Sitting on a Cornflake

Did you know that many writers and authors out there in blogland run contests and giveaways?

Katherine Warwick is at present running a contest linked to the US TV show, Dancing With The Stars. All you need to do is guess which star will be voted off each week, and you could win a copy of her latest book, Savage. (Previously, entrants outside the US have been offered an e-copy.. I’ll get Katherine to fill us in with the details.)

One of my other favourite authors, Raven Hart, often runs contests in her blog. Prizes often include copies of her books, or hand made jewellry.

Another one to run great contests is Jennifer McKenzie/Leeland.

Do you know of any other writer / author blogs that run contests? Do share.

Since I’ve been running my forum, I’ve tried to write short reviews of some of my books, especially if I’ve enjoyed them. I encourage other members to do the same, and some of those people now also contribute to the forum’s review blog.

I’m now reaching a point where authors are asking me to take a look at their book, plus Headline publishers have been sending us quite a selection to review. This is something I really like doing, but it’s making me look seriously at how I do it.

I have been in contact with quite a few writers and authors over the past couple of years, and have gotten to know a few quite well. I know how passionate they are about what they do, and how much their books mean to them.. and hence also the reviews that those books receive. I’ve realised that every single book has a person behind it, someone who could be hurt by a negative comment.

However, if I’m reviewing books, then surely I owe it to the potential reader to be honest with my thoughts too. Right? If I enjoy a book, then I also take pleasure from helping to promote it, and it’s author.. but that isn’t my main role.

But.. neither is my role to provide purely my opinion on the book. I might really dislike it, whereas the next person to read it might love it. We all have different tastes, after all, which is what makes this world so interesting.

I also believe that my reviews do need to have honesty behind them.. if I tell you that every book I review is great, how am I going to point out the ones that I really do feel are great?

So, I’ve come to the conclusion (I think! I ramble, I know!) that I need to develop a style whereas I can describe the book, discuss it’s good and bad points, but do so in a way that lets the reader make up their own mind whether to try it or not. This isn’t all about my reading experience, but also allowing others to decide if it will be a good one for them.

I know a few writers pop by my blog every now and again, and also some readers.. I would really LOVE to know what your feelings are on this. Authors.. would you rather always get nice reviews.. would you ask someone to look at your book if there was a chance the review wouldn’t be glowing? Readers.. what do you want to get out of a review.. are you looking for the reviewer’s personal opinions, or a general feeling about the book? Please do share.

It’s very noisy on my book shelf at the moment, as I have so many books jumping up and down, and shouting for my attention! There are even some on the computer doing it aswell!

Here are a selection of those in progress, and those waiting…

Sarah Challis - Footprints in the Sand is in progress.. it’s fairly slow moving, but the settings are well written, and the characters interesting.

Patrick Gale - Portraits from an Exhibition is also in progress, and I’m getting very wrapped up in it. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.

Jennifer McKenzie - I have two ebooks on my computer, and Jenn, I PROMISE you I will get there very soon!

Lucy Diamond - Any way You Want Me has just arrived, and I’m keen to get going. Keep tuned for an interview with the author. (http://authorinterviews.wordpress.com/)

Imogen Howson - I’ve already read a little from this author, and am VERY keen to get to some more. Back to the Mobipocket Reader for me! Again, interview coming soon!

Rod Glenn - Sinema, which is something very different from the books I’ve been picking up recently. Should be interesting!

So, what are you keen to read, or enjoying right now?

Since running my book forum, I have had the pleasure of getting to know various writers and authors.. and through them, discovering new ones. Some of these authors have only published ebooks, or the paper book is only available in the US.

Considering that I spend so much time in front of my monitor, reading too many docs or pdfs on here isn’t something that I’m keen on.. but I don’t want to miss out on these authors.

Yesterday I downloaded Mobipocket Reader (free!), and it has made a big difference! The layout is more like reading a book, but the real joy is that you have so much control.. you can change the font family, font size, and even colour. You can set it to one page, or 2 or 3 columns. Basically, whatever you (and your eyes) feel more comfortable with.

Some books are available in a ‘mobipocket’ format, but it also downloads and converts all other formats.. so I’ve now added a couple of pdfs on there.

Of course, I have this on my laptop, but apparently it can also be used on most mobile devices.. and files can be easily be transferred.

I think a whole new world has opened up to me!

PS What was the final push to try this? Well, I was following some blog links, and I came across this site.. Imogen Howsen. Her site grabbed my attention, as did her books. They were only available online, and I was keen to take a look. So far, I’m very glad I did.. stay tuned to find out more!

I’ve had a bit of trouble getting into my books recently, and I’ve just put a couple back on the shelf, unfinished.

Today I met one of the ladies from the forum, and we decided to meet in Lakeside. Not only did we have a lovely time, but the first two shops we walked into were Waterstones and The Works! In the first shop, I found a copy of Life of Pi.. this is a book we’re discussing on the book forum, but I hadn’t decided whether to read it. However, there on the shelf was the hardback, illustrated version, for just £4.99! I actually think that having it in that format makes it look more appealing, so I’ll be picking it up soon.

In The Works, I found a hardback copy of John, for just £3.99 - this is a biography of John Lennon, written by his first wife, Cynthia. I don’t often read biographies, but I’m looking forward to this one.

