tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75161728637107815382024-03-05T20:36:39.652-05:00Keystrokes & Word CountsThe ramblings of a girl striving to become an author.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-70741229761534591222011-10-04T07:07:00.003-04:002011-10-04T07:07:35.650-04:00We've moved!I've had this little space of web for several years now and decided the blog needed a change and an update, and in doing so, I ended up switching from Blogger to Wordpress. Nothing against Blogger, but now on Wordpress I have added tabs and pages to include information on me as an author, upcoming releases, projects in the works, short stories and excerpts.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how many of you actually come right to the blog rather than following my links on twitter and such, but I figured I'd leave this little note and a link to the new blog.<br />
<br />
Come join us otherwise I will miss you! :D<br />
<br />
<a href="http://keystrokesandwordcounts.wordpress.com/">http://keystrokesandwordcounts.wordpress.com/</a>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-31160367585016057482011-09-29T07:00:00.000-04:002011-09-29T07:03:25.868-04:00Keep it polite or keep your mouth shutWhile we're on the topic of reviews, let's have a little discussion about being polite to others, shall we?<br />
<br />
Luckily,
I personally haven't had any issues, but I have heard several friends
complain about other people who knock their reviews. For example, a
friend was reviewing "classics" and she was being honest about what she
liked and what she didn't like. People came by, read her reviews and
basically told her she was full of crap and didn't know what she was
talking about. Really? You people think you can judge someone's opinion?
Guess what? NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO LIKE WHAT YOU LIKE. Sorry to have
to yell that, but it's an important statement we all need to pay
attention to.<br />
<br />
I see nothing wrong in having a civil
debate with someone, pointing out why you think a review is or isn't
fair. Civil is the important word there folks. I'm all for debates,
especially when it comes to classics that I don't think should be pushed
anymore, but I would never out and out say "OMG you're wrong and stupid
and XX is the best book ever, you stupid person!" That's just not
necessary and quite frankly, it makes you come off as the stupid one.<br />
<br />
In case you haven't noticed, this blog has some reoccurring themes: be honest, be nice and not everyone is going to like the same things. You'd think these things would be common sense kind of things, but I guess not.<br />
<br />
Things
on the internet are traceable and I have heard stories about people bad
mouthing agents when they get rejected or publishing houses that put
out books they don't like, etc. and it often comes back to bite them and
being rude in forums and on sites like Goodreads and Amazon is not
going to go unnoticed.<br />
<br />
Better to be nice, be civil or keep your mouth shut.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-37409482251192283202011-09-27T06:33:00.000-04:002011-09-27T06:40:36.528-04:00The 5 star controversyI've become a bit of a reviewer. They're not super in depth descriptions of what the story is about but more my personal feelings on how I enjoyed the book or what I didn't like about it. I try to always be polite and I know that criticism goes best between compliments. I do these reviews for two reasons:<br />
<br />
1) To let others know how I felt about the book and possibly turn them onto it or warn them to stay away (although to be fair, that's rarely my call)<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
2) To give the author some feedback on where I think they shine or could use a little more polish.<br />
<br />
I feel like I'm doing both the reader and writer a service. That's the way it should be. That's the logic behind reviews in the first place.<br />
<br />
Therefore, when I hear things like people <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/technology/finding-fake-reviews-online.html?_r=4&hp">paying $5 bucks for a 5 star review</a> or <a href="http://bwmathews.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/five-stars-in-what-galaxy/">asking friends and relatives and fellow writers to choke the system with phony 5 star reviews</a> it makes me kind of lose my shit.<br />
<br />
I get it. You are proud of your work and you want to spread the word so others will come read it and bask in its glory. That's all fine and dandy, except I don't know about everyone else, but I am QUITE stingy with my 5 star ratings. A book really has to be well written and emotionally impacting (to me personally) in order for it to get 5 stars. I don't even rate my own work 5 stars people. That's not to say I don't love my stuff and I haven't worked hard on it, I do and I have, BUT I know there are things out there that just blow my writing away and that's why I'm honest with myself and my readers with my ratings.<br />
<br />
This buying stars and backwards comradery of "I'll get all my followers to rate your book 5 stars, even if they haven't read it or didn't like it if you'll do the same for mine" is utter bullshit.<br />
<br />
You've got money to spend on buying stars? Use it on a good editor to make a better product instead. You want to bring traffic to your book and get reviews? Find book bloggers and hold contests to give out ARCs and ask for honest feedback in their responses and ratings. <br />
<br />
People who do this kind of thing are giving the indie/self published a bad name. It's already a struggle for those of us not going the traditional publication route and when a reader comes along and sees a book has fifty 5 star reviews they think "Hey! This should be good!" Then they read it and (often) find that the book was nowhere near 5 star quality. <a href="http://criticalawesomeness.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/am-i-an-indie-writer/">This post</a>, by a a fellow "indie" author goes into detail about how these things going on makes him not want to be associated with the indie crowd. I understand his frustration on how a few are making it bad for the rest of us. (Be sure to take time to read the comments on that post!)<br />
<br />
Not only is it bad to dupe your audience, but you're not helping yourself as a writer and you're certainly not going to gain any repeat business. There is one specific book out there (which is discussed in one of the blog links above) where much of this occurred. I found a mere smattering of unhappy reviews in an overwhelming sea of 5 stars. Those few 1 and 2 star reviewers were as baffled as I was "did we read the same book as all these other people?" I almost gave the book 1 star. 1 STAR! That's a rating I normally reserved for a bunch of monkeys who type gobbledegook. I don't care if that author wins a Newbery award , I'll never buy another of her books. <br />
<br />
There are others out there who are trying to cheat the rating system in other ways. Recently, a friend of mine noticed a particular Goodreads member was going around and rating immense amounts of paranormal novels. 3,500 novels to be exact. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Except that she was rating them all with 1 star. Every.Single.One. She only had two friends on Goodreads. One of them was a paranormal author, whom I'm sure got her only good review. Thankfully, several people brought it to the attention of the site staff and the account was killed. Whether or not they can undo all the reviews she gave, I don't know, but seriously lady? Did you really need to knock down the confidence of 3,500 people by rating them a one? Not cool. Bad karma is coming for you.<br />
<br />
As discussed before, it really just comes down to being honest folks. Be honest about what you like and dislike. Be honest about the quality of the work. Be honest with yourself. You'll be happier in the long run and if you're a writer, think of how much better you'll feel when you get those good reviews knowing you actually earned them rather than bought or bartered for them. Maybe those lower starred reviews will help you grow as a writer and you'll produce something that is 5 star worthy. If I see it, if it moves me, if it's worthy, I'll give you that coveted quintuplet rating. You'll have earned it.<br />
<br />
<br />MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-81057026661101972202011-09-22T07:00:00.000-04:002011-09-22T07:00:13.334-04:00Book TrailersSo, book trailers. What are they and are they really important in helping promote your novel?<br />
<br />
A book trailer is very similar to a movie trailer. It's a video clip, normally set to music, used to catch the eye of a potential reader. To garner attention and make them excited to pick up your book.<br />
<br />
They should be short and sweet and above all, interesting. Make it a snooze-fest and people will forget about it, and your book, the second after they click off the page.<br />
<br />
There are different kinds from the extremely awesome, obviously professionally made ones, to the amateur, work with what you've got, trailers. They can be a collection of images and text set to music (*cough*this is good for the monetarily challenged folks like myself*cough*), or it can be a collection of scenes from the novel acted out or even an animation.<br />
<br />
As to how important they are, I can't really tell you. I think they're a helpful marketing tool, but do I think you can gain as much interest for your novel without one? Probably, but I do think trailers appeal to the occasional reader. The ones who would most likely opt for a movie or TV show over reading a book. We're visual creatures and I think, for those types of people, the trailer helps generate more interest than just the summary would do. As long as your trailer doesn't look a complete mess, I think it can only help, not hurt. <br />
<br />
I have to admit, I don't watch too many book trailers myself. I'm not
sure why because the ones I do stop for seem to be good. Maybe it's just
because if I'm interested in a book, it's due to the blurb on the page
and if that catches my attention, then I don't need the trailer.
