books Archives - Brockway Gatehouse ¦ Beta Reader & Book Blogger

Book Bloggers Unveiled – Meet Michael @ A Novel Chapter

Posted on 08/08/202201/10/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Michael the blogger behind A Novel Chapter.

In the last decade, there has been a self-publishing revolution as I discussed in my first Book Bloggers Unveiled post. I have a strong appreciation for the book blogging community and the part it plays. It’s obvious to me that book bloggers are a valuable marketing resource for any author wanting to self-publish their novels. Not only will they read your novel and write an honest review, but they’ll share their thoughts with their friends – they have hundreds of blogging friends.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the fabulous Michael @ A Novel Chapter.

Hello Michael, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

What’s Your Name?

Michael Wilson

What’s Your Blog Called?

A Novel Chapter

How long have you been a book blogger and why did you start blogging?

I first created the blog in 2014 on Blogger but have only been really seriously pursuing it for about a year or so which is when I moved it to WordPress and onto it’s own domain. Initially I started it to become a better writer and also to potentially earn a some money on the side to my job but also have come to enjoy learning about new book releases and recommendations.

What Are The Best and Worst Parts About Being A Book Blogger?

The best part is I think when your content goes live and when I share it on social media and see the engagement with it. The worst part which is something which I initially struggled with was maintaining the flow of content – especially at the beginning as I wanted everything to go live straight away due to my own impatience but I’ve now learnt to schedule and plan content much further in advance.

photo of planner and writing materials — Photo by Bich Tran on Pexels.com

What Books Do You Read?

Happy to read most things as I read fiction and non-fiction books from most genres.

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

None I avoid in particular but I generally don’t read many romance books just because I usually struggle to get through them.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

I love Crime/Thriller, YA and Fantasy novels the most. I love a book with plenty of twists and turns that will keep me up reading far too late (though my boss in my day job probably doesn’t!) I also do loves books with escapism where I can forget about what is happening.

Some favourite Fantasy/YA series of mine are Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Noughts and Crosses. I also love The Millennium Trilogy, the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child. I also love Martina Cole‘s crime novels.

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews, Lists, Discussions, Sometimes I do write personal non-book related articles as well such as if I’ve been on holiday.

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

Discussion posts as I like sharing my thoughts on specific questions.

What Has Been Your Proudest Blogging Moment To Date?

It’s not really a blogging moment but I have also been working on my Bookstagram social media account for the last 12 months which I just passed 600 followers on so I am hoping to reach the 1,000 followers soon.

Also possibly my Top 5 Children’s Reads post as it my first collaborative post where I had a guest blogger and have had some comments on it as well.

What Are Your Top Three Favourite Blog Posts You’ve Written?

Traffic wise my top 3 posts over the last 90 days have been:

Top 5 Children’s Reads (https://anovelchapter.co.uk/my-top-5-childrens-reads),
My Birthday Week (https://anovelchapter.co.uk/my-birthday-week) and
Deep by L.A. Power (https://anovelchapter.co.uk/deep) which was an indie book an author contacted me on Instagram to review.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

So that I can discuss there works it would have to be my top five authors so J.K Rowling, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Malorie Blackman, Roald Dahl and Lee Child.

I would love to discuss Harry Potter, Noughts and Crosses and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and George’s Marvellous Medicine with Rowling, Blackman and Dahl. F. Scott Fitzgerald would also provide some jazzy 1920’s music I think and Lee Child can tell me about his next Jack Reacher book!

person holding clear wine glass — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

Probably my other two passions are fitness as like going to the gym and I’m also training to be a Zumba instructor and I also enjoy playing games – mostly action-adventure and story-driven ones such as Tomb Raider and Uncharted.

Tell Us Something That Your Existing Followers Don’t Know About You?

I don’t think I’ve told them about the Zumba before 🙂

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us, Michael.

Now, let’s talk stats and find out some nitty-gritty blog details.

How Many Blog Followers Do You Have?

I don’t have a blog follow option on the site, on social media I have 612 Instagram, 64 on Twitter and 21 on Facebook.

How Many Monthly Visits, Likes and Comments Do You Get?

