Turning the Tables on Book Bloggers with a HUGE GIVEAWAY - Colleen Hoover

Review and huge giveaway from Totally Booked!

Posted by colleenhoover

"...There are so many factors that play into the success an author has.  Without a doubt, the basis for the success my books have seen has been word of mouth.  The most significant form of word of mouth being book bloggers.

I may not have known what a book blogger was just over a year ago, but I certainly do now.  They are readers who spend their time reviewing books they love (and sometimes books they don’t love).  They spend their time promoting authors, doing giveaways, creating blog posts that create new readers.  And the majority of them do it for nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  The only motivator they have is simply their love for reading.  That in itself is enough to keep a writer wanting to write.

I’ve spoken with many other authors who share the same appreciative attitude toward bloggers.  Without bloggers and their endless support, our books would not be where they are today.

Simply put…

Bloggers.
Kick.
Ass.

Which brings me to the point of this post." 

-CYM

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Benefits Of E-Readers For The Elderly {Guest Post}

Many times people suggest that older people and technology do not mix well. However, this is not always true, especially in the case of e-readers. There are numerous advantages of e-readers for older people, some that may seem obvious, while others are benefits that you might have never thought of yourself.

Why are e-readers ‘old people’ friendly?

There are a number of different benefits to using an e-reader for someone over the age of 60, for example:

• Scalable font size – Try buying a book that offers you a scalable font size, it is not going to happen. However, the option to increase or decrease the font size according to the surrounding light level and eyesight can provide a real benefit to the elderly. As eyesight decreases, it is a great option to be able to make the font just a little larger.
• Lightness and comfort – Even though it is not ‘standard’, aches and pains are common for many older people. This can make it uncomfortable to hold a book that consists of more than 300 pages or to open and fold a newspaper. Most e-readers practically weigh nothing, making them extremely comfortable to hold.
• Remember the last read page – As short-term memory decreases with age, it may be easy to forget where someone was in a book. You can bend the last page you were reading, but it is doubtful that you would want to do this with borrowed books. Bookmarks tend to shift quite a bit, why not let technology take care of it for you.

E-readers and libraries

What if you do not want to have to buy all new books yourself? A number of libraries are buying e-books that delete themselves automatically after a few weeks (which is long enough to read them) and come with some form of copy protection. This mean that it works just as you would expect with paper library books, with the added benefit that you do not have to return them at all!

Reading in bed

Many people prefer to read a little before they go to sleep. Have you ever tried getting comfortable on your back and still hold a book close enough to read? You do not have to keep changing positions to change the page either. Once you are comfortable, you can remain that way and click the “advance” or “next page” button as you continue to read.

Light when you travel

You are not going to see many older people who carry around laptops or iPods when they travel. Oftentimes the preferred method of keeping busy while traveling is reading. However, you can run into problems with books causing your baggage or carry-on to be too heavy rather quickly. You can avoid this problem by bringing along one single e-reader. As you can see, while technology may seem a bit intimidating at first, an e-reader is honestly a great purchase for anyone who loves to read but is unwilling or unable to keep lugging books around.

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Thank you Jonathan for your guest post today!
{Cym}

Jonathan Rosenfeld is a nursing home attorney and regular is asked to speak to groups who support the rights of the elderly. Read more about his work by visiting his blog www.nursinghomesabuseblog.com

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Getting Ready for the Holidays - Book Style!

Is it really that time of year again?  I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week & then Christmas is close behind. So, no matter what holidays you celebrate, here are some great ideas for decorating with books.

Let's start with the holiday table. You can click on an image & it will take you to the original link.

Need a few Christmas Tree & Decoration ideas?



















Let the count down begin - cute bookish advent calendar ideas.





Are you decorating with books this year?
XOXO
Beachbrights
(guest blogger)

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Spotlights from Around the Web - Book Edition

This is a round up of some bookish internet spotlights.

Enjoy!

1. Melville House: Writers in Underpants

On a recent afternoon, in the middle of some research for an upcoming book, I fell down a Google rabbit hole and landed on a Polish blog post with the delightful title (according to Google Translate) “Writers in underpants.” You might expect to find Ernest Hemingway or Truman Capote in such a gallery, but who knew there were shirtless photos of Franz Kafka? Or Melville House author Imre Kertész? What other surprises could be found out there?

2.  What Should I Read Next?

Enter a book you like and the site will analyse our huge database of real readers' favorite books to provide book recommendations and suggestions for what to read next.

