Posts Tagged With: Author

Review of Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (by a compulsive reader)

So, I don’t normally do product reviews, but I have to say something about this little beauty. I LOVE it!

I bought it at Best Buy as a replacement for my Toshiba Thrive 10″ tablet that one of my kids cracked. Going in, I was worried that the Galaxy wouldn’t match up to my 10 inch experience. But the 7 inch was cheaper and seemed to be pretty nice. Boy was I pleasantly surprised!

The 7 inch is definitely enough screen size for me. I use it mostly for reading, with some email and gaming. I lost absolutely nothing with the smaller screen. It’s so much lighter and easier to handle than the massive 10 inch! Also, it’s covered with shatterproof plastic instead of glass (so it won’t meet the same fate as its predecessor) and it is HD.

It’s responsive. I see very few crashes. The 8gb internal SD, which is all you can get with this size, isn’t a restriction. I have all the apps I could want on it and some that belong to my hubby, and I haven’t seen any space issues. I put in a 32gb mini SD card, the maximum, and I don’t see myself running out of space any time soon. The 10 inch models can get 16 and 32 gb capacity. I don’t really see why the 7 inch can’t since the cards are all the same size. Meh.

The only thing I’ve found that the Thrive did better was the keyboard input. The Galaxy is just as responsive, but with the smaller screen size the buttons for each character are smaller and cause more mistypes. (Stupid big European-size fingers!)

Super-bonus-important: I can get every ebook reader app out there on my tab. Overdrive, Kobo, Kindle, Wattpad, Nook, Aldiko, and more all works and you can read all your books no matter where you got them. This is a must for a habitual price-shopper like me.

I almost forgot to mention that you can also read manga on a tablet! There’s even an app for you comic book lovers. Something for everyone!

I really loved my Toshiba Thrive, but I love the Galaxy even more! If you’re looking for an e-reader, I’d consider the Galaxy tab.

I wonder what name they’re going to pick for the Android platform next. Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich; what’s next? Diabetes?

Here’s the official website: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/GT-P3113TSYXAR

Here are a few other reviews: http://reviews.cnet.com/handheld-devices/samsung-galaxy-tab-2/4505-3127_7-35137347.html

http://www.woot.com/offers/samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7-0

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-handel/review-samsung-galaxy-tab_b_1508385.html

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Things That Upset Authors

I’ve finally plugged into a few online author communities. It took me awhile, but I’m part of the conversation now. During my forays, I’ve noticed that there are some things that really infuriate authors.

Continue reading

Categories: Publicity | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

High time for some links!

I haven’t done this in such a long time! Here are some good old-fashioned links for you! I decided to focus on the topic of “Promotion” this time.

http://addictivestory.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/calling-all-indie-authors-who-wants-book-promotion-prompt-16/ This looks like a great opportunity to promote! I’m totally signed up!

http://smartamarketing2.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/persuasion/ Here is a blog on marketing discussing the AIDA method of promotion.

http://anovelperspective.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/book-wars-the-pr-offices-of-my-book-is-better-than-yours/ Here is a cool article on a particular etiquett,e problem for promoting authors.

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/weblogs.html  is a good breakdown of how to make good blog posts especially number 3 about post titles!

http://paulstamatiou.com/how-to-boost-your-blog-traffic This one had lots of meaty goodness. I followed a lot of his suggestions.

And this one was just funny: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/08/the-publishing-process-in-gif-form.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NathanBransford+%28Nathan+Bransford%2C+Author%29

Categories: Publicity, Resources | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Might Be A Writer If….

Is it possible for you to be an author?

That is a question most people think they know. I know I did for fifteen years, and my answer was “no”. But I was WRONG! I had been an author all along but had dismissed that idea because I couldn’t see it. It would have been helpful for someone to ask me a few questions. One of my policies is, if I see a need for it but don’t see it online, I make it. So here you go!

  1. Do you write? This also seems like a dumb question. Of course you write. You write grocery lists, notes, emails, maybe even blog posts. But do you write for your own entertainment? When an idea hits you, are you compelled to write it down? Do you like to research things that won’t increase your paycheck? Then you just might be an author! Continue reading
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Author Blog-in Coming Soon:Sign up now!

 

Don’t forget to sign up!

The author blog-in is coming up. To get your choice of days, please sign up now. Feel free to share the page with your author friends too. Spread the word and widen our audience about our wonderful books!

