On-Line Fighting

Dear Authors:
Quit fighting and airing your dirty laundry on facebook. Grow up. Good grief this isn't jr. high. I'd rather you get in a ring and duke it out, but this 'they said this and they said that' makes me say SHUT UP! I really don't care you got your feelings hurt by a post. Move on and be the bigger 'person.' Constantly rehashing and getting your 'friends' involved makes you look like the problem. Unless I see blood, I don't want to hear any more whining.
So go to your rooms. Sit in time out and think about what you are going to say and do to resolve this problem... out of the public eye.
Love,
Mom

Authors forget they are in the spotlight.  Readers are enamored with these secret people who spin stories of love, romance, danger and mythical worlds.  But, when authors bring personal business to the forefront, watch out.  It turns into a rally.  Supporters of the author gather round and put their two cents in and the soap box gets a work out.  Best advice I can give... stay out of the feud. 
We all want to protect those we love.  So when an author gets bashed, it is the street team to the rescue.   (a street team is a group that supports and promotes the author)  Street team members usually feel close to one another because they believe in a common goal... Support the Author. 
These on-line fights can get ugly.  Words are said, and as we all know, much can be lost in translation via a keyboard and a screen.  Some people become very brave while sitting in their comfy chairs and spout off hurtful words and attack anyone who doesn't believe in the cause, including other team members.  Some sit quietly while eating popcorn, while others wait for the storm to pass and wait passively. 
Me?  I could care less, other than I find it entertaining!  True colors are exposed as one minute they are F-bombing, fist pumping, and slapping one another on the back.  The next they are singing 'kum bah yah' and toasting S'mores.   
Personally, I thought multi-media was supposed to be fun and a way to stay connected.  Seems the way to stay connected is with flying fingers and words.  "Block" is quickly becoming one of my favorite words. 
It is often said people feel like there is a party going on, but they failed to receive an invitation.  Please realize all these people are sitting at home, by themselves, and staring at a computer screen.  There is no party!  Their entertainment for the day is 'fighting for the cause!' 
Never forget you can be whoever YOU want to be on the internet, BUT SO CAN EVERYONE ELSE!  That person you are communicating with may say they are male, but really are female or vice versa.  Do not invite someone on to your computer you would not invite into your home!
Never give money!  Yes, you may be asked. 
Two words:  NO and BLOCK.

How Do I Get Started?

"How do I get started?"  As a blogger, beta reader and reviewer I am frequently asked this question.  These are the people I love to help!  I see a need and I offer solutions!
*First, I test the water and try to build trust. If I am scrolling through my News Feed and come across a book being promoted, I ask if I can promote their link on my Facebook blog page.  I then ask if I can share it on other sites.  I offer to share with them links to help them get started. 
Sounds easy, right?  Not always.  There are some crazy people in this world and that is why establishing trust is important.  No one wants to be associated with something that doesn't go along with their basic comfort level.  Maybe the link to your site is for a children's book, but the blog mainly promotes mature adult material.  This is not a fit! 
*Read through the blog.  What do their comments look like?  Are their reviews condescending and inappropriate?   Remember, your name will be attached to this site!   Is this how you want to be represented?  Do you want to be told your book was a waste of time and they wish they could wash their eyes out with bleach?  (yes, those are actual comments.) If it's a match for you, great!  If not, move on and don't feel guilty for doing so!
*Most bloggers are happy to promote your links and it is OK to ask if they will do this for you.  They will copy, paste or share whatever you provide them. 
*Watch the activity on Facebook in your area.  For me, Facebook is busiest from 4 pm to 10 pm Monday through Thursday.  On Friday the traffic picks up at 4 pm and goes until the wee hours of the morning.  Weekend days have less activity than evenings. Why is this important?  You want your link to be displayed when traffic is heaviest and will be seen by the most readers. 
Weekday mornings are busy with most people heading to work and getting kids ready for school so posting during these times can be futile.  Your posts will have less visual impact or won't be seen.
*Remember the world wide web is open 24/7/365. 
*Connect with other Indie authors.  Most are more than happy to share their experiences of what worked and what didn't.  They can be a wealth of knowledge! 
*Learn the language. 
ARC - advanced reading copy
Beta or beta reader - someone who reads your ARC before going for edits
Review - comments given by someone who has read your story.  It is important to check this out before choosing a reviewer.  What are there comments like? A rating score of 1 to 5 Stars is given. (see Amazon and Goodreads)
Swag  - promotional items often given away, such as pens, pins, bookmarks, tote bags
Author Take Overs - YOU  promote YOUR book on a blog site that isn't yours.  This is a great way to build up "Likes" on your page, get followers, give out swag and connect with readers
HEA - happily ever after
Tag- in the comment section under a post add your name and/or a friend's name
Share - click 'share' and send the link to your friends
Book boyfriend - the hunky, swoon-worthy guy in the story, the one wanted by every girl

Is it scary?  Sure, but you are not alone! 
Feel free to contact me and I will help you get started!http://www.facebook.com/thebooklender



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Who Are You?