3.  Anybody else feel this way?

4.  Quick and Clever Halloween Centerpieces, BHG.

Have a great weekend!

Beachbrights

(guest blogger)

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Book Spotlights from Around the Web

| Guest Post |

from

Beachbrights

1. Advengers Bookmark craft from Crafts by Amanda.

2. So you want to publish a cookbook by Justcook NYC.

3. Where all my free time is going...A Whole Lot of Nothing. Let me know if you want me to recommend any books on her list ;)

4. Word to the wise...Thanks Ernest Hemingway. {source}

Have a great week/weekend-

XOXO

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Book Typography

Hello Cym Lowell Blog Readers...

long time no see!!

Here is some fun book theme typography that would be great to have hanging around your library.

Happy Reading!

source


source



source



no source



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Source



Source



no source


XOXO-
Beachbrights

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3 Popular E-Readers: The Pros, the Cons, and the Bottom Line

~Guest Post from Amber Paley~

With so many e-readers out there, it’s difficult to know which one to choose. Here are the facts on some of the most popular.

The Kindle Fire
Price: $199
Operating System: Android
Weight: 14.6 oz
Size: 7.5 inches
Storage: 8 GB (or 6,000 books)
External Storage: Incapable
Battery Life: 8 hours of continuous reading

Made by Amazon, this inexpensive tablet works flawlessly not only with Amazon's impressive e-book selection, but also with all of Amazon’s media collections. Users have access to magazines, music, and video. Additionally, because it works on the Android OS, users have access to the Amazon market place, i.e. app market, which includes widely-used apps like Netflix and Hulu.

The iPad 2
Price: $475 - $630
Operating System: Apple iOS 5
Weight: 21.2 oz
Size: 9.5 inches
Storage: Starts at 16 GB (or 12,000 books); can pay more for more space
Battery Life: 10 hours

Everyone’s heard of the iPad 2; it is after all the leader in the tablet market. Offering access to iTunes, the iPad 2 allows users to buy books, movies, music, and popular apps (like Netflix or Angry Birds). This tablet isn’t just an e-reader; it’s an all-out entertainment electronic. Users can also video chat, take pictures with its front and rear cameras, and browse the internet quickly through its 3G option.

Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet
Price: $250
Operating System: Android
Weight: 14.1 oz
Size: 8.1 inches
Storage: 16 GB (or 12,000 books)
External Storage: SD capability.
Battery Life: 11.5 hours of continuous reading.

This e-reader is one of Barnes and Nobles products. Though technically on the Android OS, users do not have access to the Android market. Instead, users can download eBooks, eMagazines, and apps through Barnes and Nobles’ Nook. It comes internet ready and is “optimized for Netflix and Hulu Plus video playback.”

The Bottom Line


Before deciding between these e-readers, you must ask yourself what you want out of your product. Are you looking specifically for an e-reader, without all of the bells and whistles? Or are you looking for a media tablet, where you can download games, movies, and browse the internet?

If you’re looking specifically for an e-reader: Go with either the Nook or the Kindle Fire; they are less expensive than the iPad 2, and both have glare-minimizing screens as opposed to the iPad 2. The Nook offers more in the way of storage and battery life. But the Kindle Fire offers more in terms of apps.

If you’re looking for something beyond just an e-reader, go ideally with the iPad 2, or if your budget doesn’t permit it, go with the Kindle Fire. Barnes and Nobles’ app store is very new and pales greatly in comparison to the access Kindle Fire and iPad 2 users have to apps.

Thank you Amber for this guest post!
-CYM

Amber Paley is a guest poster bringing us a comparison of some of the highest ranking e-readers. Though the tech world is a hobby of hers, Amber is first a writer and she spends much of her professional life writing about nursing home abuse.

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A Sweethaven Summer :: Fiction Giveaway

If there's one thing I love in life, it's getting lost in a paperback novel. I love knowing it's there, waiting for me at the top of the stack on my night-stand. If it's really good, I toss it in my big ol' bag when I run out for an errand. (I like to pretend that I'm one of those moms who might find herself with a quiet moment to read.)

I love heading in to bed early and propping myself up. I like turning the pages with fingertips smelling faintly of orange peel. I like a cup of tea beside me, with a spoon to clank around.

I've got this down to a science, people.

In Junior High, I used to stay up until three in the morning and read two teen romances. It bugged me that the girls were always so pretty. I wanted to read one sometime where she was just average and still landed square-jawed Todd. Regardless, I read on, feeling so cool when my older brother came home after curfew only to find me wide awake...sitting on my bed...reading.

