Online Networking Divas Meet in Person at Southern Festival of Books

Authors Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard-Johnson meet for the first time at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, TN — It was a match made in Cyber heaven for two female business entrepreneurs when they connected via the Internet this spring. Soon after they met online, authors Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Yvonne Perry began assisting one another with business endeavors. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the two women met for the first time in person at the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word at Legislative Plaza in Nashville.

At the Southern Festival of Books Carolyn Howard-Johnson presented "Realize Your Dream: From Query Letter to Bestseller—Frugally!" After speaking to fellow writers, editors, and authors about her recently released to me The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, Ms. Howard-Johnson signed her books as those eager to meet her in person chatted as they waited in line. Readers of Carolyn’s books obviously “get” the message of her books. Many were helping one another connect with local writing groups by sharing business cards, flyers and information about writing, editing and book marketing.

“My publisher, Valerie Connelly, asked Carolyn to appear as a guest on her radio show Calling All Authors,” says Perry. “After hearing the archived interview, I immediately signed up for Carolyn’s newsletter, Sharing with Writers. Carolyn and I hit it off easily and have been helping one another ever since.”

Perry is the author of RIGHT TO RECOVER Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America released by Nightengale Press earlier this month.

In her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/), Carolyn teaches writers how to save money by helping one another with book promotion. And, she diligently practices what she preaches. Shortly after making online acquaintance with Yvonne, the two authors began cross-promoting one another. Each published announcements in the other’s newsletter and participated in a blog chain as a frugal marketing tool to create a stronger online presence. In July, Yvonne interviewed Carolyn for her weekly podcast on the craft and business of writing and publishing. Carolyn gave tips on writing, editing and book promotion and shared her career path as a writer with listeners. Writers in the Sky Podcast is available at no cost through her blog (http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com).

Howard-Johnson says, "Word-of-mouth is, of course, the best kind of promotion. Yvonne and Valerie are two writerpreneurs who understand how that works. It isn't about getting. It's about giving and then watching how success comes back to you. Sort of a zen thing."

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards. Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, a book of short creative nonfiction, has won two awards.

For more information about writing, editing, publishing and book promotion, visit Yvonne (www.yvonneperry.net) and Carolyn (http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/) on their respective Web sites.