A Quiz: Will you like traditional or self-published books?
What kind of reader are you?
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The Footloose Killer
By Michelle Johnson
Genre: Mystery, Law Enforcement
Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/the-footloose-killer-by-michelle-johnson/
Synopsis:
When another dismembered foot washes up along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, the VBPD is stumped. It’s the eighth year in a row, always just as the frenzied tourist season starts. And for the eighth year in a row, there is no body, and there are no suspects. Continue reading
IWU Blog Tour Guest Interview: Olivia Hardin
This September I was privileged to join in the IWU Blog tour! (Yes, it’s technically October now, but you know how it is.) Please welcome Olivia Hardin.
Author Olivia Hardin
Olivia Hardin realized early on how strange she was to have complete movie-like character dreams as a child. Eventually she began putting those vivid dreams to paper and was rarely without her spiral notebooks full of those mental ramblings. Her forgotten vision of becoming an author was realized when she connected with a group of amazingly talented and fabulous writers who gave her lots of direction and encouragement. With a little extra push from family and friends, she hunkered down to get lost in the words. She’s also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and is sometimes accused of being artistic, though she’s generally too much of a perfectionist to appreciate her own work. A native Texas girl from Port Arthur, Olivia still lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband Danny and their puppy Bonnie. Continue reading
Are Self-published Books a Good Choice for Readers?
When you look for a book, do you want something popular? Do you want to read all the latest and coolest stories? Or do you want something that pushes the boundaries?
If you translated your buying experience with SP (self-published books) versus TP (traditionally-published books), you might say that TP books are like major brands purchased at a national chain store, such as Cheerios. Conversely, SP books are like a farmer’s market bag of organic rolled oats. Both have their benefits and their drawbacks. Which cereal would you choose?
There are several things to consider when choosing whether to pick a TP book or go indie: Continue reading
Examiner!
I’ve been accepted as the Seattle Writing Examiner! Here is my very first article: http://www.examiner.com/article/preconceptions-about-self-publishing-and-promotion
I’d really appreciate it if you’d check it out and maybe even subscribe to it! I’ll get credit for every view and I’d love to get established writing for Examiner.
If I Became a Zombie I’d Moan, “Booookkkssss”
I’d be a terrible zombie because I wouldn’t get any juicy brains, just books.
Yes, I have another book forming! This is the second book in The Convergence series. Yes, I haven’t even released the first book, Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic, but I’ve started the second! It’s called, “Sorcery Loves Company“.
The question now is, which book will I finish first: Sorcery Loves Company or The Stray? It’s really a toss-up because it will depend on which inspires me first.
Hey! If you reply to this post with your guess as to which I finish first and you’re right, I’ll send you a free print copy when it’s released!
Writing Effective Posts
I’ve been learning a few things to include in posts that have really helped make my posts more interesting and get more views. They’re pretty easy to do and help turn an interesting post into a big success!
- Include pictures! I’ve been using http://www.sxc.hu/ to find photos. I grab the url directly from the page to cut down on storage for my blog. Be sure that the pictures you use are licensed or else you might have problems. Stock.Xchng has several types of photos, and some require that you notify or ask permission from the artist for any public work.
- Add links. Chances are that someone else has written a post about your subject or something like it. Adding links to their post (especially if you quote them) brings them in on the topic and increases your post’s visibility. Everybody likes to be quoted or have their work highlighted! Here are some other posts about better blogging: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/07/10/nine-signs-of-an-effective-blog-post/ , http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingmethods/tp/blogmarketing.htm
- Ask questions. Don’t you want to hear what your readers have to say about what you wrote? If your work is all info with no questions, they might not. To encourage replies and dialogue, ask some questions.
- Speak your own words. If you read your blog post out loud, do you sound like yourself or do you sound like a weirdo? Share your personality, not your writing proficiency. We visited your post to hear what you have to say. If we wanted cold, lifeless instructions we’d go to the airport.
I know I missed some! What makes your blog posts sparkle? What about your posts reflects who you are?
Not my cup of coffee, but it could be yours!