Looking back, he never seemed all that impressed. "Dude, my little sister is so cool! She stays home every Saturday night and reads!"

I think you understand all of my points, the main one being that I was born not to party, not to be wild, not to run, but to read. Jealous much?

Here's something that I didn't realize until very recently. Reading a novel written by a friend is a brand new kind of awesome.

My friend Courtney Walsh just released her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer. People. It's such a fun read. It's beachy and Summery. It's transportive. The ideal prescription for mid-February gloom and despair. It redeemed a recent slow stretch of cooped-up, too-cold, get-me-the-heck-out-of-here days, and for that I will be forever grateful.

What I loved second-most was the story of friendships that transcend years and hurts. Aren't we all suckers for that? What I love third-most was the undercurrent of food. Give me some sweet tea and carrot cake, Adele. Fourth most? The cute boy, Luke. Fifth? The nostalgia. Sixth? The suspense.

Here's what I kinda hated the most: Courtney is so dang good at weaving together a story. She makes it look easy and I know it's not. I wanted answers and she had me trapped between racing to find them and slowing down to ride the train. I wanted to climb into her noggin' and take a good look around, really see how it worked. (Hey Court? Wanna write my book for me? Pleaseandthankyou.)

What I loved most of all was getting a window-seat into the soul of my friend. I loved hearing her laugh during the funny parts and seeing her quirks in her characters. I loved being amazed (but not surprised) by her ability to pick me right up and take me to that cute little lake-side town.

Homegirl carries a full-size bottle of creamer in her purse and magic up in her brain.

But don't just take my word for it.

You can buy your own copy of A Sweethaven Summer here, here, or here. (It'll be available for Kindle, soon, Sherry!)

And if you leave a comment HERE, I'll enter you in a giveaway to win a copy. Tell me about your favorite summer memory from childhood or your nerdiest way of spending a Saturday night in the 8th grade or just tell me your name. I'm not here to complicate life.

I'll draw a winner on Sunday evening. And remember, you can comment even if you don't have a blog. Just be sure to leave your email address in the comment!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Flower Patch Farmgirl for this awesome review & giveaway. Be sure to visit Shannon's Blog and leave a comment to win!

-CYM

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NY Resolutions: The 2012 Reader's TO DO List

~Guest Post~

(photo via usnaorbust)

We are just a few weeks into the new year and it’s likely that you already have some major ‘to-dos’ planned for the next twelve months. Eat more vegetables, go to the gym, recycle and stick to a strict budget might just name a few—but, why not add an item to the list that you would really enjoy crossing off: read more! If you are an avid reader who just can’t get enough of your true love of books, then be sure to check out the following reading to-do list for 2012:

Reflect on your childhood. Take a trip down memory lane to when life didn’t revolve around work, bills, work and more bills…back to a simpler time when your days involved getting lost in Norton Juster and your only worry was when you were going to take a break for mom’s famous PB&J. Although times have changed and you are older now, why not select a favorite book from your childhood vault and enjoy the magic of reliving stories like The Phantom Tollbooth all over again? You will rediscover your imagination, dreams and of course, your fascination for books.

Read to someone who can’t. Volunteering your time to another person is one of the best gifts you can give—especially when you incorporate the gift of reading. This year, search for opportunities in your community to volunteer to read—whether it’s at a nursing home or a children’s hospital, the elderly and sick children love having company. Not only will this lift the spirits of someone who might be very ill or lonely, but it will lift yours as well.

Try something new. If you are a die-hard romance novel reader who reads romance and only romance, why not switch things up a bit this year? Try reading a book outside of the genre that you would normally pick. Opening the pages of a new book will also open you up to new stories, authors, ideas and possibly a new passion. Who knows…it just might turn out that the romance queen could uncover a love for all things science-fiction.

Visit the library. What did readers do back in the old days when there weren’t Kindles or online bookstores available? They went to libraries. In this technologically advanced world with the ability to access a book with the touch of a button, we seem to have forgotten about this once well-known venue. Although you might feel like a caveman, ditch your e-reader and spend a day getting lost in your city’s public library to enjoy your time reading, exploring and basking in the glory that is a building filled with thousands upon thousands of classic reads—even check out a book or two!

Start writing. You don’t have to start penning the next big novel on the New York Times Best Sellers List—but writing in a journal is a great goal for 2012. As you venture through a good book, take to a personal journal with your thoughts about the characters, their struggles and how you can relate situations in the book to your own life. Analyzing books you read through writing is a great way of expressing your feelings, emotions and channeling your own creative energy.

