Best Advice for New Book Bloggers: Part Two

Earlier this week, I posted some advice from other book bloggers.  I've only been around for a year, but I've picked up a few helpful hints.  Thanks so much for celebrating my blogoversary with me this month!

Personalize your blog.  There are a lot of book blogs out there, and the way yours is going to stand out is by showing your personality and unique interests.  Write your own words, your own way.  Don't try to be someone you're not, or do what everyone else is doing just to do it. 

Post regularly, but don't turn it into a chore.  If you want your blog to grow, you need to work at it.  But it's more important to write quality posts than it is to post daily.  Don't feel like you need to explain yourself if you're not posting every day- just post when you have something to post.  Remember, this is supposed to be fun.

Be a social butterfly.  Participate in challenges, memes and events, if that's your thing.  But most importantly, comment, comment, comment on other blogs.  If people know who you are and know you've visited their blog, they're more likely to visit yours.

Make it easy for readers to comment. This means skipping the CAPTCHA images and comment systems where people have to log in every time they want to leave a comment.  If you use the Blogger platform, you have the option of requiring approval for comments on posts over two weeks old.  I find this cuts about 90% of the spam comments, and manually deleting the rest is easy. 

Don't compare yourself to other bloggers.  It doesn't matter who has the most followers or gets the most coveted ARCs (at least, it shouldn't).  Hopefully, the reason why you have a book blog is because you love books and love to talk about them.  If you're here because you're trying to win a popularity contest, you're in for a disappointment, because someone will always have more than you do.

Be professional.  I know I just said that you shouldn't focus on review copies and followers, but I know we all still think about it from time to time.  So on that note, present yourself at your best.  At its most basic, this means using your spellcheck and reading through to check your grammar.  It also means being courteous to others and avoiding unrelated rants and personal info.  Your blog is a hobby, yes, but it's also your public face in a very large community, so make it a good one.

Especially when dealing with authors and publishers.  Professionalism is exponentially more important when dealing with those who are involved professionally.  Be courteous, do your research and keep your expectations realistic.

Do ask for help if you need it.  Not sure what realistic expectations are?  There are tons of experienced book bloggers out there who have generously shared their experience.  A quick search will likely turn up the answer to your question and, if it doesn't, most book bloggers are happy to respond to emails and comments asking for help.

Don't publish a partial feed.  I know it seems like you'd get more hits on your site if you do, but I've tried it a couple of times and it always results in a drop in hits.  People just don't like to click through on a post when they don't know what's in it.

Have fun! This is the most important thing.  Because if you aren't enjoying yourself, why bother?

News!

Just so you all know, I'm being hosted today by the lovely Danielle over on her blog, There's A Book.  I'm talking about my favorite childhood book, and you might learn a few things about me that you didn't know.

Also, I just noticed that I have broken the 500 follower mark.  YAY!  You guys are awesome.  And because you are awesome, I will be adding yet another winner to the Blogoversary giveaway.   I think that brings us up to five.  If you haven't entered yet, now is the time.  The last day to enter is tomorrow.  This also means I'm throwing in some more prizes for you to select from.  How about these:

Countdown - Deborah Wiles (ARC)

Lover Mine - J. D. Ward (HB)

Best Advice for New Bloggers: Part One

It's almost time to wrap up the blogoversary celebration.  I'm a little sad about that- it's been a fun month.  Thank you all so much for participating!

I know that I would never have started blogging without the role models out there in bloggy land.  So, I asked my blogger buddies to offer up their best advice for newbie bloggers.  On Friday I'll be offering you my own insights, but you probably want to pay more attention to these clever people:

Don’t worry about the number of followers you have or getting ARCs. If you focus on that, then you’ll get frustrated and you’ll want to quit. What makes people come to your site is content: so read and review constantly. You don’t even need to review upcoming books-you can always review books that are already out and build from that. And when it comes to reviewing, BE HONEST. It’s totally fine to not like a book when the entire blogosphere might be raving about it-there’s no right or wrong answer; it’s all opinion. Oh, and most important of all, have fun with blogging! It’s a great experience :)

-Sandy from Pirate Penguin Reads

Be patient. Book blogging isn't a race to the finish to get the review online finish. Put real thought into your review and personalize it.
 