Obviously, that didn't stop me from making one of my own.<br />
<br />
Mine is no where near professional, but I think it's interesting enough to catch someone's attention and as an indie author, I need every bit of help I can get! Let me know, honestly, what you think. I value your feedback, even if you think it sucks. ^_^<br />
<br />
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yKfWyK6ZJj8" width="420">&nbsp;</iframe>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-71467296456243068872011-09-20T10:10:00.000-04:002011-09-20T10:10:48.784-04:00Back that thang up!No. No. I'm not talking about your ample backsides...although if you enjoy that kind of thing, please, be my guest. I'm talking about backing up your precious, all consuming, seemingly never ending, writing endeavors.<br />
<br />
Let's paint a not so pretty scenario, shall we? Let's say one evening you're working on some edits for your almost ready to publish novel. You smile as you make the changes knowing that they will make your characters seem more believable and add credibility to your story. You save your changes in Word, or whatever other processing program you use, and you close the laptop lid for the night. When you wake the following morning, you're anxious to start your day; check some email, tweet, post something on Facebook. When you open the laptop, you're face with a completely black screen and some flashing lights. No it's not in sleep mode. No it's not a result of built up static. No the battery and/or power supply isn't broken. It's the laptop itself. Suddenly it has become a very expensive paperweight. A prison for all your important information, images, bookmarks, etc. Now would be the time where you might bust into tears. Perhaps you consider lobbing the dammed thing across the room to see how many pretty pieces you can break it into. Maybe you plan a coup on your local HP building demanding a replacement, a refund, all your priceless data back. Maybe you just accept defeat and start browsing for a new piece of overpriced equipment while mourning the loss of hours of your life, work and creativity.<br />
<br />
While you can't always predict when electronics will have an all out meltdown, the loss of your data and hard work is preventable. There are several options to backing up your work. Most word processing programs will back up as you write, but that's only good if your computer freezes or spontaneously reboots (it happens). To back up your work long term, you can use outside sources like flash drives, CDs/DVDs or an external drive. These are all good choices so long as you know where you put the drive or the disc and that nothing happens to those. If you're like me and electronics seem to hate you, you should also look for other options. I had a large external drive where I stored all my stuff and then the USB port broke a pin and I was screwed. It prompted me to look for other options.<br />
<br />
Storing your work online is handy for more than reason. Firstly, depending on where you save it, you should be able to access it from any computer with internet access. Secondly, you don't have worry about losing anything (except maybe a password) and someone else is maintaining it for you.<br />
<br />
If you opt for online storage (and I actually recommend using more than one of these backup ideas, better safe than sorry), you can use a site like <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">Drop Box</a> which holds a looooot of data, even with their free version. I would recommend a place like that if you have a lot of mixed media to store; music, photos, documents, etc. If you're looking to just save your manuscripts, I recommend emailing them to yourself. Use the title in your subject bar for easy searching later on. Luckily I had emailed several of my manuscripts to other people for beta reading so I had copies of everything in my email. Gmail, which is a free internet email program, has tons of storage so I rarely empty trash or sent mail so all my stuff hangs around for such an occasion.<br />
<br />
There are other options out there as well if you do a little searching. Again I recommend using more than one back up method and try to remember to do it on a somewhat frequent basis. You can even use calendar programs to pop up reminders if you're apt to forget.<br />
<br />
Be smart and save yourself the heartache by backing up your work. Do it today people! You'll thank me later if you have an issue. Get on it!<br />
<br />MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-65211981960063829002011-09-08T19:15:00.000-04:002011-09-08T19:15:18.817-04:00Books read in 2011 - AugustAlmost forgot to put up the list of books read last month. It was a busy reading month too, surprising since I felt like I did so many other things writing related. Maybe I'm getting better at multitasking? Nahhhh.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Rating system:</div>
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Outstanding. You need to run out & get this NOW!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Great!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Good.</div>
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Meh. I was not much of a fan.</div>
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Under no circumstances should you waste your time with this.</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>August</b><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Title</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rating</b></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>orever Mine (Moreno Brothers 1)</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Elizabeth Reyes</i></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaqe_zIxyOJx_kavnnmYB73-TP3ZtSQOri44g61jEzZV2EL8PZtvX42yySCRHd15AZEYg5wZhFAsfXAFFKF5dLpiGvJEh4X_Rd3snlsM2MkpcwM0AICLqP41Cj33FL8TE8E01sWz6YlR0/s1600/bomb.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaqe_zIxyOJx_kavnnmYB73-TP3ZtSQOri44g61jEzZV2EL8PZtvX42yySCRHd15AZEYg5wZhFAsfXAFFKF5dLpiGvJEh4X_Rd3snlsM2MkpcwM0AICLqP41Cj33FL8TE8E01sWz6YlR0/s1600/bomb.gif" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dragon Slippers</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Jessica Day George</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dragon Spear</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Jessica Day George</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dragon Flight</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Jessica Day George</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Always Been Mine (Moreno Brothers 2)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Elizabeth Reyes</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Demon’s Surrender (Demon’s Lexicon)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Sarah Rees Brennan</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
River Marked</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Patricia Briggs</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Between the Lines</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Tammara Webber</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Chain Reaction</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Simone Elkeles</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Flat Out Love</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Jessica Park</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Boyfriend Thief</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Shana Norris</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Reason to Breath </div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Rebecca Donovan</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Wrong Path</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Breathe</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Abbi Glines</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRMMB_yf8TAQp8jDRr2DgCl3g12kg9DzBsnaL5A3cPnssw0peeN_zW2_k1AX6drrrryLLXEVphFBPxGjpQQOhbzXNQOVhr6yyycosoyWyhkE7Bj-wgXKcjKWgpAg0A-hocJh4EwWoI1u/s1600/22-skull-n-crossbones.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRMMB_yf8TAQp8jDRr2DgCl3g12kg9DzBsnaL5A3cPnssw0peeN_zW2_k1AX6drrrryLLXEVphFBPxGjpQQOhbzXNQOVhr6yyycosoyWyhkE7Bj-wgXKcjKWgpAg0A-hocJh4EwWoI1u/s1600/22-skull-n-crossbones.png" /></a> (I feel bad giving this, but I have to be honest)</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rock and a Hard Place </div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Angie Stanton</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sophie and Carter</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Chelsea Fine</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blind Sided</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Cheryl Leigh</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Heart on a Chain </div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Cindy C. Bennett</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Love Unscripted</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Tina Reber</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Pittacus Lore</i></div>
</td>
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</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
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Leaving Paradise (re-read)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Simone Elkeles</i></div>
</td>
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</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Return to Paradise (re-read)</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Simone Elkeles</i></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>22 books read </b></div>
MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-12000149348143056872011-09-06T07:00:00.000-04:002011-09-06T07:00:07.284-04:00Fake it 'til you make it?EDIT: To write this kind of stuff when you're upset is cathartic...not so much so the next day though...but I'll let it stand if for no other reason than to maybe help soothe others in knowing they're not the only ones with doubts and insecurities.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So anyway, let me let you all in on a little secret: I lack confidence. Confidence in my writing. Confidence in my intelligence. Confidence in being a "good person" (no, no. I know I'm not the Devil incarnate -I dislike the heat too much- but I'm sure I could be better). Confidence is being good at just about anything. Well...OK that last one is not exactly true. I know I'm "good" at many things, but don't think there's one I actually excel at. Hence why I consider myself a jack of all trades, master of none. I suppose it's not an awful thing to be, but it'd be nice to know you're really good at at least one thing in life, right?<br />
<br />
I find many other authors struggle with having confidence in their work. I'm not exactly sure why that is. Is it because it's an art form and art is so subjective? Is it because people have a habit of picking our work apart? We ask for that! It's supposed to make us better writers.<br />
<br />
So why do I get so knocked down when someone does what I ask? They aren't mean about it. In fact, some of them are overly nice about it, trying to soften the blow I suppose. I know they mean well. I know they are being helpful so I can put out the best piece of work that I can...yet it still seems to cut me to the quick and revert me to the 12 yr old I was when I stopped writing for years because some stupid computer program told me I only wrote at a 6th grade level (little did I know at the time that that is not such an awful thing...).<br />
<br />
How do you keep it all from weighing you down? I don't know. I do know I've come too far to give up and shove my novel in a drawer somewhere. But I admit there are times where I am so afraid of failing that the idea of putting it in there so it never sees the light of day is extremely appealing. At least if I do that, then no one can tell me it sucks, right?<br />
<br />
So, do I live in fear that people will hate my work and call me a failure or do I just suck it up and push ahead because I've already put in a disgusting amount of time and energy into all my writing? I think the answer is obvious, but it's still not easy. Am I going to cry when people tell me they don't like something? Probably. I'm a bit of a cry baby like that. I might be thick all over, but the skin is pretty thin.<br />
<br />