When I read a post do you ever wonder, "Who is this person?"  I know I do.  So let me start by telling about myself, nothing exciting I assure you!
  I'm a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a niece, a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, and a Labor and Delivery nurse.  I love to read, am told I can write (not so sure about that), love performing arts, and I love to travel.  I live in Indianapolis.. Home of the Colts!  Indy 500!  (yes, I can hear the track, I love the sound of the cars and I love the sound of the National Drags)  (need a place to stay during race season? c'mon over!)
  I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas 2011 and my love for reading took off!  I asked a friend for a good book recommendation.  She suggested a little series called Fifty Shades of Grey.  I downloaded, not knowing anything about the books, and I do mean nothing!  Whoa!  Was I in for a surprise! 
  I started as a beta reader May 2013 when I answered a post on Facebook for an author looking for someone to read a WIP.  Sounded interesting.. why not.  I answered, read and the journey began.  I started looking for other authors needing betas.  Then, to my surprise, I received requests to be a beta. 
  I've done a bit of editing (Free of charge), made Facebook pages for authors (Free), searched for photos and attached quips from the author's book (Free), and have met some really wonderful people.  Why free?  Why not!  The author isn't sure how much money, if any, they are going to make off of the first book.  Very few find financial success with their first book, matter of fact, they usually lose money.   I love when someone is passionate at a craft, they beat the odds and succeed!
  How did I become The Book Lender?  One night at work we were discussing books.  I told a co-worker about some books I had read and I could "lend" her one on her Kindle.  She called me The Book Lender and it stuck.   Oh the fun of working night shift!  I just made the switch to Day Shift so my journey as The Book Lender continues. 
  What will I read?  Really just about anything, but I don't do non-consensual behavior or cruelty to adults, women, children or animals. Don't sneak a rape scene in!   No thanks.  I'm not into the shock factor.  There is enough evil lurking in this world and I don't need it burning my retinas and brain cells.  I usually stick to Love and Romance, but sometimes I'll venture off. 
  What to eat when reading?  Coke and pretzels is one of my faves!  I love when it is offered on a flight, so I think it reminds me of a wonderful getaway adventure. 
  So there ya have it!  Me.  Colleen.  The Book Lender.http://www.facebook.com/thebooklender

 

Words Do Hurt!

Ever done a review for a book?  Did you like what you read?  Not always.  I think we forget we are putting words in print and there is a real live PERSON on the receiving end of what we send.  Writers put it all out there:  hours, tears, endless hours of thinking, running conversations and interactions between characters through their minds, sleepless nights, anxiety, and working 40+ hours at a REAL job. 
What about the family supporting or not supporting this author?  Wife/mother, Husband/father is locked away in a room with a computer, meals are sporadic, laundry piles up, and to-do-lists grow longer by the hour.  There is a stranger hiding in the house and they only appear to get a drink, snack or take a potty break. 
The day comes to go "LIVE" or to publish.  Nail-biting, pacing, nausea and butterflies waiting on reviews.
Reviewers read the book and publish their thoughts, not always using tact.  Do you write your review based upon what you wish you had read or do you honestly review on what was written?  There is a huge difference!  How do you write your review?  "I didn't like this book and the author should give up their dream of writing."  "Boring."  "Not my style of writing."  "Not enough sex and I had to get to Chapter 13 for the action to begin." 
What happened to being positive in what we say?  Cynicism is running rampant!  Fine. 
"I didn't like the book."   Why?  What could the author have given you to make it more your style.  Maybe the book was about romance, but you like vampires, why did you buy or put it on your TBR?  That is not the author's fault; it is written in their synopsis and those are free to read. 
"... the author should give up their dream of writing."  Uh, no!  Their dream is their dream and not yours! How can you help them get better.  Tell them what was missing and what could have helped you to like the story.
"Boring."  Why?  Not fast paced enough?  Couldn't connect the story to the characters?  Give an explanation!
"Not my style of writing."  Fantastic!  It would be a boring trip to the library if all the books were the same!  Something in all those pages and chapters kept you reading!  What was it?
"Not enough sex."  Maybe the fulfillment you are looking for is in your own life.  How much sex do you need in a book?  Let the author know!  They really do want to make readers happy!
I don't know about you, but every book written about sex is starting to get cliché and repetitive.  I've read about 85,000 shades of the color grey and I'm ready for the Crayola box to explode!  I'm tired of grey pants, grey skies, grey, grey, grey. 
Grey only makes me think of another book.  Authors:  Do you want me thinking about another book when I am reading yours?  Have I told authors this?  YES!  I didn't just throw out the statement, "I'm tired of grey."
Readers aren't all going to like the same thing.  I don't like seafood and I'm allergic to shellfish.  Do I hang out with people that do?  Sure do!  Do I read books with these foods being eaten by the characters?  Sure!  We would all be boring and bored if we all liked the same thing.
Be supportive. Give an author some positive encouragement!  Leave a review and throw in some helpful and positive comments about what you liked. 
(Ever made a meal and had someone say, "I don't like your ____."  (Fine, starve.  I don't want to hear it.)  (How did it make you feel?  Exactly!)
Answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How; it really is basic English 101. 
Make an authors day and leave a 'like' on their Facebook page, a positive comment in their message box and 'follow' them!