Book Sprout – Bloodstone (The Curse of Time Book 1) #marketing #ideas #writingcommunity #payingitforward

Now, that my publisher Next Chapter has decided to go wide, it seems like a sound decision to offer my YA Fantasy Bloodstone to potential reviewers on Booksprout, which is a garnering reviews site, with 40,000 reviewers. I’m trying it out and will be comparing Booksprout to Book Sirens which I have already been using for some time.

My author page on Booksprout: https://booksprout.co/book/97046/bloodstone-a-paranormal-fantasy-adventure-the-curse-of-time-book-1

To download an ARC review copy: https://booksprout.co/arc/83725/bloodstone-a-paranormal-fantasy-adventure-the-curse-of-time-book-1

Booksprout appeals to me as it links to many book buying sites, that BookSirens doesn’t, (Sirens only has Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub,) whereas the sprout offers the possibility of reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, Smashwords as well as Goodreads and BookBub. Obviously, not all reviewers will post to all sites and you are limited in number to how many you can choose but still… it seems like a good option.

Also, it seems fairly easy to use. They claim that you can set up an ARC in ten minutes. I didn’t time myself but it seemed quick!

Also, the Sprout offers a free service – first 20 reviews for one ARC for free. Only downside is basic ARC Freeloader protection on the free version – there is a way to check a reviewer’s email for ARC reviewer’s blocks. This tool debugs why a particular reviewer may not be able to download your ARC. It will display any known or potential blocks that would prevent them from doing so.

So, try the free version at your peril. You can upgrade at a click of a button to pay for the full service including total piracy control. This starts at $10 a month for up to 50 reviewers per ARC.

Oh, and beware if you get any emails saying a reviewer couldn’t download your ARC. Ignore, or point them in the direction of the Sprout… all this is handled by the Sprout, this is a red flag.

Another reason for trying to increase my readership and reviews is the imminent release of Book 2, Golden Healer. The finished manuscript is awaiting edits with my publisher, the cover is done – and looks spectacular… cover reveal soon.

Let me know if you would like to be part of my release Team! For Book 2, Golden Healer.

If you are interested in reviewing Bloodstone on Booksprout, or perhaps if you’ve already read Bloodstone and are willing to add your reviews to sites such as Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, and Smashwords, etc, please do! I need all the help I can get and am happy to pay it forward.

I do believe that Bloodstone and The Curse of Time series deserve a wider audience, like so many indie and small press books. And I hope you might help me to achieve that aim.

With regard to paying it forward, I recently starting a Bookstagram review account where I share my reviews. I’ve written close to 200, so not sure how long this will take me to catch up! So, please do follow, like and share to help me grow this and to encourage me to do so! I will mainly be sharing independent, small press authors with a few traditionally published favourites too. Plus some quotes celebrating my love of books, etc…

My new Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjm_reviews/

Once I’ve tried out the sprout and concluded my thoughts on the sirens I will give you the lowdown on my observations. And, I still have to try Voracious Readers… Next!

So, if you have any experience with any of these review garnering sites please comment below.

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Networking for Writers by Lizzie Chantree #book #review nonfiction #networking #writers

Networking for writers. by Lizzie Chantree

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is Lizzie Chantree’s debut non-fiction book about networking for writers. I’m familiar with Lizzie’s romance novels having had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Ninja School Mum and If You Love Me I’m Yours.

Did Networking for Writers meet my expectations? Absolutely. This is a clear, well-written and invaluable resource especially for those who are fairly new to writing, getting to grips with the marketing and business side can be daunting. It is also a great book to refer to for writers, such as myself, who have been blogging and writing for five years plus. I learnt new things and was reminded of aspects of networking that it’s possible to forget in our daily busy lives. It’s simple things that are so easy to do which make a difference.

Lizzie’s personality shines throughout this book. She is honest, helpful and caring in her approach to help you with your networking skills.

A highly recommended and enjoyable fast read.

5 stars

View all my reviews

Universal book buy link: Networking for writers:

viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters

Universal book buy link: If you love me, I’m yours: viewbook.at/IfYouLoveMe-ImYours

Universal book buy link: Ninja School Mum: viewBook.at/NinjaSchoolMum

Universal book buy link: Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven

Universal book buy link: Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild

Universal book buy link: Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina

Social media links:

Website: www.lizziechantree.com

Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/

FB Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/647115202160536/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-chantree

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-chantree-03006425/

Have you read Networking For Writers? Let me know in the comments.

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More Websites and Links for Book worms, Bloggers and Writers

 

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Soon, on Tuesday 5th of May, there is to be a Writers’ resources evening at Cambridge Writers,  the group that I am a member of, so with this in mind, I thought I would do a little warm up, and type up some helpful website links for Writers, Bloggers and Book Worms.

http://www.cambridgewriters.net/

I have been gathering the details of this list for some time so hope that it will be a useful resource.

So to kick it off my first discovery was Wasafari, who are they you might ask?
“Wasafiri is Britain’s premier magazine for international contemporary writing. Published quarterly, it has established a distinctive reputation for promoting work by new and established voices across the globe.”

 

Book review/Bookish sites:

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Netgalley https://www.netgalley.com/

Bookbridgr http://www.bookbridgr.com/

and Lovereading.co.uk http://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Read books for free: https://storycartel.com/search

 

Author’s resources:

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Tips for authors on how to make book trailers: https://effrosinimoss.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/tips-for-authors-book-trailer-made-easy/

Tips on writing book blurbs, they may be short but it doesn’t mean they’re easy to write!  http://www.terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/book-blurbs-as-hard-as-writing-book.tml

How to protect yourself – editing clauses in publishing contracts. http://accrispin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/editing-clauses-in-publishing-contracts.html

Features written by or about female writers.https://thewritesofwoman.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/in-the-media-25th-january-1st-february-2015/

Excellent website for all writerly things including author/agent interviews, writing, and self-editing advice: talltalesandshortstories.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/agent-interview-jenny-savill-at-andrew.html

“A new home for your short fiction.” http://inkins.com/

http://irenewaters19.com/2015/03/24/99-word-flash-fiction/

http://alanamunroauthor.com/about  runs support a writer on google.

