Susan Toy was reading “Setting Free the Kites”

What are you reading?

I say “was” instead of “is” in the title of this post, because I read this book in less than 2 days and didn’t want to stop long enough to write about it on this blog … it was that good!!

I first heard about the book from Will Schwalbe, who you may remember as the inspiration for beginning this blog in the first place … Will had posted on Facebook a few weeks ago a link to Alex George’s novel when it was released in paperback, saying he “loved” it – and that was enough recommendation for me! I was able to borrow the eBook from the library and began reading on Tuesday morning this week, finishing it up last night. And … WOW!!! was all I could say at the time.

Setting Free the Kites
by Alex George

To say I LOVED this novel is an understatement! It…

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Blogging: The ‘About’ Page

beetleypete

Does your blog have an ‘About’ page? Have you added anything to it? Do you allow ‘Likes’ and comments on it? Does it tell readers and potential followers something about you, and why you are blogging? Is there a photo on it? Does it give some idea of the style and nature of what your blog has to offer?
If the answer to any of these is ‘No’, then I think you should reconsider.

In the world of Blogging, the ‘About’ page is often sadly neglected by so many bloggers. Many do not even put any information on it at all, or remove it from their theme. I would like to tell you why I think a good ‘About’ page is important, and suggest that those of you who are new to blogging might want to give those ‘About’ pages a revamp.

New readers can happen across your blog in…

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10 Reasons Why #BookBloggers Refuse to Review Indie Books #MPBooks

My Peacock Books

yes no maybe board ticked no Image from Pixabay.com

Before anyone gets upset by the above title, I’m not having a go at bloggers or trying to upset any indie authors out there. Instead I want to write a post to explore the reasons why book bloggers might refuse to review books, and this is especially the case sometimes with indie titles.

Not all book bloggers refuse to review books, not all book bloggers refuse to review indie books, but sometimes they do. And when a blogger does, there’s no point in being upset, if you’re an author, as there are always reasons behind it.

Below are 10 random reasons, some by own, others I’ve found online, for why bloggers might, and I stress might, refuse to review a book. If you’re an author, especially an indie author, it might be worth reading this, and if you are a book blogger, do you agree?

The…

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The Disappointed Housewife is LIVE!

WHAT THE HELL

The Disappointed Housewife is alive and well and living in a newly disclosed location: thedisappointedhousewife.com.

First of all, please navigate to the site and immediately follow. We need to build a readership in a hurry so that all the terrific, intrepid writers can get plenty of eyeballs on their work.

While you’re there, poke around, read the Editor’s Note, the mission statement, and the submission guidelines. Then sample some of the pieces I’ve gathered for the launch. There’s already some fiction, a number of poems, a couple of essays, and a graphic piece. I already have more things lined up for later in the week too.

You can browse the site by scrolling down the main page. Everything is there. But you can also use the navigation bar on the right to select one of the categories: Fiction, Essays, Poetry, and Faux Forms & Genres. Later the site will…

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Nzarah Trimmingham … What are you reading?

Thanks Susan!

What are you reading?

I’d like you all to welcome our very first guest to this new blog! Nzarah Trimmingham is the granddaughter of an author who happens to own a home on Bequia! Felicity Harley’s writing has been promoted numerous times on my other blogs (see here for her bio). This year, she visited Bequia over Christmas with the entire family, including granddaughter, Nzarah, who already happens to be an avid reader … no surprise there!

When I met Nzarah over sunset drinks at her grandparents’ house, I asked her the big question – What are you reading? She immediately launched into a very detailed explanation about a book, and I just knew that she had to be my first guest on this new blog.

So we decided (Nzarah’s grandmother and I) to organize a date for an interview at my house – an editorial meeting, if you will. And what do editors…

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2017 – the other Best Books I read this year!

Great list!

Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing

I have already posted a list of some of the authors whose books I read this year and found to be outstanding. You will find that link here.

But I read so many books in 2017, and many were great reads indeed, so I’ve divided the list into two: that first list covered authors I have promoted on my blog,
Reading Recommendations; this second list is everything else.

Because I tend to be an eclectic reader, you will find on this list: old books and newly released books, fiction and non-fiction, children’s picture books, graphic novels, memoir – even a couple of political biographies, and many books about books and reading (because I’ve been researching a series on Reading for my blog). What I have not listed are the classics and cookbooks (yes, I even read cookbooks!) that I read this year. And I read all of these…

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2017 – Some of my favourite Authors whose books I read this year!

Thanks so much Susan!

Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing

I have read many, many books this year! Some were written by authors I have promoted previously on my other blog, Reading Recommendations, and these books I considered to be outstanding! And, in a few cases, I read more than one book by the same author. So, without further ado, here’s a list of those authors’ names and the titles of their books I read in 2017 …

(The links below will take you to that author’s original promotion on Reading Recommendations.)

Thanks to all Authors for continuing to write so well!

Gail Anderson-DargatzThe Spawning Grounds

Tim Baker24 Minutes (to be published in 2018)

Gail BowenThe Winner’s Circle

Kevin BrennanIn No Particular Order

Sharon ButalaWhere I Live Now

Paul ButlerThe Good Doctor, The Widow’s Fire

Sally CroninSam, A Shaggy Dog Story

Tricia Drammeh

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Guest post with Nicholas Rossis.

beetleypete

My good blogging friend, published author, and all-round nice guy, Nicholas Rossis, has kindly published a guest post from me on his blog. It is about my experiences as an Amazon reviewer.
If you think this might be of some interest, please follow this link.
http://nicholasrossis.me/2017/12/11/guest-post-by-pete-johnson-being-an-amazon-reviewer-a-personal-experience/

Feel free to comment on his blog.

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Thinking Aloud on a Sunday

What a great event Pete!

beetleypete

Children In Need.

For those of you who do not live in the UK, Children In Need is an annual BBC fundraiser, designed to raise money for local charities who would not otherwise get funding. The whole programming of BBC One, on a specific Friday evening, is given over to a telethon fundraiser, a night of varied entertainment, charity appeals, and live fundraising. It is presented by a group of popular celebrities, and traditionally features a host of well-known entertainers appearing in situations you would not usually associate them with. Like the stars of a drama series performing a dance routine, and so on.

During the build-up to this event, the UK is consumed with fund-raising events. Most of these are personal efforts, though many are corporate, involving well-known businesses and shops supporting the cause all over the country. Over the years it has been running, Children In Need has…

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Free publicity for bloggers

beetleypete

Most days, I see comments or requests from people asking me to “Please check out my blog”.
Some bloggers, especially those new to blogging, will add links to their own blogs at the end of a comment. Obviously, they want to get more readers and followers. They might have discovered that starting a new blog is not as easy as they thought, or be disappointed that they are posting stuff that nobody is reading. In some cases, they may already have a hugely successful blog, but just want it to be even bigger. To be honest, I always edit those links out of comments, or don’t allow the comment at all. I don’t regard it as good ‘blogging manners’ to add links in that fashion. But that’s just my own view.

So I had a think, and a change of heart. We all need a chance, after all!

Here is…

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