In the last three months I have had 48, 71 and 31. On Instagram I usually get around 10 likes per post though I have had two book meme posts which had 30 likes and 190 likes.

What Other Social Media Platforms Do You Use?

I use Instagram the most, I do have Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter accounts

Please Share Your Social Media Links Here

Do You Have Any Blogging Goals This Year? If You Do, Please Share Them With Us.

I would like to get to 100-200 visits per month consistently, also I am hoping to monetise it even if it is only a small amount. I also hope to get to the 1,000 Instagram followers then I will be looking at new strategies for each of the other platforms.

I hope that you enjoyed this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Michael @ A Novel Chapter, as much as I did. Running a successful book blog obviously has its ups and downs, but I love Michael’s passion for reading and his community spirit. He’s a book blogging treasure! 💙

Do you follow Michael on any of his social media accounts? Please take a moment to visit his blog, A Novel Chapter and like, follow and comment on a few posts. And as a bonus, if you browse through his review archive, I’m sure you’ll find your next favourite read!

Next month, I’ll be unveiling another fantastic book blogger.

The Agatha Award 2022 Winners!

Posted on 01/08/202219/09/2022 by Kim

As a lover of the cosy genre, I’m not letting the Agatha Award 2022 pass without mentioning the winners on my blog!

Hello. Today on the blog I’m sharing the Agatha Award 2022 winners. This prestigious literary award is run by Malice Domestic. The award was created in honour of the queen of cosy mysteries, British crime writer Agatha Christie to celebrate the authors publishing works in the cosy genre.

Here’s what Malice say about it on its website:

“Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention that takes place each year in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Malice celebrates the Traditional Mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore or violence.“

The six categories in the Agatha Award are:

Novel
First Mystery
Historical Novel
Short Story
Non-Fiction
Children’s/Young Adult Mystery.

Additionally, in some years the Poirot Award is presented to honour other individuals who are not writers themselves, but who have made outstanding contributions to the mystery genre.

The nominees are suggested by everyone who has registered for or became a Friend of Malice Domestic by the end of the previous years. The five finalists in the six categories are chosen, then the attendees vote for the winners. In case you were wondering, here’s a link to the list of nominees.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Agatha Awards were once again announced at the More Than Malice online event.

So, who were the Agatha Award 2022 Winners in the different categories?

Contemporary Novel

**Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books)

Historical Novel

**Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day (HarperCollins)

First Novel

**Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Berkley)

Short Story

**”Bay of Reckoning“ by Shawn Reilly Simmons in Murder on the Beach (Destination Murders)

Non-Fiction

**How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by MWA with editors Lee Child and Laurie R. King (Simon & Schuster)

Children’s / Young Adult

**I Play One on TV by Alan Orloff (Down & Out Books)

Have you already read any of these winning titles? I’ll certainly be adding a couple of those fiction books to my shelf. 😉

Are you in the progress of writing your own cosy mystery story? Would you like someone to give you some honest, supportive feedback? I can do that. Have a look at my Manuscript Critique service to find out how.

Essential Parts of a Book Every Indie Author Should Know Before Self- Publishing

Posted on 18/07/202219/09/2022 by Kim

As readers, we probably haven’t paid much attention to the different parts of a book. The publishing industry has named them all: from the title page that launches the front matter to the index or bibliography that completes the back matter. Each section serves a particular role in bringing the book together.

When self-publishing your first book, it pays to know how the parts of a book function as integral parts of the larger whole. Understanding not only each component’s purpose but also the exact placement of each within the body of the manuscript will keep you on track to align with the publishing industry standards.

girl reading book on brown wooden table — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

So, what are the parts of a book?

The main sections can be categorised as:

Front Matter
Body Matter
Back Matter

In this post, I’ll explain what’s included in each section.

Front Matter

The front matter is the first section of the book. These pages outline the various technical details and some input from the author about what inspired or drove the project.

The front matter includes:

1. Title page

The title page contains the book’s title, the subtitle, the author or authors, and the publisher.

