Poetry
from Carolyn Howard-Johnson

"...profound and unique...True magic."
~ Darcia Helle for Book Addict


The  Celebration Series
of Chapbooks
Sending Love with  Greeting Pamphlets
by Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball

(Most at greeting card price of only $6.95.)

 

Carolyn Howard-Johnson with KPFK Poet's Cafe
Host Lois P. Jones

And Timothy Green of renowned literary journal Rattle fame wisely shares his Web site
with KPFK's own poet-radio host Lois P. Jones.
Find a bit about our interview and my Franklin Christoph
prize-winning poem "Endangered Species" there
.

 

Carolyn's Newest Book of Poetry
with
Artwork by Richard Conway Jackson

Imperfect Echoes:
Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters, lie and
oppression with Small

Self-Published in the fine tradition of poets everywhere
ISBN 13: 9781515232490

ISBN 10: 1515232492

Awards: Writer's Digest Honorable Mention, Global E-book Award, USA Book Award.
To order paperback or e-book: http://bit.ly/ImperfectEchoes
All proceeds donated to Amnesty International

 

Inspired by Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz’s poem “Incantation” that lauds the power of human reason over the reoccurring and seemingly insane political realities, Howard-Johnson holds out hope but is not persuaded by trends that seem worse now than they were in Milosz’s time. A student of  Suzanne Lummis, UCLA poetry instructor and the Fresno School of Poetry fronted by US poet laureate Philip Levine, she touches on the isms of the world—racism, ageism, even what might be termed “wallism” but was once referred to as xenophobia.  In her poem “Crying Walls,” she sounds a low warning reminiscent of Robert Frost: “Chains linked. Wire barbed,/ Krylon smeared. Feeble,/ useless, unholy billboards,/ anything but mending walls.”

"The word choice was exquisite.  The structure of the book allows journey its passage,
and though there is a destination the author doesn't allow the poems to hurry
themselves too quickly through its lyrical foreshadowing. The standout poem
for me was "Little Red Hen and Friends." ~Judge Writer's Digest 25th Annual Book Awards

She Wore Emerald Then
Reflections on Motherhood

Moods of Motherhood: thirty poems by award-winning poets Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, with original photography by May Lattanzio. A beautifully presented, tender and strikingly original gift book, ideal for Mother's Day or any day when you want to celebrate the notion of motherhood in its broadest sense.

 

She Wore Emerald Then was
 named a 10 Best Reads by Reviewer Jennifer Akers

Honorable Mention
Military Writers Society of America 2010

 

Visit She Wore Emerald Then where you'll find...
Book Excerpts
 
Media Kit Focusing
on Poetry
 
Reviews More on the Authors
Available on Amazon as an e-book and paperback.

Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller

Cherished Pulse
Unconventional Love Poetry

 

As featured in Redbook Online "Valentine Horror Stories"

Cherished Pulse contains twenty poems which look at love from a wise, mature, sensitive perspective. Never sentimental (forget Hallmark), the poems explore love in its many guises -- cherish, longing, sensuality, and that sacred place between desire and consummation. For less than the cost of a single card, Cherished Pulse makes the perfect Valentine's Day or Anniversary gift for someone. Pair the book with a rose, and you've got the ideal gift for anyone you love.

Visit the Cherished Pulse page...
Sample Poem Find More on the Authors
Review Learn More About
the Cover Artist
Book Excerpts Available as an E-Book and Paperback on Amazon
Available as e-book and paperback

 


Imagining the Future

As part of the special celebration gift book series, Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball have produced a new poetry chapbook focusing on fathers, husbands, and men in general. This makes a wonderful gift for Father's Day or anytime you want to say something unique in a way that only poetry can to a special male in your life.

 

Visit the Imagining page
where you'll find...
Sample Poems
 
Contents
 
Endorsement About the Authors
Imagings available as an e-book and in paper at Amazon.

Blooming Red:
Christmas Poetry for the Ration
al

Visit the Blooming Red page.

  • A USA Book News Award finalist
  • Military Writers Society of America Silver Award

A chapbook from the Celebration Series of little giftbooks from Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational. Watercolor or red clematis by Vicki Thomas.