~Mark Weikel~

(guest blogger)

Mark Weikel is a guest post author who shares with us his ideas for taking your hobby of reading to a whole new level in 2012. In addition, Mark also writes for Best Gay Dating Sites where he offers gay singles information on safe online dating.

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Valentine Book Ideas **Guest Post**

I love Valentine's Day. Years ago I declared Valentine's Day "As My Day"!  Maybe it's the chocolate, flowers & Champaign...or maybe it's those two great colors of red & pink that go together for this special day?? Anyway, here is some of my latest Valentine inspiration~book style!

1. Heart Shape Bookmarks made from Paper Clips (via Design*Sponge)

2. Heart Bookmarks (via Creativehomemakers)

3.  Valentine Wreath from Book Pages (via Holly Mathis Interiors)

4. Photo Bookmarks (Edda Photography Blog)

5. Heart Garland (via Flea Market Style Mag)

What are you inspired by for Valentine's Day?

XOXO

Beachbrights

(guest blogger)

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Readers and Writers *Guest Post*

Do you have a special reader or writer on your holiday list this year and you’re at a loss for ideas for the perfect present? Well, if you don’t want to give them the default gift of a book and face the chance for an awkward moment when they open it and tell you it’s one they’ve already read 100 times, be sure to check out the following suggestions that are sure to dub you the best gift giver since jolly old St. Nick himself:

#1: Give a book weight: If your book lover can’t even eat a meal without reading, this little stocking stuffer will be perfect for freeing up their hands so that they can multitask when they just can’t seem to put down that novel. For writers, book weights are great for holding your books/notes/other materials open for reference while they are typing up an award-winning piece.

#2: Give a journal. Typically, most writers in today’s modern world prefer to compose their work on a computer; however writers are always coming up with ideas and inspiration on the go…so when creativity strikes, and a laptop is nowhere to be found, a journal or notebook to jot down their thoughts would make a great holiday gift. Any writer would be happy to receive a legendary Moleskin journal. And if you want to make it extra-personal, you can even have the recipient’s initials put on the front.

#3: Give beverages. Just because you plan on buying a gift for an avid reader doesn’t mean that you have to buy them something to actually read. Think outside the box and get them something to enjoy while they read. For many, kicking back with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine is the ultimate way to unwind. Consider gifting your reader with their favorite blend or a gift card to Starbucks. If your reader happens to be a connoisseur of wine, consider giving them a bottle or a pair of wine glasses.

#4: Give music. When in the writing or reading zone, a lot of people like to enjoy their hobby with some good back ground music. If you know their taste in music or their favorite artist, an album purchased on iTunes or an iTunes gift card has the makings for a great holiday present.

#5: Give a class. For writers, there is no end for improvement—they are continuously honing their craft and learning ways to become a better writer. So give them this gift that keeps on giving! Search the web to find available writing courses nearby, online or even pick up a book on the subject. This will be an untraditional gift that can really help a writer brush up on details like grammar, punctuation, composition and descriptive writing skills.

#6: Give a Snuggie. And no, not even as a gag gift. As hilarious as these robe/blanket contraptions may look, they are actually quite practical! What better during the cold winter months than to curl up by the fire with a cup of cocoa and a best-seller…and your Snuggie? With this gift, your reader will be able to keep warm as they escape into relaxation on a brisk night in with a good book.

#7: Give an e-reader. Any reading or writing enthusiast is sure to have this gem of a gift on their wish list for Santa this year. With e-readers like the Kindle, you can give the recipient the gift of a massive book selection (over 800,000 titles from which to choose for $10 or less), advanced technology featuring E Ink display that reads just like paper, built-in Wi-Fi allowing you to access books in 60 seconds, as well as the ability to borrow Kindle books from your public library. And all for the low price of $79, your reader/writer will thank you—and so will your wallet!

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Erica St. Claire is a guest post author who shares with us this post on the best gifts for readers and writers this holiday season. In addition, Erica also works for Catholic Dating Sites where she focuses on educating readers about safe online dating.

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Is the Future of Literature Really Electronic?

*Guest Post*

The future of the humble paperback is becoming more and more uncertain by the day. As sales of both paperback and hardback books continue to fall, the eBook is getting stronger by the day. Is the future of literature really going to be inside a portable reading machine rather than trusty bound paper?