I guess I've just got to keep telling myself that even if no one likes it (and I honestly don't think it's going to be a case of no one liking it, since I know some people have enjoyed it or at least not totally hated it) I can be proud of myself for working hard on it and getting it out there. I know there are a lot of people out there who talking about writing a novel but never do it, so at least I'm a step ahead of them, right?<br />
<br />
I suppose I just have to go with the old "fake it 'til you make it" scheme. I can put on a happy face when I get criticism and be gracious and say thank you (because I really do appreciate anyone who seriously takes the time to offer the criticism) and then go cry in the corner until I get over it and then work to make the corrections. Maybe it'll hurt less with repetition. Maybe I'll need to buy stock in Kleenex. I guess time will tell.<br />
<br />
I promise I'm not going to go weepy and all "woah is me" on a regular basis, but I kind of felt like I just needed to get it out and it's been a long time since I used a blog post as a diary entry. If nothing else, maybe some of you can read this and know you're not alone, or use it to make yourselves feel better "Hey! At least I've got more confidence in my work than that silly chick!". Either way is cool by me. MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-58458636005491153762011-09-02T04:00:00.000-04:002011-09-02T04:00:06.519-04:00How much is too much?Opting to be self, or indie, published means the author has to wear many
hats, and promoting your work is one of those areas you can't skimp on. As I'm getting closer to my tentative publication date I'm trying to get the word out and garner interest for <i>Near Death</i>. The problem being, how much is too much? I want people to check it out. I want people to be interested and put it on their to-read lists, but I don't want them to feel spammed and annoyed that I'm mentioning it so often. <br />
<br />
Goodreads has a option to let you recommend books (yours or someone else's) to your friends. Sounds like an awesome way to get the word out right? I have a couple hundred friends on Goodreads. I can hit them all up in one blow! Problem? I've been hearing some horror stories about how some Goodreads members react to such a thing: nasty response emails, unfriending, bad mouthing to their other friends. Really people? I could understand if you were constantly getting spammed by the same person with such recommendations, but just sending one out is a bad thing? I thought helping new authors get exposure is something Goodreads is known for. I thought half the reason for having an account and friends there is to find new things to read. Once my cover art is ready, I still plan on taking advantage of the option so I'll apologize in advance, but if any of my "friends" on Goodreads think one email is spamming, then perhaps they shouldn't have authors as friends.<br />
<br />
When it comes to Twitter, I think, depending on how many followers you have, you need to repeat the message several times. People are on at different times of the day and if they follow a lot of people, it's easy for your messages to get lost in the stream. Does that mean you should post "BUY MY BOOK!" 50 times a day, everyday? HELL NO. If all you post is messages asking people to buy your stuff, you're going to bore people and loose followers. Make yourself a schedule and if you use a Twitter client like Hootsuite, you can set up Tweets to post at specific times, so maybe you plan to tweet about it a couple days a week at different times of the day. Done that way, you're hopefully mostly hitting a different group of followers each time.<br />
<br />
Another thing to try and keep in mind is cross networking. It's very likely that you have several of the same people on more than one social networking site. Maybe they follow you on Twitter and have liked your Facebook author/book page. Maybe they are in your G+ circle and on your Goodreads friend list. Be cautious not to accidentally spam your friends by re-posting everything on all your networks at the same time. Again, spread things out and pay attention to your timing.<br />
<br />
You need to get the word out and promote your work, but there needs to be a happy medium. Every post you make shouldn't be badgering your friends and followers to buy your wares. Continue to be your quirky selves and make comments and ask questions. On occasion, peddle your product. Also, remember everything doesn't have to be a request for people to buy. You can gain interest by doing blog tours, holding contests, having trivia questions, making promotional posters and bookmarks, posting snippets of the novel, etc. Remember, if people like you, if you make them laugh or think, they are apt to be interested in your work without you shoving it in their face. They just need to be aware that it's out there. Happy medium. You can do it.<br />
<br />
<br />MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-6967180363566653352011-08-31T07:00:00.001-04:002011-08-31T07:00:05.855-04:00What are your thoughts?Since I'm getting close to releasing my first e-publication, I thought I'd take the time to ask you folks some questions in regards to e-books.<br />
<br />
Let's start with covers. I love a good cover and one of the things I get sad about with e-books is the fact that you don't really get a good look at it unless you hunt it down (in your reader menus you can normally click to go to it). Sometimes, they have the front (and if you're lucky back) covers all the way at the end. That's a nice surprise, but I wonder why they don't put it in the beginning. I can understand that if you have too much front end info, people might get annoyed about how many times they have to click to get to the start of the story, but I'd think to have the cover image come up first, it'd be just like reading a hard version. What do you guys think? Would you be annoyed by having the cover image come up before the title page or first page of text (chapter/prologue)?<br />
<br />
Then there's a table of contents. I kind of never understood why fiction books have them. I guess maybe if you always stop reading at the end of a chapter and don't use a bookmark, they'd be handy, but do people really read like that? In an e-book, the only plus for them I can think of is if you know something is in a certain chapter and you want to go back and look at it, the table of contents is a quick way to get back there, but again, how often do people do that? I think they're kind of pointless for the most part. Do you ever use it in a fiction book?<br />
<br />
I've already discussed bio pictures before. I'm putting one in. You don't want to see it? Too bad! ^_^ I dislike most pictures of myself but I know I like to see what an author looks like so I figure you guys might want to see as well.<br />
<br />
What are your thoughts about excerpts from other novels at the end of the book? Does it have to be from the book's sequel (if they have one) or is another novel from the author acceptable? Do you even bother to read them?<br />
<br />
I think that's about all I can think of at the moment. If I've missed something important you want to comment on, please feel free! I want this to be an enjoyable experience for everyone so your thoughts and comments are really helpful. Thanks in advance everyone!MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-31923362148286309982011-08-27T07:00:00.039-04:002011-08-27T07:00:02.947-04:00We're looking for a few good men & women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPROga8LM7bur-tPNp9B2mDoVDrYf9vG2l75Oe23g_oXeElGpOYlj7ClG5snv7mqZc_LXqa7oPmn6H4QGAPRxpxOLSKzhtebE9YmxGqI9CP1T4SKzZ5RjKmd9CuutgrSD8O8rUktYp9-B/s1600/be+our+eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPROga8LM7bur-tPNp9B2mDoVDrYf9vG2l75Oe23g_oXeElGpOYlj7ClG5snv7mqZc_LXqa7oPmn6H4QGAPRxpxOLSKzhtebE9YmxGqI9CP1T4SKzZ5RjKmd9CuutgrSD8O8rUktYp9-B/s400/be+our+eyes.jpg" width="290" /></a></div> Did a vampire kill your brother? A mother? Another<br />
loved one? Are you filled with unquenchable rage and<br />
sadness? There's a way you can heal and help your<br />
community at the same time!<br />
<br />
Follow the information on<br />
the attached PSA posters and<br />
join your local Vampire Force!<br />
<br />
For more information, pick up Patricia Lynne's<br />
vampire story,<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12010541-being-human">Being Human</a></b></span><br />
today!<br />
<br />
<b>The illustrious author has this to add:</b><br />
In <i><b>Being Human</b></i>, vampires are not a myth, they are a reality to humanity - a scary one. In order to combat vampires, a special branch of police force was created: Vampire Forces. But they don't use stakes or garlic to combat vampires; that ended up being a disaster with a lot of deaths. VF is very much like a normal branch, guns are issued, tasers and batons. As such, they will seek out people to join in a very normal way. Thanks MaryBeth for creating these Public Service Announcement Posters. And thanks to the people who provided the images. Remember VF needs you to shine a light in the darkness!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-OMit1rDmCR_tbuQe4Ui1no54dSavzipa8YPWBY8IsX1t-A7ZR70ruk0W9Y7pSX-LeWuBIZ0wdIXfuq6-FnrvPZeKlsGEnNK4tp2yUZi05yQf-MNkucL4099QVeMf_wfgc0iLGkCbepc/s1600/locked+doors+save+lives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-OMit1rDmCR_tbuQe4Ui1no54dSavzipa8YPWBY8IsX1t-A7ZR70ruk0W9Y7pSX-LeWuBIZ0wdIXfuq6-FnrvPZeKlsGEnNK4tp2yUZi05yQf-MNkucL4099QVeMf_wfgc0iLGkCbepc/s400/locked+doors+save+lives.jpg" width="290" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckZ1zUJRP_LG-pJq_Pe2u-zjnIT50T9sd5SmMzp50ERPjDIRo9UIgFHsvvXtgPrVi8JxoN7acXT_qDv8fNE0eyzjl9bpWGItxgKCpRQ828qDtXS6ZCpNwvATmfLaRshRlEmb9QmHjvi9f/s1600/Join+vampire+force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckZ1zUJRP_LG-pJq_Pe2u-zjnIT50T9sd5SmMzp50ERPjDIRo9UIgFHsvvXtgPrVi8JxoN7acXT_qDv8fNE0eyzjl9bpWGItxgKCpRQ828qDtXS6ZCpNwvATmfLaRshRlEmb9QmHjvi9f/s400/Join+vampire+force.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">/photo credit goes to the following people. Thank you! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=659">Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2042">Image: phanlop88 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=905">Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></span><br />
<br />
MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-48880653788993956482011-08-25T07:00:00.001-04:002011-08-25T07:00:06.561-04:00It's a whirlwind!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"></div><h3>Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour—WooHoo!</h3><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">You guys might remember I interviewed Terri Giuliano Long a couple of months ago about her book, <i>In Leah's Wake</i>. Things have really blown up for her since then and when I was approached to be a part of her Whirlwind Social Media Tour through Novel Publicity, I couldn't pass it up. Not only did I enjoy the book, but I've spoken with Terri often since then and she is a lovely person and a great writer. I hope you guys will take part in the festivities and learn a little more about her and perhaps pick up the book!</div><h3></h3><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/whirlwind/"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7809" height="332" src="http://www.novelpublicity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/whirlwind-badge.png" title="whirlwind-badge" width="414" /></a></strong></div>As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/">Novel Publicity</a>, the price of the <em>In Leah’s Wake</em> Kindle edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26<sup>th</sup>, so you don’t miss out.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><h3>To win the prizes:</h3><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><ol start="1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/In-Leahs-Wake-ebook/dp/B0044XV7PG/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1311003065&sr=8-1">Purchase your copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em></a> for just 99 cents</li>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><li><a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">Fill-out the form on the author’s site </a>to enter for prizes</li>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><li>Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!</li>