"[One of the poems in Blooming Red,]
'Christmas Magic Wrought by Google's Keyword Elves'
keeps me off balance and makes me laugh."

~ Trippe Callahan, student at Trinity College at Cambridge University


Deeper Into the Pond
A Celebration of Femininity

Newest Addition to the Celebration Series!
More to Come!

"I really like these wonderful lines from Carolyn's poem:

the glasswing butterfly reveals only flowers
beneath her wings. You, my dear, the one
who lives in my own domain
opague

~ Kim McMillon, radio host



Proceeds from Sublime Planet
support World Wildlife Fund

 

 

 

Sublime Planet
Celebrating Earth Day

Photography by Ann Howley
Celebrate Earth Day April 11 with a Gift of Poetry

A USA Book News Award Finalist  

"Maggie and Carolyn's poems perfectly
 complement each other."              

~ J.R.McRae,  winner of the Premier's Open Writer's Award

"Lucid and erudite." ~ Midwest Review 


Carolyn's Life
from
Finishing Line Press

Named to Compulsive Readers
Top Ten Reads
and
Palms to Pines 50 Best Reads

Tracings

Tracings touches chords--both major and minor--for readers interested in nostalgia, tolerance, culture and aging. The author traces her life's experiences and for her it feels like "a movie reel running backwards."

 

 
Visit the Tracings page where you'll find...
Book Excerpts Media Kit Focusing on Poetry
Reader Reviews
 
Carolyn's Poetry Awards
Available as paperback with the new and used feature on Amazon.

Awards
for
Carolyn's Poetry

  • Franklin Christoph’s Poetry Prize, “Endangered Species” took first prize of 3,000 entries, 2010.
  • Long Story Short: Poem of the Month, “Shelf Life,” March 2004
  • Pedestal Magazine Readers’ Award: For poem, “Olvera Street Tutorial.” Editor, John Amen.
  • The Compulsive Reader, The Year's 10 Best Reads of 2004, for Tracings.
  • The Military Writers' Society of America, Silver Award of Excellence, 2006, for Tracings.
  • USA Book News Best Books Finalist, 2009, She Wore Emerald Then
  • Named Ten Best Reads by Reviewer Jennifer Akers at MyShelf.com
  • Tracings named Palms to Pines 50 Best Reads by Dawn Colclasure

Named to Poets & Writers prestigious list of poets.
Several of Carolyn's poetry books were honored by Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards.

Learn where Carolyn Howard-Johnson's other poems have been published
in the Published Works Almanac on this site.


What Others are Saying
about
Carolyn's Poetry

"[Both] poets continue to write poems that don't sound either like banal Hallmark cards or the bitter-at-dysfunctional-family jeremiads that habitually torture MFA writing workshop participants."
~Kristin Johnson, screenwriter and founder of the Warrior Poets Project


For Imagining the Future

From the heroic to the mundane, the poems in this book are a beautiful tribute to all fathers. The imagery these two authors create with their words is profound and unique. Each poem took me to a new place and all sparked a vivid memory. These two gifted authors paint a vivid portrait on these pages. True magic. ~ Darcia Helle for Book List


For She Wore Emerald Then

She Wore Emerald Then is more than a collection of poems; it is a collection of life. Each is poignantly written, taking the reader to the brink of emotion as a memory long forgotten is evoked, only to resurrect another time and place as the page is turned. Not only filled with beauty in its words, She Wore Emerald Then is filled with the complexities and challenges life visits upon us from conception to a last breath; a verbal and visual experience from start to finish. ~ Jozette Aaron, editor of DeSilva's News


For Cherished Pulse

"... a pleasurable collection of buoyant, spirited poetry sure to pique the interest of the most discerning reader...Each verse a true delight. . ~ Molly Martin for An Alternative Read


Poetry Tip

 

 Associate with other poets. Take classes like Suzanne Lummis's persona poem class at UCLA. Join critique groups. Hold salons. Reading is good, too, but it's a more solitary activity. So here's a writing prompt: Look up persona poem on Google and try it. It's a little like writing fiction. You put yourself in the shoes of another person (or inanimate object) and write what their heart would say.

(Find tips on evey page of this Web site--and lots of helpful articles, too!)


