too much time on e-mail and social networking. Most mornings that’s what I do. Then a few hours of real writing. And then maybe a late afternoon movie with my husband. But even movies are work. You’ve heard of busman’s holidays? We examine the film’s structure, characterization, etc. He’s a writer, too.

When I work with clients (either on marketing campaigns or editing), I carve time out of the e-mail routine. Or work later at night, though that can be an error-producing tactic. Yikes!

I should tell you that I try to intersperse time at the computer with time for yoga or light weightlifting. I think it’s important for our health—and our creativity.

Thank you so much Carolyn for stopping by Plain Talk.

Connect with Carolyn

The Frugal Book Promoter: http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
Web site: http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
E-mail: Ca************@AO*.com
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/carolynhowardjohnson
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/FrugalBookPromo
Pinterest: http://Pinterest.com/chowardjohnson

 

 

 

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