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<div class="MsoNormal">And I can win $100 too if you <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">vote for my blog over on the author’s website</a>. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing <em>In Leah’s Wake</em> and entering the contests!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><h3>The featured events include:</h3><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! </strong>We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em>. Don’t forget to <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">visit the author’s blog</a> to enter for the other prizes!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! </strong>Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We’ll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about <em>In Leah’s Wake</em> and don’t forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri <a href="http://www.twitter.com/tglong">@tglong</a>. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em>. Don’t forget to <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">visit the author’s blog</a> to enter for the other prizes!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author!</strong> Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We’ll be gabbing about great books including <em>In Leah’s Wake</em> and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She’s got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em>. Don’t forget to <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">visit the author’s blog</a> to enter for the other prizes!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Thursday, Facebook interview with the author!</strong> Stop by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/novelpublicity">Novel Publicity’s Facebook page</a> and ask Terri questions. She’s chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about: writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you’re welcome to ask about <em>In Leah’s Wake</em> too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em>. Don’t forget to<a href="http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites">like Terri’s Facebook page</a> or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Friday, Fun & games based on the book! </strong>We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author’s blog. You can <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/quiz/" target="_blank">take the official Facebook quiz</a> to find out which <em>In Leah's Wake</em> character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/story/" target="_blank">try out our crossroads story game</a>. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri’s blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of <em>In Leah’s Wake</em>. Don’t forget to <a href="http://www.tglong.com/blog/bsfad/">check out the other give-away contests</a> while you’re on Terri’s blog!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><a href="http://www.tglong.com/bsfad/terri/"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1418" height="240" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/ILW-Cover-Rev-7-11-Thumbnail-193x300.jpg" title="New Book
Cover" width="154" /></a>About <em>In Leah’s Wake</em></strong>: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn’t enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><h3>A Twitterview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of <em>In Leah's Wake</em></h3><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><em>*<a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/" target="_blank">twitterview conducted by Novel Publicity</a></em></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can tweet Terri <a href="http://www.twitter.com/tglong" target="_blank">@tglong</a>. Please do! <em> </em>To learn more about twitterviews, <strong><a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/twitterviews/" target="_blank">go here</a></strong>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Twitterview with Terri, 1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1731" height="963" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tglong-1.png" title="Twitterview
with Terri, 1" width="510" /><img alt="Twitterview with Terri, 2" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1731" height="963" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tglong-2.png" title="Twitterview with Terri, 2" width="510" /><img alt="Twitterview with Terri, 3" class="aligncenter size-full
wp-image-1731" height="963" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tglong-3.png" title="Twitterview with Terri, 3" width="510" /><img alt="Twitterview with Terri, 4" class="aligncenter size-full
wp-image-1731" height="963" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tglong-4.png" title="Twitterview with Terri, 4" width="510" /><img alt="Twitterview with Terri, 5" class="aligncenter size-full
wp-image-1731" height="963" src="http://www.tglong.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tglong-5.png" title="Twitterview with Terri, 5" width="510" /></div><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a><br />
MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-39557836650514226372011-08-24T06:50:00.000-04:002011-08-24T06:50:07.788-04:00Calling all book bloggers!We interrupt the typical Tuesday/Thursday blogging schedule to light the bee signal <span style="font-size: x-small;">(well I couldn't very well use the Bat Signal </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">as I'm sure I'd get in trouble for that...)</span> to call out to book bloggers and reviewers. As I have finished a major second run of edits on <i>Near Death</i> (just waiting on some line edits now/the little stuff, so nothing major will change) I find myself anxious to get it out into the world. This is where you lovely book bloggers and reviewers come into play.<br />
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I am looking for people I can send an ARC out to (in digital form - sorry, I haven't gotten anything printed yet since cover design is still in the works). In return I would ask two things of you:<br />
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1) Please read and review (honestly!) for Goodreads (and then if you wouldn't mind copy & pasting that info into Amazon when it's up there, that'd be super duper awesome as well!)<br />
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2) Review it on your blogs closer to the publication date (right now it's tentatively in mid-September, but I'd give you a definite date as it gets closer). I'm fine if you don't do the typical kind of review on your blog. You'd be free to interview me (or one of the book characters if you'd like!), write a song, do an interpretive dance, draw fan art, whatever you'd like to show how you felt about the book. I'll leave it up to you.<br />
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On the day your post goes live, I will direct folks from this blog and Twitter to go check you out as well and ramp up your attendance. I think it's a decent trade off. ^_^<br />
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If you would be interested, please leave a comment along with the URL to your blog (or if you don't have a blog & just do reviews on Amazon or Goodreads, leave me your name for that site so I can check it out). Oh! I need an email address too please.<br />
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Thanks folks! I look forward to reading comments from everyone who participates!<br />
<br />
<br />
/as I don't know what the response to this will be, I may have to set a limit on the amount of ARCs that go out. If I need to cut it off somewhere, I will update the blog and let you know<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXrnTRtQqDv1x5mwGHli0U4-zAeyrmPxEtGHuty6A4LBhGLd1h_GEmkyNZ0rqGCLetKAv5ech8pj0tatHYJLmUKokm112vrY0ffGIuy3uGuf9Z57VyjLTmCstKgEGi5dJYE95ImLpzph5/s1600/A+Line+in+the+Ice+-+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXrnTRtQqDv1x5mwGHli0U4-zAeyrmPxEtGHuty6A4LBhGLd1h_GEmkyNZ0rqGCLetKAv5ech8pj0tatHYJLmUKokm112vrY0ffGIuy3uGuf9Z57VyjLTmCstKgEGi5dJYE95ImLpzph5/s200/A+Line+in+the+Ice+-+Book+Cover.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Line in the Ice</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author: Jamie</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Craig</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Genre:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sci-Fi Romance</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amazon Summary:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bloodthirsty monsters are emerging from the Antarctic ice, the same creatures that once stalked the battlegrounds of World War I. Back then, a group of soldiers valiantly fought off the beasts—and were never seen again. A century later, an elite military squad stands between civilization and the mysterious return of the enemy. Captain Charlie Weller thinks she’s seen everything—until a man crawls out onto the ice, barely alive and muttering about a place called Illyria. Lysander Davies claims to be the descendant of one of the missing soldiers. He insists the monsters are actually gentle creatures, under the control of beings far, far more dangerous… Drawn to the stranger, Charlie believes his stories and agrees to help him. But they both know nothing can come of their feelings for one another, for the only way to save earth is for Lysander to return to Illyria and close the rift behind him, forever…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Personal reaction:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love a good romance and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Line in the Ice</i> certainly delivers. Sci-fi related romance is new to me, but I enjoy many aspects of a good sci-fi book and this one has just enough to make it interesting but didn’t leave me scratching my head over complicated gadgets or weird political systems, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I appreciate the strong female character of Charlie. A romance with a woman in a military group is unfamiliar to me too, but the author(s) made her believable and realistic. She was hard when she needed to be, and soft at the appropriate times.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was an exciting and enjoyable read with action and romance. A good combo.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Questions:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Please explain who Jamie Craig is.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jamie Craig is the joint effort of Pepper Espinoza and Vivien Dean. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Is this your first collaboration?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s definitely not the first book we’ve collaborated on together. We’ve never attempted to collaborate with other people before we began working together, though. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Romance books with Sci-Fi themes don’t seem to be the norm. What prompted you guys to write one?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">We’re both big fans of genre--not just romance, but horror, mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy. The great thing about romance is that there’s always room to add another genre or two to the mix, and that’s what we love to do. We’ll write everything from historical westerns to futuristic Sci-Fis because we want to find the most interesting story. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Tell the truth, are those sexy times scenes as fun to write as they are to read?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course! Sometimes it can be difficult, I won’t lie. But it’s always fun. So a lot like real sexy times! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Antarctica is cold and bleak. Why choose such a harsh local to set your story?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Precisely because it’s harsh. Actually, this all started with a dream of a woman finding a man in the middle of the ice. Where did he come from? Why was he there? What was his story? The whole novel developed from those basic questions, and so Antarctica was always critical to the project. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Charlie is a tough cookie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why make her a soldier? Did either of you have any personal military experience?