-Lexie from Poisoned Rationality

Really get involved with the book blogging community. Comment, tweet, participate in challenges and events, check out social networking sites like Book Blogs Ning and GoodReads. Introduce yourself. Ask for help if you need it. Embrace the community. Book bloggers are the warmest, friendliest, most welcoming group of people you're bound to meet. We like to help with your questions and we'd love to check out your blog. You won't find this kind of happy acceptance in most other niche blogging communities.

-Jennifer from Reading With Tequila
 
Comment on other blogs and often! Blogging is all about commnuity and networking. Interact with your fellow bloggers.
 
-Author L. Diane Wolfe
 
Don't be afraid to ask others for help. The book blogging community is super friendly and always there to lend a hand.


-Gina (GMR) from Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
 
Don't pay attention to the books other bloggers accumulate from publishers (ie. ARC's Review Copies, etc.). It doesn't help your self-esteem or your site.  Also, focus on being you, don't compare and write reviews as often as possible.

-Danielle (the1stdaughter) from There's A Book

Be social! I'm still a new blogger (at least I think so - 1 year as of February) and this is something that I'm still learning.



-Ashley from Ashley's Library
 
My best advice would be to be yourself. Don't go out there and try to be someone else 'cause you think it would work better.  Make slowly your way in the blogging community and do waht works best for you, and have fun doing!

-Tynga from Tynga's Reviews
 
At first when you are blogging it can be over whelming, take a deep breath and breathe. Also when you start to get asked to review books I suggest you only accept what you will truly like to read. You don't have to accept everything you get asked to review and its okay to say no. Just make sure you take the time to reply back saying if you aren't interested. Trust me if they are interested in your blog they will contact you again.


-Cindy from Cindy's Love of Books

Blog as much as possible--five days a week, at least once a day. Probably more in the beginning. People want to see many new posts, or they will stop coming by.


-J.T. Oldfield from Bibliofreak Blog
 
Network. I think the best way to do this is blog hop. Just spend a day when you start out and visit one blog. If they have a blog roll or blogs they love section, go through there and just visit some other blogs. And make sure to leave a comment or two. They get to know you and you get to know them... it is a win, win.


-Kate from The Neverending Shelf

Review: Lover Mine by J. R. Ward

Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance/Erotica

Lover Mine is book eight of The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward.  The story is fairly stand-alone, however, and I have done my best to keep this review spoiler-free. 

Summary: In the war between vampires and the Lessers who would destroy them, the vampire John Matthew is spurred onward by an extremely personal vendetta.  His beloved Xhex has been kidnapped and is believed dead, and he is determined to avenge her.  This despite the fact that she never cared for him in return.  Meanwhile, Xhex is alive- barely.  She wishes she were dead, but is determined to extract her own vengeance before making her final exit.  Will she find something worth living for after all?

Opening lines: "He wished he had more time.  Although for truth, what would that change?"

My thoughts:  I didn't give this book a point rating, because I'm having a hard time coming up with one.  For reasons I'll get into in a minute, I didn't like LOVER MINE very much, but the book still has a lot of good points.

First off, the main characters are fantastic.  Xhex is a tough assassin, but her experiences have left her fractured and vulnerable.  John Matthew is a huge bear of a guy who's torn between his overprotective nature and his desire to give Xhex what she really needs.  The dynamics between them were riveting.  I also really liked Tohr, John Matthew's adoptive father.

The story itself was intense and fast-paced.  I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. 

LOVER MINE also deserves some recognition for avoiding one of my pet peeves.  While the book does have a glossary of terms, it can be found at the beginning instead of the end.  There's nothing more annoying than spending an entire book wondering "what the heck is a sympath?" only to find it explained in the glossary on the last page.  My thanks to you, J. R. Ward. 

Now for the negatives...