2. Copyright page

The copyright page, or edition notice, contains the copyright notice, the ISBN, any legal statements, and credits for book design, illustration, photography credits, or to note production entities. The copyright page may contain contact information for individuals seeking to use any portions of the work to request permission.

3. Dedication

The dedication page allows the author to honour an individual or individuals. The dedication is usually a short sentence or two.

4. Table of contents

The table of contents outlines the book’s body of work by dividing it into chapters and sometimes sections or parts. Much thought goes into the titles of the chapters, as the titles can set the tone for the book. When someone quickly glances through the table of contents, they should be able to recognise the scope and central theme of the book.

5. Foreword

The foreword is a short section written by someone other than the author that summarises or sets up the book’s theme. The person who writes the preface is often an eminent colleague or associate, a professional who has personally interacted with the author.

6. Acknowledgments

This page allows the author to express thanks to individuals who may have inspired them, contributed research or data, or helped them during the writing process. Acknowledgements are a public thank you for the support and contributions of individuals involved in the project.

7. Preface or Introduction

The author explains the purpose behind writing the book, personal experiences that are pertinent to the book, and describes the book’s scope. An introduction can be deeply personal, seeking to draw the reader into the book on an emotional level, and usually explains why the book was written. For scholarly works, the preface or introduction helps erect a framework for the content that follows and illustrates the author’s point of view or thesis.

8. Prologue

In works of fiction, the prologue is written in the voice of a character from the story—it sets the scene before the first chapter. This section may describe the story’s setting or background details and helps launch the tale.

Body Matter

woman draw a light bulb in white board — Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

The core content of the book is referred to as body matter. It’s the collection of chapters, sometimes divided into sections, in which the body of work is organised. In works of fiction, chapters drive the narrative, events, and locations in the story. In nonfiction, chapters might each consist of a particular area of study.

Back Matter

Once the story is completed, it is followed by back matter or end material, those pages that include references about the core content and author biography in some cases.

Back matter includes:

1. Afterword or Epilogue

These are author comments that follow the end of the body matter. These thoughts may summarise the project or the writing experience that helps bring closure to the book. The epilogue can help soothe the reader after a particularly harrowing story. Or even serve as a final chapter that helps to wrap up the loose ends of a story.

2. Appendix or Addendum

The addendum refers to documents added after the body of work that may not have fit in with the narrative or is additional information that reinforces the work.

3. Glossary

The glossary is an alphabetical list of terms and definitions found within the body matter. These terms may be standard or specialised terms that refer to a particular field of study.

4. Bibliography or Endnotes

The bibliography is the listing of books or literary sources that were cited within the body matter. These sources may be books, magazines, or online sources accessed during the research phase. Endnotes resemble footnotes found in the back matter instead of the page’s footer.

5. Index

A guide offers an alphabetical list of terms, people, concepts, or events with the associated page number. The index provides an easy way to locate critical items within the body.

6. Author biography

The biography page summarises the author’s professional background. The bio should be relevant to the publication and include a few personal facts about the author. Instead of a page at the end, the author’s biography may be on the dust jacket or the back cover.

I hope you found this post informative.

For more helpful resources about the craft of writing, check out my Resource Library.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Wendy ~ The lovely blogger behind The Bashful Bookworm

Posted on 06/06/202206/06/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Wendy the blogger behind The Bashful Bookworm. But first…

What is Book Blogger Unveiled?

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the lovely Wendy @ The Bashful Bookworm.

Hello Wendy, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

Why Did You Start Blogging?

After I retired, I wanted to read more books, and get involved in the book community

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

The book community is the best part of being a book blogger.

What Books Do You Read?

Fiction

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

Although I can appreciate the skill and technique it takes to write these books, I don’t like to read horror, poetry, erotica, or children’s books.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

Wendy's favourite read - Virgin River Series by Robyn Carr — (image from Goodreads)

My preference is to read women’s fiction and romance. However, I also read some cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and light paranormal romance. I loved the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr, and have read all 20+ books, some many times over. I read mostly for pure entertainment, and I don’t like to read books that are too deep or literary.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

Colleen Hoover, Nora Roberts, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Christina Lauren (actually 2 people, but I can find an extra chair somewhere!😂 ) and Kristan Higgins.

