American Writers & Artists, Inc. (AWAI) Names Master Copywriter John Forde as 2008 “Copywriter of the Year”

Publisher honors successful direct-response copywriter and editor of “Copywriter’s Roundtable”

Delray Beach, FL – November 28, 2008 – American Writers & Artists, Inc. (AWAI), www.awaionline.com, publisher of direct-response copywriting and graphic design home-study programs, today announced John Forde as the 2008 “Copywriter of the Year.”

Each year, AWAI selects one copywriter who has succeeded in his or her niche and who has contributed to the continuing education and training of copywriters and marketers. This year, the award went to international copywriter, John Forde.

Currently the senior copywriter for Agora Financial Publishing, Forde has 16 years of experience as a direct-response copywriter, financial editorial writer, speaker, and trainer for copywriting and travel writing seminars across the U.S. and Europe. John is also a strategist and marketer in the U.S., London, Paris, and Bonn.

Winner of the Ouzilly Sterling Award, Outstanding Achievement in Copywriting, and the author and publisher of 380-plus articles on marketing, advertising and copywriting, Forde is also the creator and editor of the “Copywriter's Roundtable” e-letter (approximately 10,000 subscribers worldwide, http://copywritersroundtable.com), the editor of AWAI’s “Hall of Fame: Great Selling Ideas from 50 Super-Successful Direct Mail Letters and Direct Response Ads,” and the author of AWAI’s “Secrets of Writing for the Internet.”

“Forde was the perfect choice for the 2008 AWAI Copywriter of the Year award,” says Katie Yeakle, AWAI Executive Director. “With a specialty in the marketing of financial information products, his copy has both directly and indirectly generated hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of subscriptions. Plus, he openly shares his knowledge with new copywriters worldwide and offers valuable information on creating a successful career in direct and online marketing.”

Forde commented, "I'm honored and flattered. Of course, I immediately thought of a dozen other writers who are equally-deserving. At the same time, I have huge respect for what they do over at AWAI. So you can bet I was pretty happy when I found out. It came as a complete surprise."

With a bachelor’s degree from Loyola College in Maryland and a Masters degree in classical studies from St. John's College, Forde is also a cartoonist, illustrator and graphic designer in his spare time. Most of all, he says, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.

Past winners of the AWAI award include Bob Bly, Clayton Makepeace and Donna Doyle.