This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I was a little shocked.  There is a lot of nasty in here.  You'll find rape, extremely graphic violence and sexual torture, foul language, graphic consensual sex and more.  Basically, if it might offend someone, it's probably in this book.  I'm a fairly hardy reader, and I found it difficult to get through.  When I finished, I felt like scrubbing my mind with a wire brush. 

Another minor issue I had was the switching back and forth between the main storyline and the flashes to four hundred years earlier following a character named Brother Darius.  It did tie in eventually, and I get the feeling that regular readers of the series would get more out of it than I did, but for me it was just annoying.

So, in the end, I wasn't the biggest fan of this book.  It just wasn't a good fit for me.  I will say, however, that the characters and story were compelling and well-written.  If you're more hardcore and you can overlook the nastiness factor that left me cold, this book will probably be great for you and you should give it a try. 

About J.R. Ward:  "She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation." -quoted from the bio on her website.

Teaser Tuesday: Lover Mine

This week's teaser comes from Lover Mine by J.R. Ward.

The spring air tingled in her nose and the sunlight on her face warmed wherever the breeze didn't brush over her skin.  All around, skeletal trees had halos of bright green, their tentative buds drawn out of hiding by the promise of warmer hours.

Lovely day.

For a killing spree.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Review: Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Rated: 4 out of 5

Acquire it: Everlasting (available June 1)

Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Summary: Camille has always lived a life of relative freedom for a girl in the 1800's, sailing around the world with her father.  But now she's setting out on her last voyage.  Upon her return, she will be married and take up a restrictive, if priviliaged, society lifestyle.  The voyage doesn't go exactly according to plan, however.  Camille's father hasn't been completely honest with her, and soon she finds herself on a high-stakes adventure, seeking a long-lost treasure.  If that wasn't complicated enough, her companion on the trip is her long-time friend, handsome sailor Oscar.  And Camille's finding that her feelings for him are not just friendly...

Opening lines: "Camille clicked the latches down on her trunk and glanced out her bedroom window.  White haze choked the small seaport, and the fog bells sounding across the bay echoed in her chest.  Fitting weather to mark the death of her freedom."

My thoughts: Don't you just love a good adventure?  Especially seafaring adventure?  I know I do.  Think about it... Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, The Swiss Family Robinson... some of my absolute favorite stories, all based on a sense of adventure.  Everlasting hits the same notes.

Camille has the heart of a wanderer, having grown up sailing on her father's ships all over the world.  When her fiance tells her he expects her to live the restricted life of a society matron and LIKE it, she starts to chafe. Who can blame her?  Unfortunately, I found Camille a little chafing in general.  Does she have to be so gosh-darned abrasive?  Apparently so.  Then again, I would get bored reading books about only the same type of character over and over. 

Unless of course, that character was Oscar.  I could read about him for a long time and not get bored.  Sigh.  A tall, handsome sailor... no wonder Camille can hardly remember her fiance's name.

While the storyline was good, it did tend to stutter a bit.  From time to time there would be a section that just seemed to drag for a few pages.  It always picked back up again, but it didn't sweep me away fully until the last quarter or so of the story.  The ending was fabulously perfect.  You should read it.

About Angie Frazier: "Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters, their big black lab, and a pair of highly destructive cats." - borrowed from the bio on her website

Second opinons:
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf loved it!
The Compulsive Reader is also a fan.
Have you reviewed this book?  Include the URL in the comments, and I'd be delighted to link to you!

I just want to say, I know a lot of you out there are in love with the cover of this book.  I don't get it.  It doesn't do a thing for me.  The best explaination I've seen is a comment by -k, who compared it to The Little Mermaid.  What do you think?

Cream of the Crop (8)

Cream of the Crop is a weekly feature in which I share my favorite posts of the week.  From other blogs, that is.  I just have a couple links to share this week.

Lisa and Laura from Lisa and Laura Write give some advice to their highschool selves.  Funny and wise.

The fabulous Beth Revis posted about love triangles twice this week.  She says she doesn't usually like them, but I'm not convinced...