All the information is here: https://katepolicani.com/author-blog-in/

 

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New Review: Island of Illusions by Jennifer L. Jennings

Island of Illusions

by Jennifer L. Johnson

Genre: Mystery

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/island-of-illusions-by-jennifer-l-jennings/

This third and final installment of the Sarah Woods Mystery Series finds our sleuth immersed in the tropical splendor of Oahu. However, what begins as an island getaway for Sarah quickly morphs into a desperate search for the missing infant of a wealthy Boston family. Just when the detectives believe they’ve made a breakthrough in the case, a shocking death shakes their investigation to the core. Much to Sarah’s surprise, surveillance expert Max Stevens also joins the frantic search. Will the detectives locate the missing child? Will Sarah finally share her true feelings with Max?

Pick up this novel and lose yourself in the mystery, or start with Book One, “An Appointment with Murder.” Either choice will keep you guessing ’til the very end.

Buy on Amazon

About the Author

Jennifer L. Jennings was born in Chicago, Illinois but has spent most of her life living in Maine. She was a massage therapist for fifteen years, and worked as a glass artisan for many years as well. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, playing guitar with her son Blake, reading, writing and doing all things creative.

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Analysis: Get more out of your reading!

Why would I want to analyze a book while I read it? Iread for fun!

My answer: analyzing your reading gives you more fun with the next book. What is it about your book that you like? What don’t you like and why? These are important questions to answer if you want to get more books you will love reading. You want that, right?

If you like to talk with others about books, this is a great way to pull out the intelligent answers to the question, “What did you like about this book?”

Here are some easy habits to get into while reading that will help you analyze books:

  1. Pay attention to the commonly-used themes the author is using. (Example: a woman alone, man vs. the system) They are everywhere, in movies, books, even commercials. There are big themes and small themes, some encompassing the whole book and some for just one scene. They vary with culture differences around the world and even within a city. It’s surprising to see that books on entirely different subjects can have similar themes. Pulling this out and poking it with a stick can be a lot of fun. Continue reading
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New Review: Flower Bowl Spell by Olivia Boler

Flower Bowl Spell

by Olivia Boler

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/flower-bowl-spell-by-olivia-boler/

Journalist Memphis Zhang isn’t ashamed of her Wiccan upbringing—in fact, she’s proud to be one of a few Chinese American witches in San Francisco, and maybe the world. Unlike the well-meaning but basically powerless Wiccans in her disbanded coven, Memphis can see fairies, read auras, and cast spells that actually work—even though she concocts them with ingredients like Nutella and antiperspirant. Yet after a friend she tries to protect is brutally killed, Memphis, full of guilt, abandons magick to lead a “normal” life. The appearance, however, of her dead friend’s sexy rock star brother—as well as a fairy in a subway tunnel—suggest that magick is not done with her. Reluctantly, Memphis finds herself dragged back into the world of urban magick, trying to stop a power-hungry witch from using the dangerous Flower Bowl Spell and killing the people Memphis loves—and maybe even Memphis herself.

Buy on Amazon!

 

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The Mystery Win

Starting August 1st, my downloads on Smashwords of my free ebook, The Silver Collar have shot up by over 1,000 downloads! This means that somewhere, my book was listed in a spot that people saw and clicked. But where?

I posted it on four different book-posting sites in July:

http://www.free-ebooks.net

http://www.getfreeebooks.com

http://www.feedbooks.com

http://ebookdirectory.com Continue reading

Categories: My Books, Resources | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Author Blog-in: Switcheroo!

This is new to all of us, and we’re figuring out how it works! Please pardon the switcheroo. Today is now my day for the Author Blog-in so the others can have time to catch up.

I’ll take this opportunity to invite you all to join in! This Blog-in is kinda short this time, which I’ll chalk up to August activities and my own laid-back approach. September 14-25 will be the next Blog-in, and we already have a sign-up! Lets fill up all the slots and maximize our collaborative audience. If you were shy about joining until now, don’t be! Shoot me an email and lets get groovy!

If you have blogged-in before, don’t worry! You’re still welcome to join in with a different book. Short stories and freebies are also welcome.

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Author Blog-in: The End of the World Sucks

The End of the World Sucks by Sharon Trembley

This is a genre blender book that might be compared to Lord of the Flies meets Let the Right One In in a post-zombie apocalyptic world. Don’t worry though, it’s about the people even though there are elements of horror.

This novel will be offered for free in Kindle format on Amazon on Saturday, August 11th for the Author Blog-In.

Zombies, a Vampire, or her fellow Man – Which is most likely to kill Vanna Ames? Who can she trust?