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">When we came up with the back story of why the rift would need to be guarded, we knew we needed to make the team military to mirror their roots. That allowed us to give our characters the skill sets they needed to survive in such a climate as well as make sure the job got done. Also, there’s a sense of self-sacrifice that comes along with the military, that belief that what you’re doing matters and you’ll do whatever it takes to save the people you’re protecting. That was core to what we wanted these people to be. Neither one of us has direct military experience, though Vivien has multiple people within her family who have served/still serve.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much research did you guys have to do, if any, before writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Line in the Ice</i> ?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">A lot! There was the military aspect, which we wanted to get right, as well as learning as much as we could about physiology so that we could create creatures that would survive exposure to such cold elements. We had the Shakespeare covered, thanks to Pepper, but we both had to brush up on our WWI history to make sure it all meshed well together.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) What can we expect from you guys next?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">The final book in our Silver Maiden series will be released by Carina in September--Revealing Silver. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Where can fans follow and connect with you?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Our website is <a href="http://www.jamie-craig.com/">http://www.jamie-craig.com/</a>, and we’re on both Twitter (@jamiecraig) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Craig)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q) Lastly, for fun, if <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Line in the Ice</i> was being made into a major motion picture, who would you cast for Charlie and Lysander? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hmm good question! Even though Colin Farrell doesn’t really look like how we envisioned Lysander, we think he’d be great for the role. He can be the charming, romantic lead and then go kick some major ass. </div><div class="MsoNormal">As for Charlie, think Scarlett Johansson in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iron Man 2</i>. The look is perfect, but as an actress, she has tremendous range. She can sell both tough and vulnerable, which is what makes Charlie who she is.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tour Notes</strong>:</div><div class="MsoNormal">Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/a-line-in-the-ice/">the official <em>Line in the Ice</em> blog tour page</a> and scrolling all the way to the bottom.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>Learn more about this author duo by visiting their <a href="http://www.jamie-craig.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://www.jamie-craig.com/blog.html">blog</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Craig/207483922604290">Facebook </a>or <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11465726-a-line-in-the-ice">GoodReads </a>pages or by connecting with them on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jamiecraig">Twitter</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-38093267905892551552011-08-18T07:00:00.001-04:002011-08-18T07:00:15.092-04:00Don't over extend yourself!Facebook.<br />
Twitter.<br />
Goodreads.<br />
Google +.<br />
LinkedIn.<br />
MySpace. (welllll maybe scratch this last one...)<br />
<br />
There are tons social networking sites out there for you to get involved in and use to help promote your work. The problem with having so many is that you can over extend yourself and spend all your time promoting and making connections and none of it writing! The other problem is that when these sites keep popping up, it takes a good amount of time to sit down and learn how the site works and how best to utilize it for your own purposes. Yet another thing to take away from important prime writing and/or editing time.<br />
<br />
My suggestion is to pick one network to focus on at a time. Make your mark, build your friend-base and figure out how to promote yourself without it taking all your time and effort. Once you have that one down pat, you can move on and try to add another, but remember, better to just stick with a few rather than spending all your time navigating the social webs.<br />
<br />
Another thing to be careful of is spreading yourself too thin offering to help with others. I'm all for lending a hand either with beta reading, editing or reviewing, but be honest with yourself when offering to do these things. Make sure you have enough time to help them and still be able to work on your own projects. If you make too many commitments you may find yourself under a lot of extra stress trying to get them all done on time and your own writing is pushed to the back burner. That's no good!<br />
<br />
Do yourself a favor and utilize things like the Google Calender to show what you're working on and when things are due. That way you can refer to it next time someone asks for help and make sure you don't have three or four other projects due at that time.<br />
<br />
I understand as an author, especially a self published one, you have to wear many hats which is time consuming and important to your sales, but remember, if there's no writing being done, there are no books to sell. Prioritize, people and don't take on more than you can handle, your stomach lacking in ulcers, full nights of sleep not filled with stress filled tossing and turning and a head lacking in aches will thank you later.<br />
<br />
MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-57158595774924712452011-08-16T06:30:00.001-04:002011-08-16T06:39:47.349-04:00Please don't feed the trollsRecently, an aspiring author friend of mine started putting up chapters of his story <a href="http://shikiharu.blogspot.com/p/coming-soon.html">Heart of Winter</a> on his blog/Facebook page and someone came along and anonymously posted a comment about how he should stick to his day job, yadda yadda yadda. While it being totally untrue (I've read his first novel. It's GOOD!) it's also ridiculous and quite cowardly in my opinion.<br />
<br />
Since this is the internet, trolls are pretty common. People feel brave hiding behind a monitor I suppose. Many will say people troll because they're jealous and that might very well be true, but I think some people are just down right mean. They have miserable lives and feel like they have to spread that misery. Damn bullies are everywhere. Even on the internet.<br />
<br />
If you really don't like something, far be it from me to tell you not to comment, but be an adult about it. Don't be cowardly and post as anonymous. Back up your position. Did you find a bunch of typos? Is my grammar poor? Are my characters one dimensional? Do I have plot holes big enough to drive a Mac Truck through? To just say "You suck" tells me you're just jealous and/or mean.<br />
<br />
If you've got problems with a troll, don't feed them more ammo. To argue back is what most of them want. They want to debate and keep reminding you how much they think you "suck". You can do one of two things; either ignore them completely or I find jokingly agreeing with them and refusing to get angry works for me.<br />
<br />
Them: You suck!<br />
Me: I KNOW RIGHT?! It's amazing that they still allow me space on the interwebs!<br />
Them: uhh yeah, uhh you are..umm yeah...you SUCK!<br />
Me: Totally! I can suck a battery through a garden hose!...oh wait, is that not what you meant?<br />
Them: ....YOU'RE NO FUN!<br />
Me: I know<br />
Them: *logs off*<br />
<br />
Like the occasion bad review, you're probably going to get a troll here and there. Don't let it get to you and don't take it personally. Let their comments roll off your back and move on. Like all bullies, they'll get bored and soon crawl back under their bridges to wait for another goat who tries to cross.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-63099394624924832732011-08-12T16:48:00.001-04:002011-08-12T16:50:25.065-04:00Want to be included?We interrupt your Friday afternoon countdown to bring you a contest of sorts. A morbid kind of contest that is. It's not even really a contest (unless I get some crazy out pouring of interested people).<br />
<br />
Here's the deal. I spoke with my cover illustrator/designer today and we discussed some ideas for the back cover. Now you're thinking, "Hey, aren't you releasing an e-book? Why do you need a back cover at all?" I decided that in addition to the e-book, I'm going to offer a paperback version using POD (print on demand), therefore, a back cover will be needed. Since I will have what I know will be a beautiful piece of art, I will also add it in the back pages of the e-book after the author bio and pic. This way everyone can see it if they click far enough.<br />
<br />
One of the ideas we came up with was an image of "the book". The book is this horrible little record of all the lives our Angel of Death has taken. It lists the person's name and cause of death. I am going to recreate the book to take a photograph of it and then my designer extraordinaire will work her magic and add it to the back cover, under the box with the summary.<br />
<br />
While I can certainly make up all the names and causes of their demise, I thought it'd be fun to get others involved. This is where you guys come in. Should you be interested in gracing the back cover of <i>Near Death</i> I will need you to leave your name and cause of death in the comments below (I told you it was kind of morbid). If you want to use first and middle initials and then your last name (so your whole name isn't out there for the world to see) that would be perfectly acceptable. As far as the cause of death goes, I'm looking for some creativity, but remember:<br />
<br />
<b>1) this takes place in North America so you won't get too many folks being mauled by angry (hipster) koalas </b><br />
<b>2) it needs to fit on the line!</b><br />
<br />
If you really want to participate but are leery about putting your name out, say so in the comments. Not all the names will be seen and not all the causes of death will be seen. Below is something I whipped together quickly to give you an idea of what the back will kind of look like.As you can see, the summary text will be blocking out parts of the picture, so I will work your information into the areas where the whole name won't be seen. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing your name is on there without having to worry about people trying to hunt you down or steal your identity or whatnot.<br />
<br />
So if you want to join in the fun and be included, remember I need your name and cause of death left in the comments of this post. You have until Monday August 15th to get it in!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVptFfV92PCRzI3De4qQPfLL_DSQN-Vtt9_xk6VmIPAhe3ypeBF3eZKXGoyw7rv1xUr0grY9tAFXcnX5GzLkNR7m8HcBVFSwH7soS7D0EaEADqmDaCw9z3AbtoJJeUSiRL3oESi-x7uRy/s1600/back+cover+sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVptFfV92PCRzI3De4qQPfLL_DSQN-Vtt9_xk6VmIPAhe3ypeBF3eZKXGoyw7rv1xUr0grY9tAFXcnX5GzLkNR7m8HcBVFSwH7soS7D0EaEADqmDaCw9z3AbtoJJeUSiRL3oESi-x7uRy/s400/back+cover+sample.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-16882939237497957002011-08-11T07:00:00.001-04:002011-08-11T07:00:12.880-04:00The self publisher's querySo, you think that by self publishing you get out of that dreaded query writing task, huh? Sorry to disappoint, but that's not exactly true.<br />
<br />
Being self published means you're not selling yourself (or should I say your work, as we're not prostitutes) to an agent, but to your audience. This is where the self publisher's version of a query comes into play, although it's referred to as back cover copy or a summary. Some people call it a blurb (which I also thought it to be, but it seems blurb stands more for the quotes and praise from other authors or publications that have read an ARC* of the book).<br />
<br />