Guest Post: Danielle from There's a Book

Today's featured blogger is Danielle (the1stdaughter) from There's a Book.  I am so thankful to have discovered this blog, which features reviews of both children's and adult's titles.  My favorite posts are the reviews "written" by this blogger's children, Turkeybird and Littlebug (I'm assuming these are aliases).  I've found some of my daughters' favorite reads here, not to mention a few of my own.   So, I was very excited when Danielle agreed to do a guest post for my blogoversary.  I asked everyone to do a Top Five post, and the topic Danielle chose was...

5 Books Every Family Should Have in their Home

I decided that since I do quite a few children's book reviews and you are about to have a little one yourself that I would share 5 books that I think you should have in your "family" collection. There are just "those" books you can remember from when you are little that stick with you and also one's that both baby and mom like to read together. So, here are my 5 that I couldn't live without:

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss. Well, basically, I'd recommend almost anything written by Dr.Seuss, but this is one of my Turkeybird's (my son) favorites. This and "Hop on Pop". Both of them have been books we've read since he was very little and they're books that get you to interact with one another, which in my opinion makes the book fun for everyone!

That's Not My Monkey by Fiona Watt and Illustrated by Rachel Wells. Any of the books in this series are fabulous! We've had them since the Turkeybird was just born and now his little sister loves them as well. They learn all about textures and colors. Plus they have so much fun looking for the "right" one.

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt. LOVE this book! It has a few sequels that are just as wonderful. These books are aimed at kids from around 3 to about 8 years of age, but as a parent I've found myself just cracking up while reading through them with my little guy. Great books that teach kids it's not a bad thing to get out of their comfort zone and go "exploring".

I Love My New Toy! by Mo Willems.  Mo Willems is basically a genius boy in the body of a man. He knows just what to write and how to illustrate a book that's entertaining without being overpowering. In this series of books he has two main characters, Elephant & Piggie, who always manage to run into some sort of problem or another, but by the end they work through it and are best buddies again. And as a bonus, if you can really get into reading this book to your little one, they will eat it up and ask for it again and again!

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. My little guy had a difficult time learning some very basic things, like where your shoulders are for example. The doctors wanted us to work on this. So, I found this gem of a book. Not the normal suggested Eric Carle book, but by far one of my favorites by him. You will smile and giggle as your little one turns their head and wiggles their toes. By the time you've read this a few times you will have all those tough body parts down with no problem at all and even some fun.

And a sixth for when they're a little older...

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. This is a book I've loved since I was very little. Shel Silverstein is by far one of the best children's authors I've ever read, the poems from "Where the Sidewalk Ends" are some that have stuck with me throughout my life. But "The Giving Tree" is my favorite of his. It teaches us to give and be grateful for what we receive, a lesson each of us - children and adults - can learn from.

These are just some of the great books I'd definitely have to have in my collection for "family reading time". They probably aren't the typical-popular picks, but they're the ones we've fallen in love with and couldn't do without. Happy reading!

Great picks, Danielle.  I see some familiar favorites from our house in there.  Thank you so much for participating in my blogoversary celebrations! 

Remember, everyone: Danielle blogs over at There's A Book. Pop on over and become a follower right now!

Review: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Rated: 4 demonic dolls out of 5

Acquire it: Bad Girls Don't Die

Summary: Lexi wants to pretend that there's nothing wrong, that her dysfunctional little family is acting normally.  But when she hears that her little sister, Kasey, attacked another girl and broke her arm, she has to face the truth: something is seriously wrong.  It seems there's an evil spirit influencing Kasey, and her obsession with dolls starts to look like something a lot more sinister than a simple hobby.  Kasey seems to be on a mission to destroy all her enemies, and if Lexi doesn't find a way to stop her, she might just be next on the list.

Opening line: "I stood perfectly still, looking up at the house and the dark sky behind it."

My thoughts:  This might not have been the best choice of reading material for a long, sleepless night spent caring for a sick baby.  But how was I supposed to put it down?  Once I got started on this story, I just couldn't stop.  Bad Girls Don't Die has the perfect level of scary creepiness to keep you hooked in and on edge, without reducing you to a gibbering ball of terror.  Love it.