Anthologies, Journals, Contests
Published Poetry

Penumbra, Calif. State Univ. Stanislaus. Literary journal: Short story, .Helper, 2003.
Copperfield Review: Excerpt TITP summer, 2002; Poem “Peril,” 2003.
The Banyan Review: Short story .Grandfather Rock, July, 2003.
Sparks Magazine Poem “Woman’s Day,” 2003.
Subtle Tea Poem “Woman’s Day,” 2003.
The Feminist Journal: Poem “Woman’s Day,” 2003.
Yarrow Brook Review: Poem ”Where I Am,” 2002.
Flash fiction, .Remembering Joe, 2003.
Poetic Voices: Villanelle “Adaptation,” 2003.
Lunarosity: Poem, “.Pleading for Sylvia,” 2004.
Mochila Review: Poem “Big Screen Snack,” 2004.
Long Story Short: Poems, “Bon Sai,”. 2004; “Woman’s Day,” 2004; Short story, “A Not-So-Stupid-Crook Story,” 2004; “Shopping on Robertson,” 2004; Poem, “Children Today Don.t Have Enough Leisure Time,” 2004, “Musing Over a New Calendar” and .”New Year,” 2005.
Apollo’s Lyre: Poem, “Deciphering Sound,” 2004.
The Pedestal Magazine: Poem, “Olvera Street Tutorial,” 2004.
The Literary Mama: Short story “Finding the Way,” 2004.
The Journal of the Image Warehouse: Poems, “The Dangerous Lizard of Gabon,” “Poetry be Damned,” and “Perfectly Flawed.”
Re)verb: Poem .”Faith in LA,”.2005.
Mindprints: Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, CA., Poem “Bon Sai,” 2005.
Edifice Wrecked: Literary Journal, poem “Shelf Life,” 2004
Top 7 Business, Edited by Christopher M. Knight
Sunspinner Magazine: Poem, “Olvera Street Tutorial,” 2005
The Beat (Literary Magazine): Harkening Excerpt, “Neighbors,” 2005
Mary, Mt. St. Mary’s College Journal, 2005.
Niederngasse, an international journal “Eavesdropping at the “Writers’ Faire,” 2005.
Penwomanship, Poem, “Antigua’s Hope,” 2005.
Barricade, Edited by John Newmark, “Upon Safety,” “Illusion” and a “New Way to Think,” 2005.
Travelers’ Tales, Excerpt “Ever Heard of Terezin?” 2006.
A-pos-tro-phe: Poem “The Lecture: Incomplete Considerately Abridged."
Riley Dog: Excerpt from a poem “The Lecture: Incomplete and Considerately Abridged,” 2006.
Subtle Tea, edited by D. Herrle, Poems, “Learning About Sex When All Else Fails” and “Another Day.” 2006.
Under the Roc, Poem, “Shelf-Life,” 2007
Lunarosity, Short short story, “Artemis,” 2007.
Muscadine Lines: A Southern Journal , “Dandelions in Autumn,” 2007
Romance Writers Report: “Query Letter No-Nos,” 2008.
Coffee Press Journal, poem, “The Fragile Art of Warfare,” 2007.
Life in the USA, short story, “A Not-So-Stupid-Crook Story,” 2007.
Fiction Flyer, flash fiction, “Trying to Love Artemis,” 2008.
Pear Noir, poetry journal, “Death by Ferris Wheel,” 2009.
Montana, Writings from the River. associated with State University’, poem ”Clarion Call,” 2009
Dash, poetry journal of the Creative Writing Club and Department of English, Comparative Literature and Linguistics at California State University, Fullerton. “Long Before They Closed Down the Napster,” Spring 200?
Long Range Literary Journal, associated with Montana State University short story “Grandfather Rock,” 2010.
Manzanita Literary Journal, associated with Calaveras Arts Council poem, “Sacred Stories of the Sierras,” 2011.
Solo Novo 2011: Wall Scrawls published by Solo Press, a poem, “Inevitably Walls,” 2011.
Cyclamens and Swords, "Looking forward", "Asthma", "Agonal" and "Realizing expectations on my own postpartum schedule,” December 2011
Voices Israel anthology, “Sympathizing with Tantalus,” June 2011. www.voicesisrael.com
Cyclamens and Swords: Poem, "This Grave at Ypres," August 2012.
Wine, Cheese & Chocolate, Manzanita Press and Calaveras Country Humanities Council; poem "Big Screen Snack." Edited by Monika Rose.
Cyclamen and Swords, “The Romantic 40s,” Spring 2014. Johnmichael Simons, Editor.
Cyclamen and Swords, summer 2014, "The Vintage Corvette and Its Man."
Cyclamen and Swords, spring 2015, poems “Spent” and “The Unexpected.”
Cyclamen and Swords, December 2015, short story “Emporer’s New Clothes.”
Poetry Mystique, textbook and anthology edited by Suzanne Lummis.
Cyclamen and Swords, fall, 2015, "Touching One Another."
Voices of Israel, 2017, "Here and Then, Now and Then."