Nora Roberts because she is the queen of romance. Her books were what drew me to the genre in the first place. Colleen Hoover because she writes the most emotional books ever. Taylor Jenkins Reid because her books are unique, emotional and gripping. Christina Lauren writes with a combination of humor and emotion that just makes for a happy book. Kristan Higgins, also writes books with that perfect balance of humor and emotion, with well developed characters.

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

It’s a lot of work. I manage that by reading and reviewing books as far ahead of time as possible, and schedule most of my blog posts about 4 weeks out. Especially my review posts.

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

woman standing on a cliff taking selfie — Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

I like to hike and camp. I live in Northern Arizona, and have National Forests and The Grand Canyon close by.

Tell Us Something That Your Existing Followers Don’t Know About You?

My two children who are grown now, are Korean. We adopted them as babies, and they are the love and light of my life.

Where Else Can We Find You? Please Share Your Social Media Links.

Twitter @BashfulBookwm
Instagram @the_bashful_bookworm
Goodreads Wendy W.

female friends browsing smartphone on lawn — Photo by JESSICA TICOZZELLI on Pexels.com

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us Wendy.

Now, I’m even more excited to find out more about your book blog.

What’s Your Blog Called?

The Bashful Bookworm

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

10 months

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews, Lists, Blog tours.

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

TopTenTuesday-newlogo-768x308 That Artsy Reader Girl

My favorite post to write is the Top Ten Tuesday. It always makes me think.

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

Twenty minutes for a simple review post, and about an hour for the wrap up posts, or the top ten posts.

What Are Your Top Three Favourite Blog Posts You’ve Written?

What Has Been Your Proudest Blogging Moment To Date?

This is hard for me to answer. I’m proud of my blog, and how it’s growing every day.

Do You Have Any Blogging Goals This Year? If You Do, Please Share Them With Us.

I want to continue my streak of a blog post every single day. I would like to do more discussion posts so I can interact more with my audience.

I hope that you enjoyed this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Wendy, as much as I did. Running a successful book blog obviously has its ups and downs, but I love Wendy’s passion for reading and her community spirit. She’s a book blogging treasure! 💙

Do you follow Wendy on any of her social media accounts? Please take a moment to visit her blog, The Bashful Bookworm and like, follow and comment on a few posts. And as a bonus, if you browse through her review archive, I’m sure you’ll find your next favourite read!

Next month, I’ll be unveiling another fantastic book blogger.

Book Bloggers Unveiled – Meet Sue @ Sue’s Musings

Posted on 02/05/202216/04/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Sue the wonderful blogger behind Sue’s Musings.

It’s no secret that there has been a self-publishing revolution during the last decade as I discussed in my first Book Bloggers Unveiled post. I have a strong appreciation for the book blogging community and the part it plays. It’s obvious to me that book bloggers are a valuable marketing resource for any author wanting to self-publish their novels. Not only will they read your novel and write an honest review, but they’ll share their thoughts with their friends – they have hundreds of blogging friends.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble and undervalued book blogger.

Today, it’s the lovely Sue @ Sue’s Musings.

Hello Sue, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

Why Did You Start Blogging?

I was reviewing books on Goodreads and wanted to expand a bit more to include features and interviews.

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

Being part of a great community and being asked to read arcs before books are available to the general public.

person writing on the notebook — Photo by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels.com

What Books Do You Read?

Fiction

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

Erotica and religious books

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

wooden runes and stones scattered on wool plaid — Photo by Summer Rune on Pexels.com

Fantasy, I especially like Norse fantasy and my favourite indie author within that subgenre is Lyra Wolf whose Loki books are phenomenal. The Nine Worlds Rising series. Book 3 is out on March 9th and I cannot wait.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

Well, I would pick indie authors who I interact with on Twitter as I think it would make for a fun and entertaining evening.

Lyra Wolf to bring the spiced honey cakes – when you sign up to her newsletter you receive a free Norse inspired recipe book – and to tell me all the latest gossip about what Loki has been up to lately, Dan Fitzgerald – he has some interesting takes on Romantic Fantasy as a genre and could share his photography with us, Sean Gibson would keep everyone entertained with his silliness, Bjørn Larssen always has interesting stories and insights, T.A. Bruno – I would like to know more about his day job working in the film industry in L.A.