I saw a great idea on some book reviews recently! The reviewer provided the authors of books they didn’t enjoy with an option to promote without a review, but a “not my cup of tea, but it might be yours” rating. Bonnie Lamer has an entire page just for authors who were brave enough to ask, though she didn’t like their books: http://bonnielamernotmycupofteashelf.blogspot.com/
I’m going to start this policy! If you submit your book to me and the review isn’t what you like, you can ask to have a straight promo instead on my “Not my cup of coffee” page. http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/not-my-cup-of-coffee/
If you have gotten an unsatisfactory review from me in the past that I didn’t post and would like to be on the page, please let me know and I’ll include you.
New review: Puzzlebook: 104 Puzzle Quizzes
Puzzlebook:104 Puzzle Quizzes
by Grabarchuk Puzzles
Genre: Puzzles
Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/puzzlebook104-puzzle-quizzes-by-grabarchuk-puzzles/
Buy on Amazon
Synopsis:
This is the final Volume 5 of the Top Rated Puzzlebook: Puzzle Quizzes series. In this brand-new puzzle collection you will find 104 pictorial, hand-crafted puzzle quizzes in different themes: logic, visual, spatial, counting, geometry, matchstick, coins, searching, and much more. Be sure to check Puzzlebook: 100 Puzzle Quizzes, Puzzlebook: 101 Puzzle Quizzes, Puzzlebook: 102 Puzzle Quizzes, and Puzzlebook: 103 Puzzle Quizzes for more!
Hot News
Over 750,000 downloads for the Puzzlebook series! Discover why thousands of Kindle users are addicted to Puzzlebooks.
Novelty
All puzzle quizzes are original creations by the Grabarchuk Family and delivered exclusively for Kindle.
Interactivity
You can interactively answer and check a puzzle quiz by clicking the respective answer button. Only the correct answer leads to the solution page.
Ranking
The collection is specially created for all kinds of solvers – beginners, skillful, and expert alike. The puzzles are arranged so that you start with the easy (*) puzzles and progress to the hard (*****) puzzles.
Enjoy it in Color Too!
The book is created in full-color. Enjoy a colorful experience playing it on Kindle Fire or in a Kindle app on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, etc.
Happy Puzzling!
Book Release Party Oct 26-28
VIP Guests Wanted!
I’m getting ready for the Virtual party in a month and six days! Visit the Party Page for a list of participation needs: https://katepolicani.com/release-party/ I’m open to suggestions if you have a great idea for a way to join the party!
New Review: Poppy the Proud by Emlyn Chand
Poppy the Proud
By Emlyn Chand
Illustrated by Sarah Shaw
Genre: Children
Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/poppy-the-proud-by-emlyn-chand/
Evolved Publishing brings you the third of the BIRD BRAIN BOOKS by Emlyn Chand, “Poppy the Proud.” This children’s picture book, with full color illustrations by artist Sarah Shaw, is perfect for kids 4-6 years old.
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Poppy is the prettiest peacock in the entire garden, but one day his privileged existence is upset when an all-white peacock is born and promptly named the most beautiful by a smitten flock. Intensely jealous, Poppy no longer knows where he fits in and decides to reclaim his title as the fairest bird in all the land, no matter what it takes.
In a desperate attempt to regain the admiration of his peers, Poppy steals items from the humans that visit his park. He wraps himself in a beautiful silk scarf, wears a series of ornate bangles around his neck, and even tries to dye his feathers with colored dust from a festive Holi celebration. Unfortunately, each of these attempts not only fails to improve his appearance, they actually make it worse. What’s a poor bird to do?
In this compelling tale of self-esteem, pride, and learning what makes each of us special, Poppy the peacock discovers that true beauty lies beneath the feathers.
About the Author:
Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). Since then, she has always loved to hear and tell stories. When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available throughout the social media Internet world. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!
Today is My Day! Last Day for Blog-in September!
Thank you for visiting the Blog-in and extra thanks to our wonderful authors participating! Don’t forget to sign up for October’s Author Blog-in! Please visit my book, The Disenchanted Pet, on these awesome blogs:
http://harshadpassion.wordpress.com/blog/
http://sharonscrazycats.blogspot.com/
http://therapywriting.wordpress.com/
Become my patron!
Be like Lorenzo: patronize an artist like me!
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