Buy Links for Carolyn's Books

Great Fiction
Purchase THIS IS THE PLACE
and
HARKENING at Amazon in their new and used feature.
Both of these books are out of print. They are available only on Amazon's New and Used feature for about $1.

Great Poetry
Purchase TRACINGS (Finishing Line Press) at Amazon.
IMPERFECT ECHOES: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters,
lie and oppression with Small

Give the gift of poetry with a chapbook from Magdalena Ball's
and
My Celebration Series

CHERISHED PULSE: Unconventional Love Poetry
IMAGINING THE FUTURE: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions
SHE WORE EMERALD THEN: Reflections on Motherhood
BLOOMING RED: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
DEEPER INTO THE POND: Celebration of Femininity
SUBLIME PLANET: Celebrating Earth and the Universe
 

HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers
Purchase THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER,
THE FRUGAL EDITOR
Second Edition
GREAT LITTLE LAST MINUTE EDITING TIPS FOR WRITERS
GREAT FIRST-IMPRESSION BOOK PROPOSALS
HOW TO GET GREAT BOOK REVIEWS FRUGALLY AND ETHICALLY

Survive and Thrive Series of HowToDoItFrugally Books for Retailers
A RETAILER'S GUIDE TO FRUGAL IN-STORE PROMOTION
FRUGAL AND FOCUSED TWEETING FOR RETAILERS
YOUR BLOG, YOUR BUSINESS

Most of Carolyn's books are also available for the Kindle reader.
Did you know that with the Free app, Kindle can be adapted to any reader--even your PC!

 

"Careers that are not fed die as readily as
any living organism given no sustenance." 
~
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Studio photography by Uriah Carr
3 Dimensional Book Cover Images by iFOGO
Logo by Lloyd King

To subscribe to Carolyn's FREE online newsletter send an e-mail.

Learn more about Carolyn's newsletter and blog.

Read past issues of Carolyn's Newsletter.

 

Frugal E-Book Tip

Kindle E-Books Aren't
Just for Kindle Anymore

Did you know that Amazon’s Kindle e-books are a low-cost/no-cost way to access books even if you don’t have a dedicated Kindle reader? You can read Kindle's e-books on smartphones, desktop computers and any e-device in between. You can even store the books on the Amazon cloud.

~ Quote from Diana Schneidman, author and marketer

 

 

 

 


 

Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers Newsletter

and get a FREE copy of
Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

"I have been a professional writer 40 years, and am also a tenured full professor of journalism. Carolyn's Sharing with Writers newsletter is  most useful for me--and for my students. I emphasize to them that while research is 90% of writing, and the actual writing is about 10%, there's another 100% out there called promotion. Carolyn shows numerous ways to get the message to the mass media."
~Walter Brasch, author and educator

"A decade of bettering writers' careers with how-tos, tips, and publishing news."


Find Carolyn on the Web

  writers retailers

Carolyn's Blogs

Sharing with Writers
All things publishing with
an emphasis on book
promotion. Named to
Writer's Digest
101 Best Website list.


The New Book Review
Great way for readers, authors, reviewers and publicists to get more
mileage out of
a great review.


The Frugal Editor Blog
This is the Frugal, Smart
and Tuned-In Editor blog.
Covers editing, grammar, formatting and more.
Get the answers you need.