In a query you have to catch the agent's attention, first with the appealing summary and then by going into a little more detail about the genre of the book, how long it is and perhaps some information on your writing background and your other publications.<br />
<br />
For the self publisher, most people won't even buy a print copy and opt for an e-book version. That means your summary is going to be front and center on your book's Amazon or Smashword page (or wherever you're selling your books). The cover art will probably be the first thing to draw prospective readers in, but once they click on it to get a better look, your hook, that first line, had better be something amazing. Something to make that browser stop and read further, rather than click along to the next book. You have to engage your reader as the query would an agent, otherwise you won't be selling very many books.<br />
<br />
Now lean in close so I can tell you a secret. A little closer. I promise I showered AND brushed my teeth today. <i>Ahh perfect</i>. Here goes. WRITING A SUMMARY IS FREAKING HARD! <br />
<br />
Back in January of this year I talked about how writing a query letter was not an easy task, well this is the same damn thing! You have to condense your thousands of words into a mere couple of hundred that will intrigue and excite perspective buyers. You can't give everything away (it's not a synopsis) and you can't be too vague. There has to be a happy medium and I'm telling you, it's not simple. I've written at least a dozen for <i>Near Death</i>, sometimes tweaking things other times doing total re-writes.<br />
<br />
You cannot do a half-assed job. It has to be as perfect as you can get it. You can have people review your books and recommend them to others, but even a glowing recommendation is not going to sell many books if the author can't explain to their audience what the book is about. Treat it like any other part of your manuscript. Edit it, ask others to read it, edit it again. I promise you, it will be beneficial to you and your book sales.<br />
<br />
Now go get on that, because it's going to be a struggle and you will want to leave enough time before taking your author photo for the hair you rip out during the process to grow back.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*for those not in the know, ARC stands for Advanced Reading Copy</span>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-9718991959530476102011-08-09T07:00:00.004-04:002011-08-09T07:00:05.503-04:00Should you censor yourself?The lovely <a href="http://www.johannaharness.com/">Johanna Harness</a> recently pointed me to a blog post by author <a href="http://www.staciakane.net/2011/01/24/being-published-changes-everything/">Stacia Kane</a> who talks about how being published changes everything. It's a very interesting read and I suggest you check it out, but it got me wondering if the same concerns apply to self published authors as much as they do traditional ones.<br />
<br />
Stacia talks about how if someone has posted a negative review about one of her books and her agent went on to sign that person, she would be hurt and upset and less likely to contribute a comment for their book or help them in other ways. I can understand that and although everyone's entitled to an opinion, if you're looking to get signed by an agent, perhaps you need to keep those opinions under wraps.<br />
<br />
When it comes to someone who is self publishing, I'm not sure it's as necessary. That's NOT to say you should be going around giving nasty reviews. Not at all, even if you hated the book. As previously discussed, you should be able to point out the good stuff along with the constructive criticisms.<br />
<br />
While no one wants to make enemies, I think it's important to be honest if you're going to review. I very much dislike the trend I hear going on in self publishing circles about some authors and friends giving nothing but five star reviews, even if they haven't read the book, just for the marketing/publicity of it all (I will blog more about this in detail at a later date). What happens when someone buys the book and sees it's not even close to 5 star material? That's disappointing and a turn off and they may very well not purchase anymore books from that author.<br />
<br />
In the world of self publishing, where authors lack agents, and often editors, to tell them if things should be cut or rearranged, etc., I think reviews by other writers are helpful. We obviously know what goes into the process of writing and publishing a book and personally, I'd rather bring something up that will help the author better hone their craft, then pretend everything about the book was fab. Might this make me some enemies? Maybe. Might it make people take my words the wrong way? It's possible. Might it get used against me in the future? Who knows, but I would rather be known for my honesty and if that's going to come back and bite me in the ass, so be it.<br />
<br />
With Twitter and Facebook and all the other social networking sites where we're building our fan bases, I certainly think you ought to be cautious with the things you say. You don't want to come off as unprofessional or nasty in anyway, but that doesn't mean you can't be yourself. I know I mention her often, but author <a href="http://hannahmosk.blogspot.com/">Hannah Moskowitz</a> always comes off as very real to me in her blog posts and Twitter feed. I also follow her reviews on Goodreads and she's honest there too. I respect that.<br />
<br />
As posted before, you can't please everyone all of the time. Even if you're being honest and "nice" about things, there are still going to be people who won't like you, who don't agree and who may come back and argue with you over things. People are different and have different opinions. It's bound to happen, but remember there are times when it's better if you bite your tongue (or tie up your fingers as we're not normally speaking out loud to these folks) or step away from the conversation completely. While you have a right to your opinions you need to remember that you are also trying to network and make connections and you need to be professional while doing so. Sometimes it's just not worth the possible backlash.<br />
<br />
It's said that even bad publicity is good publicity, but do you really want to be known as the nasty unprofessional author? Probably not. I don't really think that will help you sell books or endear you to your fellow authors. Make sure you stop down and use your brain; use common sense and think before hitting that send or publish post button. Remember things linger on the internet and could come back to haunt you.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-77714255951392639782011-08-04T07:39:00.001-04:002011-08-04T07:43:08.149-04:00Books Read in 2011 - JulyNot a big reading month this month. 1) busy busy writing! 2) A Dance with Dragons took me longer than I expected. Monster of a book! Also, I'm up to just shy of 100 books for the year so far at a count of 98. Woo!<br />
<br />
Anyhow, here's the list and ratings! As always, if you have questions or comments on anything, please feel free to ask!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Rating system:</div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 347.4pt;" valign="top" width="463"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Outstanding. You need to run out & get this NOW!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 347.4pt;" valign="top" width="463"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Great!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 347.4pt;" valign="top" width="463"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Good.</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaqe_zIxyOJx_kavnnmYB73-TP3ZtSQOri44g61jEzZV2EL8PZtvX42yySCRHd15AZEYg5wZhFAsfXAFFKF5dLpiGvJEh4X_Rd3snlsM2MkpcwM0AICLqP41Cj33FL8TE8E01sWz6YlR0/s1600/bomb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaqe_zIxyOJx_kavnnmYB73-TP3ZtSQOri44g61jEzZV2EL8PZtvX42yySCRHd15AZEYg5wZhFAsfXAFFKF5dLpiGvJEh4X_Rd3snlsM2MkpcwM0AICLqP41Cj33FL8TE8E01sWz6YlR0/s1600/bomb.gif" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 347.4pt;" valign="top" width="463"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Meh. I was not much of a fan.</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 131.4pt;" valign="top" width="175"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRMMB_yf8TAQp8jDRr2DgCl3g12kg9DzBsnaL5A3cPnssw0peeN_zW2_k1AX6drrrryLLXEVphFBPxGjpQQOhbzXNQOVhr6yyycosoyWyhkE7Bj-wgXKcjKWgpAg0A-hocJh4EwWoI1u/s1600/22-skull-n-crossbones.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcRMMB_yf8TAQp8jDRr2DgCl3g12kg9DzBsnaL5A3cPnssw0peeN_zW2_k1AX6drrrryLLXEVphFBPxGjpQQOhbzXNQOVhr6yyycosoyWyhkE7Bj-wgXKcjKWgpAg0A-hocJh4EwWoI1u/s1600/22-skull-n-crossbones.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 347.4pt;" valign="top" width="463"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Under no circumstances should you waste your time with this.</div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">July</b></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Title</b></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Author</b></div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rating</b></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Out of Time</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Monique Martin</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Karma</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Cathy Ostlere</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Leaving Paradise (re-read)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Simone Elkeles</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Forever</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Maggie Stiefvater</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-mTEtopTpqGesqFfax_gTM2Ckc_9kZT3FQO7sjQYVbsV8dp5KnQ0OWn-At5GQn-f4t_lLSKthRBsFwgChJDLuoDYIiCBjC6SRO507HrZtQC9rahbgeNZy3uKK9Q29X14kx215H3mTD1T/s1600/triple+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">A Dance with Dragons</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- George RR Martin</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Beautiful Disaster</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Jaime McGuire</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Girl in the Steel Corset</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Kady Cross</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Being Human (beta read)</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Patricia Lynne</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH6DVdUvJu6AX4T_6ISpaMkTUSw6mcrkpxU1mn0ZHG40nbxsD4ighe5IOM0NX-NjRQ3lZnFPofPfESUYvYGKF4hug_E2hsiEpjW0f6lmSN-syqFn3aqDv2Y9LDvvHcAGk6yhjLsvo6s5j/s1600/double+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Specials</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">- Scott Westerfeld</i></div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 159.6pt;" valign="top" width="213"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7M0KyPoLnrU99O7gLhbW4YTb4bHiuGxrtC2ahbePZGnHUy4LGjgxX0QJhJmWRKHHT_a5InSqi1R91lDdFRQx4GvrcHUSNRDrcrrEo_RXiur6cl2SOnf2G8dPCxc4yWwgn5TeRIuOKGf/s1600/single+smiley.jpg" /></a></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-3175993849410696522011-08-02T07:00:00.002-04:002011-08-02T07:00:11.037-04:00Are authors celebrities?If your favorite author was walking down the road, would you recognize him or her? I'm not sure I would. Maybe Stephen King, but even then I doubt I'd be sure enough to walk up to him and ask. So, a great many authors are household names, on the NYT Best Seller list, etc. but most of us have no idea what they look like. You don't see them in tabloid magazines (for the most part), nor do they really come up on those celebrity gossip shows like TMZ. So are they really celebrities? I certainly think so. It's just a different kind of celebrity. A quiet kind.<br />
<br />
To me, authors are my rock stars. To talk with them on Twitter and whatnot gives me that fan girl kind of thrill, but personally, I'm not a crazed obsessed kind of fan over anyone; author, actor, musician, etc. I think the internet, with Twitter and message boards and author webpages, etc., lets the readers and fans get to better know their favorite authors. They get to interact with them and learn some of the more mundane things that people seem to want to know about celebrities: favorite colors, what kind of music they like, if they're married with families, etc. Who knows what will come of it. I have seen some fan obsession on different forums already (aren't we all glad panties can't be thrown at us through the internet? ^_^).<br />