The advance of the eReader
EReaders in their various guises from Kindle to Kobo are going from strength to strength. Sales are increasing month on month and Juniper Research have recently forecast that worldwide sales of eReaders are predicted to reach around 67 million by 2016, which is three times more than the 2011 estimate of 25 million. The increase in sales can be attributed both to the products decrease in price, with the newest version of the Kindle retailing at just $79 and also the revolutionary development of e-ink technology. E-ink technology has drawn in unlikely eBook enthusiasts who previously bemoaned the development of eBooks when read of a standard LCD screen. E-ink allows for clear, crisp text and images and it basically
mimics real paper.

Further developments in eBook expansion have been realized in The Wall Street Journal recognizing that eBook sales are just as relevant to total sales as regular books. The Wall Street Journal is following the New York Times and USA Today who already have eBooks included in their book sales charts. Retailers including both Apple and Amazon are among the leading retailers who are passing their details onto the Nielsen ratings company who then pass the details onto The Wall Street Journal and other publications.

EBook lending is also becoming extremely popular in public libraries across the country and this adding even more impetus to the rise of the eBook and its surpassing of the regular paperback as the most popular way of reading. It seems public library users are huge fans of eBook lending and according to the Library Journal publication; public libraries increased their eBook offerings by 185% this year. A case in point can be seen at Seattle Public Library whose eBook collection and circulation grew by 92% in 2010 according to their electronic resources librarian. In September this year, Amazon decided it was time to turn on the Kindle to 11,000 public libraries, which obviously caused a surge in new library users and pays testament to the power of the eBook and its rapid development.

What about "real" books?
Does the advance of the eReader really mean the end for traditional books? In a word, no. There are plenty of ardent traditionalists who are committed to traditional reading and curling up in their favorite reading chair. In addition to this there are still plenty of imperfections in eBooks and eReader technology, often found in their shoddy editing leading to repetitive spelling and syntactical errors. Similarly, there is a lot less choice with eBook as not every book that is published is digitalized.

Similarly, some books can be very expensive when digitalised especially rare and historical texts. There is also a romantic, emotional connection to traditional books. Many readers can relate the touch and smell of a book to their experiences at the time and also, very few people would want to introduce reading to their kids via their eReader. Surely nobody will be able to artificially recreate the smell of a hardback for the eBook generation. When introducing a child to their first book the experience is about more than just the words and pictures. The sensory enjoyment of feeling and hearing the word is extremely valuable for a
childís development. The same cannot be gained through an eReader, although thereís nothing to say technology won't develop in the future to allow for a more intuitive and child-friendly interface.

So, the big question: is the future of the literature found in the eReader? All the statistics would point to yes but despite this books are still selling and there are experiences, like the reading of a child's first book, which needs to be done with a "real" book. There are camps on both sides of the fence: some support a
full digitalisation of all books and others want the digitalisation to stop completely. The future of literature is tied to both sides of this argument as whilst there are significant numbers of people willing to pay for both and the demand is strong enough, it won't be possible to stop production of either medium.

*Guest Post*

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Around the Web...Book Style.

1. Writerland: Is Blogging a Waste of Time? The weekend before last, I attended a publishing panel at the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto during which literary agent Andy Ross of the Andy Ross Literary Agency said, “Publishers say they expect you to blog and to use social media. I blog and I get about 100 hits a day, and I’m relatively famous, and that’s not enough to impress a publisher.”

2. High Tech News Portal: Mobile Game Developers Rovio Breaking Into The Publishing Scene? [Angry Birds Makers Rovio My Be Looking To Use Cash Surplus To Get Into Publishing] Read: Mobile Game Developers Rovio Breaking Into The Publishing Scene? [Angry Birds Makers Rovio My Be Looking To Use Cash Surplus To Get Into Publishing]

3. Dean Wesley Smith: Book Cards Work. You walk into any major store and see a huge stand of gift cards. Now imagine that rack full of cards are all cards that represent electronic books. All the buyer of the card has to do is log in a code on the back of the gift card to download the book to any device.

4. The Nex Web: Love books and hate carrying a wallet? The BookBook iPhone case is for you. Twelve South has a history of making very well thought out cases and stands for iPhone, iPad and Mac. The BookBook for iPhone is its attempt to shrink down the success of their book-inspired cases for the MacBook and iPad into something that you’ll want to carry around in your pocket.

5.  Pretty Spine Designs. Penguin By Design.

Have a great weekend!

Beachbrights

(guest post)

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