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

It can be difficult to find subscribers and get people to read your blog posts!

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

I wrote a book and it was published in 2021 – a memoir of my grandfather’s long life: Lucky Jack (1894-2000). I have a few ideas for a couple of other books as well.

ballpoint pen classic coffee composition — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I really enjoy going to see bands when they tour in the Boston, MA area. In the warmer months, I like to swim – we are lucky enough to have a pool. I have two teenagers so am the household taxi service as far as they are concerned. I listen to podcasts and enjoy watching SciFi and fantasy movies and TV shows.

On Twitter @SueBavey and Instagram @SueBavey – but it is definitely not a bookish Instagram account – it’s more for photos of places I visit.

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us Sue.

Now, just a quick “Fun Facts” book blog.

What’s Your Blog Called?

Sue’s Musings

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

Since November 2020

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews, blog tours, interviews ‘Indie Spotlight’ and ‘Illustration Showcase’ posts

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

Reviews – I feel like I am gradually getting better at them – hopefully!

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

20 minutes to half an hour not including reading the book.

I don’t really have any favourite reviews as each review I write is my favourite at the time! These posts were fun to put together:

What Has Been Your Proudest Blogging Moment To Date?

I am doing a series in March called #marchofthesequels – interviews with authors about their sequels and the response has been amazing – I have almost enough posts for one a day throughout March!

My goal is always to reach more people so I can share the book love!

woman in beige long sleeve dress standing in front of white wooden book shelf — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I hope that you’ve found this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Sue, as insightful as I did. Running a successful book blog obviously has its ups and downs, but Sue’s passion for the independent, self-publishing author shines through every page of her site.

Do you follow Sue’s on her social media accounts? Please take a moment to visit her blog, Sue’s Musings and like, follow and comment on a few posts. And as a bonus, if you browse through her review archive, I’m sure you’ll find your next favourite read!

Next month, I’ll be unveiling another fantastic book blogger.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Sassy Redhead ~ the blogger behind Sassy Redhead Book Reviews

Posted on 02/04/202209/04/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Sassy Redhead the blogger behind Sassy Redhead Book Reviews.

During the last ten years, we have seen a self-publishing revolution as I discussed in my first Book Bloggers Unveiled post. I have a strong appreciation for the book blogging community and the part it plays. It’s obvious to me that book bloggers are a valuable marketing resource for any author wanting to self-publish their novels. Not only will they read your novel and write an honest review, but they’ll share their thoughts with their friends – they have hundreds of blogging friends.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the fun-loving Sassy Redhead @ Sassy Redhead Book Reviews.

Hello Sassy Redhead, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

Sassy Redhead

Why Did You Start Blogging?

I was finishing up my BA and as an adult learner, I wanted to have something to keep me busy now that I was preparing to graduate. I work a full-time job, but wanted something to fill my spare time since I was so busy with coursework for so long.

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

I love finding new to me authors to read and get lost in books.

What Books Do You Read?

Fiction

books in black wooden book shelf — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

I don’t necessarily avoid them, but I am not a huge Historical Romance reader.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

I have several favorite authors. My favorite genres would be Romance (to include MC, Mafia, suspense) and suspense/thrillers. My favorite authors include Sue Coletta, Sophie Lark, James Patterson, Laramie Briscoe, Andi Rhodes and Ciara St. James

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

Sue Coletta, Ciara St. James, Andi Rhodes, Sophie Lark, and Laramie Briscoe

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

Trying to keep my blog updated. I seem to keep filling my calendar and not giving myself enough time for everything I want to do.

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

Spend time with my family. Family is everything to me. 💙

man beach holiday woman — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Where Else Can We Find You? Please Share Your Social Media Links.

Twitter: @SassyKebkerr

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us. 💙

Now, for some quick Fun Facts about your book blog.

What’s Your Blog Called?

Sassy Redhead Book Reviews

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

Since 2017

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews, Lists, blog tours

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

Anything to do with promoting authors, whether they are well known or just starting out.