<br />
Maybe sometime soon, well known authors will be getting more recognition in the streets. I'm a pretty private person, but I have to admit that I would definitely get some kind of thrill from being recognized in the mall by a random fan. I would never want it to become some crushing mob of screaming fans though (and I don't really foresee that happening for authors), nor do I want someone standing outside my house snapping pictures of me haul out garbage in my pjs. That's just scary folks and not in any way news worthy.<br />
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One thing I noticed lately that could be keeping authors from finding celebrity (besides those that are self publishing and not editing first...) is that e-books seem to lack a picture of the author! There might be the little blurb about who they are and what their background is, but there's no accompanying image anymore. While I kind of hate pictures of myself, I decided I'm still going to add one with my book bios. Maybe some super fan will memorize my mug and corner me on the street for an autograph someday! I think I'd like that.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-61620416291328404342011-07-28T07:00:00.002-04:002011-07-28T07:12:01.310-04:00Book Review - The Peace Corpse: Misadventures in Love and Africa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBcWajJyCjMuNFgZXTb-iiqifdiYuwz3FVInI-CHXeG_lUg_UXxRp2BahEtGp0BrsRgilnuvK_tClKUc_Exjit_OgCra9LY-a8hiW9BIQiWopAWtZNRfkQbpfUBBhwHeK79Kw4f3SWM_4/s1600/cover15+-+text+blended+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBcWajJyCjMuNFgZXTb-iiqifdiYuwz3FVInI-CHXeG_lUg_UXxRp2BahEtGp0BrsRgilnuvK_tClKUc_Exjit_OgCra9LY-a8hiW9BIQiWopAWtZNRfkQbpfUBBhwHeK79Kw4f3SWM_4/s200/cover15+-+text+blended+copy.jpg" width="125" /></a>Today's Q. & A. is something a little different for me, a memoir! It's about author <span style="background-color: yellow;">Andy Christofferson</span>'s two year journey in Tanzania, Africa volunteering with the Peace Corps.<br />
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<b>Amazon Synopsis/Description:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mizit8tLm-rfUanOey2Th1YTzwVRygX5u72pvcerf7s5bX3P6Y58ounreIfAEFiVZMqcjyplxGBELOzE1o8SfFnNoVvrKSSUdmhW4MAJmKwCCs3X-qFLy4aPLRugH50jiBIl2IV9dd4c/s1600/Andy+Christofferson+%2528author+photo-3in%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mizit8tLm-rfUanOey2Th1YTzwVRygX5u72pvcerf7s5bX3P6Y58ounreIfAEFiVZMqcjyplxGBELOzE1o8SfFnNoVvrKSSUdmhW4MAJmKwCCs3X-qFLy4aPLRugH50jiBIl2IV9dd4c/s200/Andy+Christofferson+%2528author+photo-3in%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><b> </b>I may very well be the only Peace Corps Volunteer in the history of the organization to sincerely, foolishly, and romantically propose marriage to a local girl...and have her say no.<br />
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In addition to my failed romance, I taught advanced chemistry at an all-girls school, kayaked my way into Zimbabwe, and learned just how little water a human being can survive on. I also once woke up completely covered with ants. <br />
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My goal with this work is to give a very raw, straightforward, analytical - but also humorous - picture of both what a typical Peace Corps experience is like, as well as offer some insight into the current conditions of life in East Africa, going beyond the superficial mentality of "look at the stupid things those crazy Africans do" and trying to explain why they do the things that to us, from our Western perspective, seem strange. Because there is a reason.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Personal reaction:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> <span style="background-color: yellow;">The Peace Corpse: Misadventures in Love and Africa</span></i> was a really interesting read about a Montana boy's journey to Tanzania for a 2 yr stint with the Peace Corps. Honest, interesting, educational and entertaining. Written in a familiar conversational style. Although the book was largely written after his "tour" was over, original emails that were sent to friends and family at the time pepper the book to lend authenticity along with amusing quotes from the author and others he met on his journey. <br />
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If you've ever been curious as to what goes on the Peace Corps, this memoir gives the reader a good, detailed idea of one man's journey.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Questions:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: Is this the first book you’ve written?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Technically no. That would be a high fantasy novella I wrote when I was 16—which of course has not been read by anyone but me. This is, however, the first book I’ve written that I’ve been foolish and egotistical enough to put out there for other people to see.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: What prompted you to write about this experience?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ants. Also, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about both the Peace Corps and about Africa in general. My goal with this book was to help people understand more about the nature of the organization and the experience a Volunteer goes through during their service. In addition I wanted to explain a little about the culture of East Africa and try and look at the reasons people did things that to us often seemed illogical or counterintuitive.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But I use lots of humor to keep it interesting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: It was a very honest retelling. Did you ever consider leaving out some of the more…embarrassing parts?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">No, not really. One thing I observed in Tanzania was that so many problems were caused by secrecy, by people who withheld or covered up the truth. It bothered me a lot, and it seemed to me that I would be defeating the purpose of everything I was trying to do if I withheld information or left anything out. Also, I apparently have no shame.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: What’s the one thing you want your readers to come away with after reading your memoir?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">A greater understanding of the problems facing Africa. The entire continent is going to be dealing with complicated issues for many years to come, and as much as I love to joke around, this is something I do take seriously. I don’t think trying to look at the problem from a solely Western perspective is going to give us the answers we need, and if I can do even a little to help people see things from an African angle, I can feel like I’ve accomplished something.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: If you could have changed any one thing about your experience in Tanzania, what would it have been?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">If I said that here I’d be giving too much away. So I’ll settle for the number two choice: getting dysentery.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: What prompted you to make the “Stan” character?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Everything that “Stan” says or does in the book was said or done by a real person, but it seemed needlessly distracting to introduce each one as an individual if they had no further role in the narrative. Thus “Stan” is a “stand-in” for all the people who crossed my path, said or did one or two funny or interesting things, then went on their way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: Who are your writing influences? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, and Jose Cuervo. For humor I look to Dave Barry, Patrick F. McManus, and Scott Adams, but for more serious stuff Hemingway, D.H. Lawrence, and Somerset Maugham.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: Did you read a lot of other memoirs before deciding to write your own?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">No, should I have? Well, yeah, I guess I probably should’ve. To be honest I never intended to write a memoir when I started out, but I wanted to include some events that really occurred and I realized that unless I specifically stated that it was non-fiction, some of the things that actually happened to me would just seem contrived and poor plotting if they were to appear in a work of fiction by a novice writer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: What can we expect from you next?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace Corpse: The Musical</i>. I’m also releasing a collection of short stories in the beginning of August, entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bits of Paper</i>—which is kind of ironic since it’s an ebook.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q. Where can fans contact you and where can they purchase the book?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I would love to be contacted through my fake publishing company, <a href="http://vizproductions.blogspot.com/" title="my lovely blog"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Videlicet Productions</i></a>, because that page could use some more hits. The book is available as an ebook or paperback through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZXWOOI" title="The Peace Corpse on Amazon">Amazon</a>, and in a variety of electronic formats at <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/58512" title="The Peace Corpse on Smashwords">Smashwords</a>. I also have a blog specifically dedicated to the book, with lot of pictures and funny quotes, <a href="http://thepeacecorpse.blogspot.com/" title="Peace Corpse: The Blog">here</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Q: Lastly, for fun, if they made a movie out of The Peace Corpse, who would you want to play you and why?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Orlando Bloom. Not just for the uncanny likeness, but also because they’d have to use expensive CGI to make him look 22 years old, virtually guaranteeing that the movie wouldn’t be a financial success. Then, 30 years from now, future hipsters can talk about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peace Corpse: The Movie</i> as the greatest underrated film of all time, “but you probably haven’t heard of it.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b> </b> </div>MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-10365562825928131052011-07-26T07:00:00.000-04:002011-07-26T07:00:07.142-04:00What prompts you to buy an ebook?Being that I am most likely going to be self publishing some of my work, I'm curious as to what draws a reader to a specific ebook.<br />
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Is it recommendations from others? Flipping through Goodreads or posts by book bloggers? Personally, recommendations hold a lot of weight for me. Especially when I know the person enjoys similar books as I do.<br />
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How much do the covers fit into your decision? When I browse in a store, it's definitely the jacket/cover that catch my eye and make me want to pick it up. With cover images for ebooks being a thumbnail, they definitely don't catch my attention as much. If I do click on it and find that the cover art is obviously not professional, I admit it could turn me off. (yeah yeah I know, don't judge a book by its cover)<br />
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What about price? With so many people self publishing these days, there are tons of books out there ranging between $0.99 cents and $3.99. Are you willing to take a chance on those more unknown authors because of the cost or do you see $0.99 cents and automatically think "Oh...self published, I bet it hasn't been edited and isn't any good"? Be honest now. I won't get mad. I'm just honestly curious as to what goes through people's heads. Since we're being honest, I'll say that the $0.99 cent ones will give me pause, especially if there are no reviews accompanying it. If the synopsis is intriguing enough, I'll pick it up. After all, even though I've gotten some "bad" books for a buck, I haven't gotten anything totally awful and it helps me look for things not to do in my own work.<br />
