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
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
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!
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!
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