On the downside, the romantic storyline really felt like an unnecessary afterthought.  The love interest served no purpose in the plot other than to be a love interest.  Is it illegal to publish a YA novel with no romance?  Just wondering.  I was also bothered by the "my parents are so self-involved they completely ignore me" stereotype.  It's been a little overdone.

Overall, great book!  I'm not even a big fan of horror or scary stories, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The perfect level of creepiness.

About Katie Alender: "She enjoys writing, reading, sewing (especially quilts), practicing yoga, photography, visiting friends’ blogs, and hanging out with her husband (known on the blog as “the husb”) and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Winston." -borrowed from the bio on her website

Second opinions:
Presenting Lenore
Shooting Stars Mag
Steph Su Reads
S. Krishna's Books

Just as a side note, this is one of the books up for grabs in my blogoversary give away.  Click the link in the right sidebar to go enter the contest.

Blogoversary Interview: Jennifer from Reading with Tequila

Today I'm talking with Jennifer from the blog Reading With Tequila.  Her blog title comes with the following disclaimer: "I don't suggest literally reading with tequila. Books take a significant time to read and if you spend that time drinking tequila, your vision will get blurry and there's a good chance you'll puke all over your book. Tequila does that."

First, let's play three truths and a lie. Tell us four facts about yourself, one of which is fictional. (Readers, scroll to the end to discover the lie.)

1.  I have watched 2,004 movies at last count and Ernest Saves Christmas still remains one of my absolute favorites.

2.  I would leave my husband for Neil Patrick Harris in a heartbeat. If he liked women. And wanted one with 3 kids.

3.  I am obscenely addicted to tea. Most days it's the only thing I drink.

4.  I have 6 tattoos, the latest one being a "tramp stamp" that includes my husband's name.

How long have you been blogging, and why did you start?

I've been blogging in one form or another since I started a long ago abanodoned online diary in 2003. I began book blogging in October 2009. I had all these thoughts about the books I read and no one to share them with. I realized that while I remembered what books I had read, I couldn't begin to guess whether or not I liked them. Reading with Tequila was started as a way to keep track of what I read and if I was lucky, maybe find a couple of people to discuss books with.

Who do you think should read your blog?

I have really eclectic taste and read books from most genres and age groups. I try to keep my blog fun by holding contests that introduce readers to new books and blogs at the same time. I think Reading with Tequila would appeal to readers who want to hear about a wide variety of books and like to share their opinions about books and book-related topics. A lot of the features on my site depend on audience participation to keep them going.

If you could be a character from a book, who would you want to be and why?

Sookie Stackhouse, without a doubt. I've always wanted to read people's minds, never mind the fact she has her pick of hot supernatural men. She's a good person and manages not to come across as useless in a crisis. She's independent, without being tough-as-nails. Of course, I'm talking book Sookie, not True Blood Sookie. I don't love Anna Paquin in the role.

Tell us about a book you've read that affected you in a big way.

State of Fear by Michael Crichton completely messed with my head. The focus on environmentalism, media bias and governmental conspiracy made me question the source of every "fact" I'd ever heard. It definitely made me realize I shouldn't always take things at face value.

And lastly, the one book you think everyone should read is....

That's tough. I would have to say And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. She's truly the queen of mystery and this book is one of her absolute best.

Thanks for doing this interview with me, Jennifer!  Now everyone needs to go and check out Jennifer's blog, Reading With Tequila. It's every bit as fun as it sounds.  By the way, Jennifer's lie was #3- She's actually addicted to coffee.

Giveaway Update

I'm adding another prize to the mix.

Ivy - Julie Hearn

If you haven't entered my blogiversary contest yet, what are you waiting for?

Mini-reviews (12) Dr. Laura meets Fang

Fang by James Patterson (4/5)

Summary: Maximum Ride has survived some terrible experiences.  Her life started as a lab experiment, she's been on the run for years, and scarcely a day goes by without someone trying to kill her.  Nonetheless, her life manages to hit a new low when she hears a dire prediction - Fang, her best friend and co-flock leader, is going to die.  Soon.