Oh, and from amazon yesterday came Neil Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors, and Patrick Gale’s Notes From An Exhibition. I recently read Neverwhere, and I tend to enjoy short stories, so I’m looking forward to Smoke and Mirrors. And Notes From An Exhibition looks like the sort of thing I enjoy.

So… what am I doing writing on here.. I need to go read! LOL

It’s happened again, I’ve found another great author! Rebecca Royle contacted me, and very kindly sent me a copy of both her books.

Lucy’s Monster, her debut, is a dark tale of major celebrities, dealing with undiagnosed schizophrenia and drug abuse. It builds to an amazing crescendo half way through, then leads you to the touching ending.

As often happens with books sent to me, I wasn’t sure what I would make of this one, but Rebecca’s style just caught hold, and wouldn’t let go. If you’re looking for something different and gripping, this may be for you.

Her second book, E11even Terrible Months, is a realistic ghost story, set in Yorkshire. At times, it comes across as being a little too factual, like a report, but I think that’s where the strength of the book lies. It doesn’t go for gory frights, or horror clichés, just the chilling experiences of a normal family.

As a bonus, the books are limited editions, with E11even Terrible Months being a gorgeous hardback. You can read my reviews on the book forum.. and if you’re quick, you can enter the competition!

Publisher’s Website

A while ago, Bethany decided that she liked The Beatles, with Please Please Me being her favourite album of theirs.

Today I put on one of my Kinks’ albums.. Amy immediately started trying to sing along, and the announced she liked these songs!

What can I say.. they have their mum’s good taste! <grin>

Following on from last post, there is another author that I wish to share with you all.. Raven Hart.

My friend Cindy told me about a vampire book that a friend of hers had written, and she had loved. That isn’t Cindy’s ‘thing’, so I was interested to see what it was she liked.

She then sent me a copy of The Vampire’s Seduction, signed by Raven, so I thought I’d take a look.

I LOVED it!

It wasn’t exactly ‘horror’, but neither was it the ‘chick lit’ type vampire book that I’d been reading recently. It had strong main characters, a great story line, and some rather steamy sex, that just seemed to fit, rather than seeming out of place.

Since then, Raven has VERY kindly sent me the manuscript for book 2, and book 3. The Vampire’s Secret is my favourite book in the series, but The Vampire’s Kiss was great too, because you can sense the series developing. I sense that Raven isn’t done yet.. we have alot in store!

If you enjoy vampires (as well as shape shifters, voodoo, zombies, Goddesses and a Slayer!),and you’re looking for something new to get caught up in, you can’t go far wrong.

Raven.. please hurry up and get book 4 to me! <grin>

To find out more, visit Raven’s official site.

Since running my book forum, I have been privileged to connect with various writers and authors.. some well known, others not. What continues to amaze me is that I’ve read some pretty rubbish books in my time, and yet there are some great writers out there, who either can’t get published, or can’t get that ‘marketing push’ that gets them properly noticed.

One of these writers is Katherine Warwick. Although published, she is struggling to get the big publishing houses to notice her. As far as I’m concerned, they’re missing out!

Katherine visited the forum, and she then sent me a copy of one of her books. This was one of her ballroom dance romance books, and I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it at all!

Thankfully, I was proved wrong. The romance element in the book was believable,  and the insight to ballroom dance was rather interesting. Katherine avoids writing about sex, and yet the book ’sizzles’.. you can sense the passion in both the dance, and the romance.

Another interesting part of the story was the experiences of the main character, caring for her young daughter with autism. I found out after that Katherine has an adorable daughter with autism herself.. and it feels as if she’s poured her own experience into the book.

Since that time, I have read the rest of her ballroom dance novels, and have enjoyed each. It’s still not my ‘thing’, but Katherine has a writing style that pulls you in to the story, and that has made each book a joy to read.

Katherine also writes YA fiction, mainly romance. Whilst reading these, I can picture each one as a film. I would imagine that most teens would enjoy reading them.

In addition, Katherine has written what she calls ‘edgy YA fiction’. An Open Vein is one of my favourite books, and has been loved by everyone who has read it on the forum.

As a bonus, Katherine is a lovely, caring person, and has become a very close friend. However, that doesn’t influence the way I feel about her books. ‘Ballroom dance’ and ‘romance’ are just not my thing, and yet I’m proud to have her books on my book shelf. I think that’s a reflection on the level of writing.

To find out more, please take a look at her official site. 

I love to read, and always have done. I am really hoping that my girls will be the same. At 3, Amy is very keen on books.. she loves going to the library, and will happily sit with someone whilst they read to her. I hope it lasts.

Bethany certainly has no problem with the ‘mechanics’ of books.. she whizzed through her reading stages at school, and I’ve recently noticed that she’s much better at understanding the story. She sometimes reads to Amy, and she makes them sound really good.

However, she’s not reached that point where she ‘enjoys’ her own books. When she says she’s bored, it has to be suggested that she reads, rather than her reaching for a book as I would do; and I’m yet to find a longer book that she will get into. She’d rather read short, easy books.

What about your children.. are they keen readers; any recommendations for an 8 year old who’s more of a tom boy? And what about you, were you a childhood bookworm?