Proud to Support

World Wild Life
Fund

with Sublime Planet
book of poetry
celebrating
Earth Day

Featured in
Pasadena Weekly
Arts and Entertainment Section

All Proceeds to be donated to the World Wildlife Fund


Carolyn's Awards

Awards for Carolyn's Books, Blogs and More

The New Book Review
Named to
Master's in English.org Online Universities'

101 Essential Sites for Voracious Readers

Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites
for
Sharing with Writers blog.

 


Best Book Award for The Frugal Book Promoter (2004) and The Frugal Editor (2008) and the Second Edition of The Frugal Book Promoter (2011).

 

Reader Views Literary Award for The Frugal Editor

New Generation Award for Marketing and Finalist for The Frugal Editor

Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award

Military Writers Award of Excellence for
Tracings, A Chapbook of Poetry.


A Retailer's Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotion wins author Military Writers Society of America's Author of the Month award for March, 2010

 

Gold Medal Award from Military Writers Society of America, 2010. MWSA also gave a nod to She Wore Emerald Then, a chapbook of poetry honoring mothers.

The Frugal Editor Named #! on Top Ten Editing Books list.

Finalist New Generation Book Awards 2012, The Frugal Book Promoter; Finalist 2010 The Frugal Editor;
Winner 2010 Marketing Campaign for the Frugal Editor


The Oxford Award
recognizes
the alumna who exemplifies the Delta Gamma precept of service to her community and who, through the years, devotes her talents to improve the quality of life around her.

The Frugal Book Promoter is runner-up in the how-to category for the Los Angeles Book Festival 2012 awards.

Glendale City Seal
Winner Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts
Glendale California's Arts and Culture Commission and the City of Glendale Library,
2013

And more than a dozen other awards for Carolyn's novel, short story collection and poetry. See the awards page on this site.


Published Works Almanac


Other Interests

Acting
Speaking
Travel

Tolerance


Carolyn's Poetry

Tracings
Imperfect Echoes
Celebration Series
Travel


Carolyn's Literary Works

This is the Place
Harkening
Published Shorter Works


Carolyn's How to Do it Frugally Series

For Writers
For Retailers


Tip

Poetry for Writers of Every Ilk

I believe a class on the basics of poetry (or  reading a good book on the same subject) can help any writer write better. That includes business people who must write blogs and business letters to advertising copywriters to writers of headlines to novelists. Think of what a grasp of metaphor, simile, alliteration, and a handle on rhythm can do for your work!

 Find at least one tip on writing, promotion, or tech on every page of this Web site. 

 


Carolyn's HowToDoIt Frugally Series for Writers

Getting Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically New!

The Frugal Book Promoter

The Frugal Editor

 
Great Book Proposals in 30 Minutes
(Booklet)

Last-Minute Edits and Word Trippers

(Booklet)


Time to Kindle

Carolyn's how-to books and poetry books are available on Kindle.
Click here to buy the big, powerful Kindle I love with free (Frugal!) WiFi  (Now in Paperwhite!)
:


 


Proud to be Instrumental in Helping Other Poets

Poetry Mystique: A modern text edited by Suzanne Lummis with commentary from the editor.

Poems by selected students from Suzanne's many poetry classes.

 


A Selection of Carolyn's Past Speaking Engagements

National Stationery Show May 17-20, 2009 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY Consider this a business essential.

Presenter 2009, 2010

Presenter, 2008, 09, 10, 11

Panel moderator, 2007

National Span College
presenter 2002

Fellows presenter, 2007, 08

Co-sponsor and presenter,
2007, 08, 09, 10, 11

University of Dayton Erma Bombeck Writers' Conference, 2006, 2008

Sisters in Crime,
Pasadena, 2009

On the Los Angeles Valley College Campus 2012, Rancho Library 2013,
Valley College Spring 2014

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association
Presenter, Keynote 2010

Book 'Em, NC,
Three Panels 2013


Presenter, 2013


Seminar Speaker, 2014


Keynote, 2013; 2014


Secrets of Great
Dialogue, 2015

Digging Up Memories and Bringing the Dead Back to Life
2015


Frugal Book Promotion.
Judith Briles' Extravaganza,
Denver, CO, 2016


Philadelphia, Nov. 2017

Learn more about Carolyn's conferences.