Key Business Partners, LLC

I had the privilege to interview a lady whom I have been connected with for awhile online but haven’t yet had the pleasure to meet in person (one of these days though, I hope!).

Carolyn Howard-Johnson (follow her on twitter at @frugalbookpromo) is author of the How to do it Frugally series, with her first two books in the series out titled, “The Frugal Editor and “The Frugal Book Promoter” and a few more she will talk about in the interview below.

So enjoy getting to know these great lady and author, Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

When did you first start writing?

When I found out that the cute boys in high school were on the newspaper staff.

What inspires your writing?

Just about everything. It’s about connecting, spirit to spirit. Travel is especially good. But so is networking!

You write different genres- so you never picked a genre?

Yes, I’ve never picked one. I started out in journalism. Still love it. Moved to novels. Then short stories. Then poetry. I still do all of those things. Each informs the other, which goes back to what inspires my writing. (-:

[By the way, see my signature below for some of the places you can find my different genres. www.budurl.com/ShoppingPlaza gets you to my buy page on my Web site but it isn't even caught up yet.]

How long did it take you to write your books?

My novel took about 40 years. I am not kidding. It coalesced into an idea as a teen-ager and I didn’t start writing it until I was nearly 60. It fermented, changed, and grew in that time. But I’ve also written first drafts of nonfiction books in a week.

Do you have a your system for writing?

Oh, sure. But I don’t follow it. I tell my clients and students, do I say, not as I do.

What three tips would you offer beginning writers to help them?

The keywords are persistence, passion and education. With each new genre comes a new learning curve. With each new book. If we don’t do the homework, we only look unprofessional.

What were some writing books you read when you first started to help you with your writing?

I love John Gardner’s book on writing short stories. It helps with writing novels, too. I love Tom Chiarella’s Writing Dialogue and recommend it to my students. Go to www.storyfix.com for good advice on writing. But writers should also bone up on publicity and promotion way before they’re published. Thus, my multi award-winning series of HowToDoItFrugally books for writers including the one on editing. Editing, believe it or not, is a form of marketing yourself. One of the most important.

What else is in the works for you for the rest of 2009?

Oh! Oh! Brand new. Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy. It may not even be on Amazon by the time this goes to print. But the e-book is available here. I’m excited because it’s helpful in small, easy-to-take doses and frugal. Only 6.95. It was hard bringing it in at that price.

Where can people learn more about you and pick up copies your books?

Unlike many authors, I love Amazon. Sure they can be a pain but they are also a powerhouse that sells books for you. Writers can find my blog and my published books on my profile page there, www.budurl.com/CarolynsAmazProfile. My Website is also full of resources for writers as well as information on my books. www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

Thanks so much Carolyn. I know my readers will enjoy reading your post.

Thank you, Teresa. By the way, your readers should know that you and I are a good example of what marketing and networking do. They make friends for you, friends who help one another. I do hope they will ALL read The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) because I know it can make the difference between a book’s being successful or languishing.