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Is it the self promotion that piques your interest? Reading an excerpt on a blog or seeing the author tweet about it? Does it annoy you to see someone tweet constantly about their books for sale? How much is too much? If the author is running contests for a free copy or swag, will that prompt you to check it out even if you don't win?<br />
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So faithful readers and fellow writers, educate me. What makes you stop and hit that 1-click button or whatever you use to purchase your ebooks? Have I missed something here? What will draw you to my work when it's available?MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-58313255924743022282011-07-21T07:00:00.008-04:002011-07-21T07:00:01.487-04:00How to be a good beta readerIf you're an author and have other writing friends, chances are you'll be asked to do beta reading for some of them. I have to admit, it's pretty cool to be one of the first people to read someone's work. It's kind of brag worthy, ya know? Especially when that person becomes all famous! Heh<br />
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In my opinion, there are two kinds of beta readers. The first type is someone who strictly reads the story. They let the author know about things like plot holes, unanswered questions and unbelievable dialog. Two dimensional characters and other continuity problems are something else readers can inform the author of and of course whether or not they enjoyed the story.<br />
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The second kind of beta reader does a little more in depth job. This tends to be the kind of beta reading I do. I will take their manuscript into word and put on the track changes and comments features. As I read, I'll make changes or suggestions on word order, whether or not dialog tags are needed and if things make sense, along with the other things a reader would point out (stated in the paragraph above). For example, I recently read the first eight chapters of a friend's work in progress. It was a great story so far, but it's written in first person and her main character is blind. I went through and made comments in spots where the main character wouldn't know certain things because he can't see. This way obviously takes more time and a closer look into the manuscript, which brings me to the next point.<br />
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If you offer to be someone's beta reader, find out what kind of timeline they are looking for. If you know you're going to be very busy with other projects, don't offer to read unless they don't care when it comes back to them. While I'm sure they understand these things take time, they also have to know when they're going to be able to move ahead with the project and possibly make changes based on your suggestions and comments.<br />
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Above all, be honest with your author. If the opening line doesn't catch your attention, say so. If the formatting is funky, making it hard to read, let them know. Perhaps a chapter would work better if it was moved to a different part of the story. Maybe there's a character who doesn't seem to work well with the plot. It may not be easy to let someone know their writing needs a little polishing, but they will more than likely thank you in the long run.<br />
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Finally, remember being a beta reader isn't just about finding "problems". Let the author know what you did like as well! I love to leave little comments about comical lines and things that made my eyes go wide ("People don't eat horseys!"). They want to know if you enjoyed the story and I think the little comments help them know if they've hit the mark they were hoping to. As someone who writes humor, I'm always worried readers won't get my jokes. It's nice to see when they do!<br />
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It may seem like a daunting task to be someone's beta reader, but think about the great service you're providing them with and that you get to read the story before the masses. You can further help the author by rating and reviewing their book later on Amazon and Goodreads before it's available to the public, which will help generate interest in their work.<br />
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Happy beta reading!MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-54673689012079874712011-07-19T07:00:00.000-04:002011-07-19T07:00:06.626-04:00Paying it forward - part twoI heard a lot of good feedback from last week's post about paying it forward and decided to add a second post to continue to help you help others while also building up that good karma reserve. This is something that both writers and readers can and should be doing. It's the review.<br />
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For those of you who have been following for a while, you know I don't write a typical review. I believe the synopsis is there to let prospective readers know what the book is about. The review should let others know what you thought of the book. Did you like it? Why? Did you want to throw it across the room? How come? (but be careful not to give away important plot info!) Was it a familiar story? Were the characters believable? etc.<br />
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It's a very nice gesture for you, as a fellow writer or reader, to put these reviews on your blog and then promote the blog, but be sure to also go to places like Amazon and Goodreads and rate the book there as well. This is especially helpful for the self published authors who probably don't have a print book available in stores.<br />
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Now, some of you might be scratching your head asking "Goodreads? What the heck is Goodreads and why bother rating a book there?" <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">Goodreads</a> is a community; a social network of writers (both traditionally and self published) and readers. You can become a fan of and follow your favorite authors and make friends with other readers who have similar tastes in literature as you do. It's a fantastic place for book recommendations and to see when new books in a series or from your favorite author are due out. As you make friends, every time they finish and rate a book, or put a book on their to read shelf, you will get it in a daily email. This, my friends, is how I find 95% of the books I read. If I see a friend has read something and rated it 4 or 5 stars, it piques my interest and drives me to go see what it's all about. I am more likely to look into it if they write why they gave it such a rating, but sometimes if the stars are there and the title catches my eye, I'll check it out. I almost always will go to Amazon after checking out the book on Goodreads and read over the reviews there as well. <br />
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Here's another thing gang. Your reviews? Be honest with them. While I can't speak for other writers, I would rather have a reader tell me if they truly didn't enjoy the book or didn't like a specific aspect of it. That doesn't mean you have to be nasty about it, but how am I to improve and win you back as a reader if you don't tell me what sucked? OK, sucked is a strong word that hopefully none of you will ever use towards my writing, but I'm prepared for anything! As stated before, you can't please everyone, so I'm sure there will be unhappy reviews. I would almost prefer bad reviews to no reviews at all...Almost, but not quite. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hey! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">At least I'm honest about it!</span><br />
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So what's your task going forward? You're going to try and remember to rate and review the books you read, good and bad. Authors will appreciate knowing what you thought and where they might look to improve. Readers will appreciate knowing what others thought before spending their hard earned money on it. You will be doing a lot of people a service and hopefully, if you're an author, they will do the same for you in kind. So get out there and pay it forward some more people! It certainly couldn't hurt.MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7516172863710781538.post-71217339082718525922011-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:002011-07-14T07:00:00.451-04:00Paying it forwardI've discussed before the wonders of Twitter as a social networking site. I've made a lot of friends, both aspiring authors and other people involved in the industry. They are very supportive, giving advice and passing along my Tweets, etc. That's why I'm really making a conscious effort to try and pay it forward. Twitter makes it easy to help you support your fellow writers. Here are a few ways you can say thanks to your followers as well as promoting them.<br />
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<b>#ww </b>The hash tag #ww stands for worth watching and also Writer(s) Wednesday. What better a day to share with your followers the Twitter names of some of your fellow writers that are worth watching? It's up to you whether you want to send out one #ww Tweet or several through out the day adding in different names.<br />
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<b>#ff</b> The #ff hash tag is very similar to #ww except that it stands for Follow Friday. Because it's not writing specific, you can use it to recommend anyone you follow, but it's a nice way to share with others those you find especially amusing, entertaining or informative.<br />
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With both of those hash tags, you can individualize them for people and go into detail on why others should pay attention and/or follow them. For example:<br />
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You should #ff @patricialynne07 because she's got an amazing vampire book coming out soon!<br />
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It's #ff and you need to follow @shiki_boy because he writes sex scenes that will make smoke come out of your ears!<br />
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Besides the hash tags, there's also Retweeting. If you're unfamiliar with the term, it's similar to forwarding an email. There's that special little button on Twitter you hit and it displays the same message with a RE: in front so you can send it out to all your followers allowing more people to see the message. It could be something funny or profound, or if could be someone's blog post you especially liked or maybe the announcement of their book being available. You obviously don't have to Retweet everything, but it's a nice way to help people get the word out about events, news, etc.<br />
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If you're still looking for ways to say thanks and help other authors, there are several non-Twitter related things you can do. If you run a blog like this one, you can offer to review someone's book. You can have them guest post or even do little interviews with them. It's highly likely that you do not run in the same exact circles as the other person so you will be helping them to possibly expand their fan base and make new friends.<br />
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You can also offer to help if they're looking for beta readers. Then when they're ready to publish, you can leave reviews on Amazon or Goodreads or other places their book is being sold. I think people are more likely to give a book a chance if they see others have read and reviewed it.<br />
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Writers seem to be a close knit community and many have gone out of their way to lend me their knowledge or leave me a comment or Retweet my posts, so I'm happy to return the favor and do the same for others, whether or not they have helped me. I think it's good to keep the karma level on the good side. Be sure to thank your friends and fans as well. Remember what they say, turn about is fair play!MBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17325522661963443320noreply@blogger.com10