 

Writers links via no wasted ink. http://nowastedink.com/2015/03/02/no-wasted-ink-writers-links-161/

https://tycobbsteeth.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/book-marketing-tools-1/

“World Literary Cafe is  a multi-faceted community that promotes everyone in the literary realm, from readers to authors, editors, reviewers, and author services.” http://worldliterarycafe.com/content/support-wlc-authors

A book about writing, funding, crowd-sourcing, editing, sales, file conversion, guerrilla marketing, social media, blogging, and reviewers via Jan Moran writes. http://www.janmoranwrites.com/2012/12/30/book-review-ape-by-guy-kawasaki-and-shawn-welch-for-authors-publishers-and-entrepreneurs/

https://awomanswisdom.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/just-finished-writing-your-first-book-dont-publish-it-yet/

 

Copyright infringement

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Copyright infringement. http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2015/03/03/congratulations-authors-one-battle-won-against-copyright-infringement-update/

 

Writer’s advisory services

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There are a lot out there but which to recommend? I’ve heard good things about these two:

Hilary Johnson Authors Advisory service  http://www.hilaryjohnson.com/index.html

Cornerstones who have their very own publishing house http://threeharespublishing.com/#latest-work, and have written a self help guide, Write a blockbuster and get it published, authored jointly by Helen Corner and Lee Weatherly, “it offers not simply a guide to writing a novel, but an introduction to writing a plot-based, action-focused blockbuster.” http://cornerstones.co.uk/

 

Poetry Enthusiasts:

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I’ve just recently rediscovered my love of poetry and with this in mind I would highly recommend joining in with Ron’s Weekly Haiku prompt challenge. It’s fun, and gets the old creative juices flowing on a weekly basis and that can only be a good thing! Ron has an excellent blog overflowing with all sorts of interesting articles so he’s certainly one to follow.

Haiku prompt challenge: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/category/haiku-prompt-challenge/

Wikihow to write a Haiku poem. http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem

What is Haiku, and how to write it. http://toyomasu.com/haiku/

Here’s his helpful link about merging blogs: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/how-merge-blogs/

Artists and Illustrators:

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Chihuly Glass pixabay.com

 

Marketing resources for artists. http://artistmarketingresources.com/about/

Using Corel suite instead of Adobe for illustrators: http://oreosandspiltmilk.com/2015/02/17/food-illustration-ramen/

 

Finding Agents and Publishers

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Switch your torch light on, don your spy costume, now on to the nasty business of finding agents, and publishers. This is when life becomes complicated, the writing is easy in comparison, I know I’m in this process and it seems to be a never ending slog of decisions, (which is utterly painful for someone like me who tends to be indecisive,) waiting, trying again, waiting. So with that in mind here are some resources to help my fellow wannabe authors out there who may be struggling like me to find a publisher or an agent. Never fear, help is at hand. Good luck!

List of agents and editors.

https://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/uk-literary-agents-for-childrens-books/

https://loutreleaven.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/childrens-publishers-accepting-unsolicited-manuscripts/

https://mswlparagraph.wordpress.com/agents-editors/

The Writer’s and Artists’s Yearbook is a must have ISBN 9781408192450. They have an excellent site: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/ 

Another way to approach agents is to meet them in person. There are many events which are organised with this in mind, conferences, workshops and talks are all good opportunities to meet agents and tell them about your story, so have a look for those – locally in the UK there is the Norwich Writers Centre http://www.writerscentrenorwich.org.uk/ and plenty will come up from a google search on the internet.

SCBWI do some, too.  Who are SCBWI?  They are The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators: https://www.scbwi.org/ The Writers and Artists also hold events: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events, the next hook an agent event is in London, in June: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events/how-to-hook-an-agent-children-s-fiction

http://www.sharonbayliss.com/2012/04/list-of-publishers-seeking-submissions.html

How to pitch to publishers: http://www.karentyrrell.com/pitch-publishers/

http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/Submissions.php – David Fickling Books are opening up submissions in a competition type style event from May 5th to May 19th.

 

Self Publishing:

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Guide to self publishing and promoting, click on the tab on the top left section of author E. Rawls blog, there are all sorts of writing tips too as well as haikus, book reviews, blog hops, author interviews. https://rawlse.wordpress.com/

 

Marketing:

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http://www.derekhaines.ch/justpublishing/does-twitter-sell-ebooks/

Increase your blog traffic: http://www.molly-greene.com/increase-blog-traffic-subscribers-8-tips/ 

 

THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it to appear on this site, please contact or e-mail me with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

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The Psychology of Colours in Marketing

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Today, I’ve decided to change the colour scheme on my blog a bit. I hope you like it, with that in mind here’s a share from the Fiverr blog, The Psychology of Colours in Marketing which I originally found on http://mmjayewrites.com/

Here’s the link: http://blog.fiverr.com/psychology-colors-marketing/?utm_source=nt_ct&utm_term=n516

Colour can have such a profound impact on us. So I hope you like my new colour theme? I’ve abandoned the Pink Dogwood, and, the possibility of the Forget-Me-Not blue, in favour of the exotic Tiger Lily.

 

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Pink Dogwood

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Forget-Me-Not

 

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Tiger Lily

A lily for your thoughts?

 

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