“Hey, who’s that handsome devil?”

First, let me tell you about that picture over there.

I took that around midnight one night, back when I lived in NYC.

Not bad, right? Only, what you can’t tell from the picture is that I’m not wearing any pants. No, seriously. Okay… maybe some shorts. The rest I put on for the shot.

See, I was giving a speech at an upcoming seminar… and someone had just sent me a note saying I’d better sand in my d*%m profile picture. To this day, it’s the one I default to when I need to send someone a photo.

(My parents even have it hanging in their kitchen — I’ll have to remember to tell them the “no pants” story.)

Second, let me tell you about my name. Some people call me “John”… others call me “Jack”… and an astounding number of people nervously ask me which one I prefer. The answer is: I hate that question. Seriously.

Actually, I like both the names. Because both were given to me by people I care about. But pick one… either is fine (just know I’ll judge you forever based on which one you choose).

So now… what else?

Oh right. This is supposed to be about the WEBSITE and the E-LETTER.

Well, that’s a story too…

It all started it in 2001, shortly after I hopped a plane and went to a real “roundtable” of working copywriters.

It was put together by some of my European friends and we were holed up in a pretty nice but remote spot in one of Germany’s wine regions, the Ahr Valley. We were there to drink a lot of wine. Which we did.

And, maybe, talk about all the things that were working in the mail and on the Internet.

It all went extremely well and there were handshakes and goodbyes and lots of promises by everyone to never let the conversation end. “Why not,” someone said, “share all these insights and discoveries over email?”

And so we did.

I wrote the first issue and sent it around. Then the second. A third. The fourth, fifth, and so on… never intending it for more than that select few who had gone to the retreat.

But they sent it to friends who sent it to friends… and pretty soon, I was getting threatening letters from the administrators of my Compuserve account.

When a few early bloggers picked it up and talked about it… the list grew to 300… 1,000…  3,000… 7,000… now about 10,000 and climbing. If I ever get the time to focus on growing the list, I’d love to take it to at least 50,000.

We’ll see.

But of course, the real reason I keep on doing this — even with 18 years of a very successful and financially rewarding copywriting career under my belt — is because I’m a writer. And writer’s write.

I’ve also discovered I love to teach.

And that’s what each issue of the Copywriter’s Roundtable — affectionately called the “CR” — is mostly about. You should find plenty here. From what’s working to what might work to what’s not working anymore… from offline to online selling… what to charge, how to get clients, and how to work with designers… the list goes on.

Of course, if you know me you know that’s it’s hard to shut me up. Which means you’ll also find your CR issues jammed now and again with stories about the kids, our life and travels (we spend a good bit of the year overseas, especially in Paris), our two kids (who I’m ridiculously crazy about), and all the rest.

In all, I’m confident it adds up to some pretty valuable stuff. I know it does, in fact, because everything you’ll read about is pretty much what I do, know, and use… and frankly, it’s working out pretty well for me.

That said, your signup costs you nothing.

Zip. Nada. Zilch. Not a penny, farthing, or pfenning.

That’s right, this is all free. Gratis. No strings attached.

Complimentary. On the house. Without charge.

(Wait, let me get out my Thesaurus…)

Nil. Zero. Diddly-squat.

I’ll even give you a link to $98 worth of free gift reports in your “welcome” email.

How’s that sound for a good deal?

Oh, I haven’t mentioned the best part:  You won’t have to listen to me all the time.

Because, when it’s not me writing, some of the best in the business are giving their contribution. I’m talking about the pros you know, like Bob Bly, Chris Marlow, and Michel Fortin… Michael Masterson, Clayton Makepeace, and many more.

If you’re not on the list yet, here’s your chance.

All you need to do to get started is fill in your email address below and click the button. I doubt you’ll even break a sweat doing it (unless you’re REALLY out of shape).

And yet, as soon as you do… you’ll get a “welcome email” with links to your $98 worth of FREE reports. Plus, your issues should start arriving soon after that — I publish every Tuesday.

I hope to hear from you!

Just put your email address in the box and away we go.

P.S. By the way, I never spam… will never share your email address with anyone… and as a side benefit, will never fold, spindle, or  mutilate… let alone run with pencils, chew gum while walking, tear that tag off the mattress, leave the backdoor open, or put back an empty ice tray without filling it. And no, I was not the one to use the last of the milk.

P.S. Please tell your friends who might be interested about the CR. Invite them to sign up. And if you want, pretend it was you who came up with the nifty idea of giving away $98 worth of free gifts. I won’t mind one bit… just so long as they put their names on the list (I love having new readers).

Welcome on board!

Okay, but seriously, about John Forde…

John has worked as an direct-response copywriter for 18 years, with a specialty in the marketing of financial and health information products. His copy has both directly and indirectly, via work with junior writers, helped generate hundred of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of subscriptions.

He’s the proud recipient of the “Ouzilly Award for Sterling Copy” and the “2008 AWAI Copywriter of the Year” award. John has directly mentored dozens of successful writers and has led or helped lead international copywriting training programs, seminars, and bootcamps in the London, Paris, Bonn, Warsaw, Baltimore, and Delray Beach, Florida.

John is also a regular speaker at travel writing conferences, a published author, and shamelessly proud father of the two best little children in — well — the world. No, really. I’m not kidding. D&#m, they’re adorable.