After surviving a whole month past the End of the World by hiding and staying quiet, recent college graduate and fashion retail employee, Vanna, luckily finds others who have gathered together as a community for their mutual survival on a college campus.

Although claiming to be a democratic society, tempers become frayed, decisions defy logic, and rules are broken. Further emboldened by the lack of society and law, some even gain a sense of entitlement because they are self-labeled heroes.

Now that all the rules have changed, a vampire arrives with a deal – his help for blood. An equally beneficial offer or a Faustian bargain?

As the community’s flaws grow, Vanna must decide whether to stick with her own kind in relative safety, or reject their community service nightmare, risk her life, and appeal to a vampire who claims his only interest is human blood.

And for the Author Blog In, here’s an excerpt to give a better idea of Vanna’s character because she is a character.  This occurs after Vanna hears gun shots early in the book and goes for a walk to find out what happened –

When she reached a point where two rolls of chain-link were joined together with some twisted wire, Vanna saw her. If she had seen that dress before, she would have remembered.
Muumuus were made for a woman of this size. Displaying a cheery, floral print provided no slimming effects, but proudly declared big and beautiful. Along with the turquoise, orange, and pink poly-blend tent, she also wore a pair of nude knee highs, and filthy, pink terry scuff slippers, and large, turquoise-colored plastic earrings with a matching chunky bracelet.
The woman had fallen on her side facing the fence, and like most of the corpses, her eyes remained forever open. Vanna thought the zombies didn’t blink, so that might be why their eyes turned that spotty white color.
Even with a visible gunshot wound to her face, Vanna could see the trivial details that further defined who this used to be. The woman’s short, not-so-natural blond hair was arranged into a crown of curlsframing her face. She also had heavy blue eye shadow still caked all the way up to her plucked, then redrawn with brown pencil, eyebrows.
Her lower face was grimy, Vanna couldn’t confirm her expectation of coordinating lipstick to match her screaming pink nail polish, brightly visible on the tips of her dirt-caked fingers from a distance. Vanna’sconstant fearful imagination made the gunk smeared on the zombie’s lips still appear fresh, wet and red, when she knew it had been there for weeks.

Categories: Author Blog-in | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Initial Report: Book Marketing Services

Book Marketing Services

After a little bit of digging for people’s experiences with book marketing services, I realized this is going to have to be an ongoing investigation and report process. Overall it seemed that everybody was interested but hadn’t had any experiences. I only managed to get a few and I only included ones with people’s direct experience with the service. Here’s what I found:

KindlePromo – “actively promotes” books with tweets £15 for Indie Book Listing service

Kindle Daily Nation – $160 “with no result” (used to be great but saturated with too many books)

BookWhirl – SCAM! http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?t=8338

Goddess Fish  Promotions – (5-blog tour and reviews, $30) “didn’t break even” but supplied publicity.

Orangeberry Summer Splash Tour – participant’s tour hasn’t begun yet (August)- $25

Sizzling PR – “Nice people and very affordable.” $15 up to $75 blog tour options

99 cent Network – No obvious return for money ($45 intro rate for 3 months) and no visibility of book on site. No answers to emails inquiring about where to find the book.

A few more were mentioned but they didn’t provide more than names. I’m bargain hunting enough at this stage that if the one who mentions it doesn’t talk about price and their website doesn’t talk about price, then I figure they’re too expensive or don’t cater to self-published authors.

The conversational approach seems to work better than a poll, and people in the forums had the most to say.

Anyone else had any experiences, good or bad, with a book marketing company?

Categories: Resources, Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New Review: Revolussion by Kathy Bell

Revolussion

by Kathy Bell

Genre: Technothriller, Science Fiction

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/revolussion-by-kathy-bell/

Dawn Ingram, Peter Merten and the Three Eleven team have worked for decades to prepare for November 11, 2011, even though they did not know what they were preparing for. Now that the future has arrived, they face an enemy unlike anything they have imagined, and find help from places they never dreamt of.

Join Nicholas Weaver, Stew Singleton, Avery and Ashton Hansen and Dawn Ingram as they fight the advance of the Effigee by using the alien technology against the aliens themselves. When the invaders arrive, an ancient device gives Dawn and the plumans the final edge to win the war…but at what cost?

Buy on Amazon

Kathy is making a foray into Fantasy with her next book, Synergy 2012! Keep an eye out for it!

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Book Marketing Companies Poll

Let me know what you think of book marketing companies you have used. I couldn’t find any comprehensive rating online, so I decided to make one!

Categories: Resources, Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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