My thoughts:  They can't kill Fang!  This series would be nothing without him around to keep Max in line and throw out sarcastic one-liners at the perfect moment.  Right? Keep in mind, James Patterson is the kind of author who heartlessly kills off beloved characters in many of his novels.  Cue the suspenseful music.  I'm not going to tell you what happens, though. You have to find out for yourself.  All you need to know FANG is a great installment in this series, with the trademark wit and breakneck pacing that keep me coming back every time. 

In Praise of Stay-At-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (5/5)

My thoughts:   This book hit exactly the right note for me at exactly the right time.  With her usual frank manner, Dr. Laura dishes on the joys and trials of life as a SAHM.  She talks about benefits of the lifestyle for the mom, the kids, and the family as a whole.  She tells the occasionally whiny SAHM to wise up and love her life.  It's perfect.  As a stay-at-home mom, I loved reading 200 pages of encouragement and accolades, and highly recommend this to other SAHM's.  Working moms who are happy with and committed to thier choice will likely find this book obnoxious.

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (5/5)

My thoughts: Hmm... I seem to be working my way through this series backwards. 

I loved this volume every bit as much as I enjoyed Silver Borne and stand by my recommendation for all urban fantasy fans to drop whatever you're reading and go find this book.

Teaser Tuesday: Bad Girls Don't Die

Today's teaser is from Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender. (The link will take you to the Amazon page for this book- $6.40 for a new hardback?  is that a typo?)

"After a moment she seemed to wake up.  Her eyes went wide and she shook her head furiously, but the name wouldn't stop coming out of her mouth.  Her whole body was stiff, her muscles so tense that the tendons showed in her arms."

Scary!  I haven't started on this book yet, and I'm honestly a little frightened to.  By the way, this book is up for grabs in my blogoversary giveaway.  If you haven't entered yet, be sure to check the right sidebar for a link.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!

Review: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Rated: 4 out of 5

Acquire it: The Reckoning

*Please note that this review contains spoilers for those who have not read The Summoning and The Awakening.

Summary: Chloe Sullivan just wants to be a normal girl.  But in the course of less than a month, she has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, discovered the existance of the supernatural, realized she's really a necromancer, and escaped from a sinister group home.  Now she's on the run from everyone who would love to experiment on her.  The only people she trusts are her fellow runaways- a witch, a sorceror, and a werewolf.  This is about as far from "normal" as you can get.  Also, she might be falling in love with the werewolf...

Opening line: "After four nights on the run, I was finally safe, tucked into bed and enjoying the deep, dreamless sleep of the dead... until the dead decided they'd really rather have me awake."

My thoughts:  After reading the first two books in this series last summer, I have been waiting on pins and needles for the release of the third and final title.  The Reckoning does not disappoint.  This story grabs hold of you from the very first line and will not let go until... well, I'll get back to you on that one.  I'm still grabbed.

The story joins Chloe, Derek, Simon and Tori after they've been rescued by a group of disgruntled Edison Group employees who've promised to help the teens learn about thier powers and fight back against the corporation that's been plaguing them.  But as they start to realize that Chloe and crew have powers beyond what they expected, it begins to look like the so-called "saviors" might be just as much trouble as the Edison Group was.  The twists and turns just keep coming as Chloe tries to use her tenuous control over the dead to figure out what the heck is going on.

Can I just point out that these are some of the most sensible teen heroes to ever break out of adult control and set forth on their own?  They don't make the usual stupid mistakes you'd expect.  They figure out what's going on long before you're screaming at them to smarten up.  And, wonder of wonders, Chloe doesn't let guys, even ones she likes, to walk all over her just because they make puppy dog eyes and pretty promises.  How refreshing!

My one complaint about this book is all the loose ends.  I don't want to give too much away, but there is a lot left hanging at the end.  I can only hope some of it will be wrapped up with the release of The Gathering, the first book in a new-but-related series that's being released next year. 

And the time of waiting begins anew...