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

Usually about an hour.

I hope that you’ve found this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Sassy Redhead, as insightful as I did. Running a successful book blog obviously has its ups and downs, but Sassy’s passion for well-written, passionate stories word shines through every page of her site.

Do you follow Sassy RedHead already? Please take a moment to visit her blog, and like, follow and comment on a few posts. And as a bonus, if you browse through her review archive, I’m sure you’ll find your next favourite read!

Next month, I’ll be unveiling another fantastic book blogger.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Jolie ~ the blogger behind Read with Me

Posted on 05/03/202209/04/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Jolie the blogger behind Read with Me.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the lovely Jolie @ Read with Me.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Jolie (Part 1)

Hello Jolie, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

When & Why Did You Start Blogging?

I started blogging in 2008 on Blogger, switched to WordPress in 2010. I started blogging about book reviews in 2016 and haven’t looked back!!

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

The best part about being a book blogger is the book blogging community. I have met so many wonderful people in my years blogging.

women relaxing by the lake — Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.com

What Books Do You Read?

Fiction.

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

I avoid non-fiction, DIY, Self Help, Reference, Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Religion, and Children’s books.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

I love dark fantasy. My favorite author is Anne Bishop and my favorite series is the Black Jewel Series. I had randomly picked up the first book in that series at Barnes and Noble back in the early 2000’s and loved it. It was a great introduction the dark fantasy.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

I would invite Anne Bishop, Laurell K. Hamilton, Teresa Medieros, Julie Garwood, and VC Andrews. I would love to talk to them about their books and get to know them as people. I have a feeling that they would have some interesting tales to tell!!

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

The worst part about being a book blogger is that people sometimes can’t just read reviews and move on. I have been harassed via email because of some reviews that I have written. That led me to have my comments to be moderated (this person went into the comments too). I get that you like/dislike a book but not everyone is going to have the same opinion. To attack someone over that is not right.

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

Yes, I do!! I love to cook, bake, watch TV, play online games, spend time with my husband and children, rescue stray cats, and attempt to garden. I also unplug on the weekends.

black handle knife with vegetables — Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

Tell Us Something That Your Existing Followers Don’t Know About You?

Hmmmm, let me think about this. I am extremely shy in real life. It takes a lot for me to warm up and talk to someone. But online, forget it. I can be a Chatty Cathy….lol.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/bezary

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us Jolie. Now, I’m even more excited to find out more about your book blog.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Jolie (Part 2)

What’s Your Blog Called?

Read with Me

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

5 years but I have been blogging for 13

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews and Blog Tours

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

I love to write book reviews.

book on a white wooden table — Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

It takes me a long time, around 3-4 hours. I have 3 kids, a husband who works from home 2 days a week and get interrupted constantly.

I hope that you’ve found this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Jolie, as insightful as I did. I’m looking forward to unveiling another book blogger next month.

Guest Post: Rosie’s Book Review Team

Posted on 20/02/202220/02/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone. Today is a Guest Post: Rosie’s Book Review Team.

At the beginning of the month, I introduced you all to Rosie @ Rosie Amber in my Book Bloggers Unveiled post. In that interview, Rosie told me that she also runs a book review team. A collection of book bloggers who review a wide range of stories.

I had to know more!

I’ve invited Rosie back today to The BG Blog to tell us more. This guest post will reveal how her team of book blogging reviewers came about. Why she feels RBRT is a great resource for self-publishing authors and smaller independent publishers.

It’s over to you, Rosie.

Rosie’s Book Review Team

I started my book blog ten years ago. For the last eight years, I’ve successfully run a review team alongside my own reading list.

During that time, we have done our best to spread the word about novels, novellas, short stories and non-fiction from self-published authors and independent publishers – to showcase talent found outside the mainstream publishing world.

The team idea came about because I was getting many submissions for books in genres that I was less keen to read.

Also, I wanted to encourage more readers to write reviews. I created a book review challenge project, which was a great success; I then asked several of those who had taken part if they would like to join a team. Happily, most of them said yes!

Each month we are inundated with review requests from authors and publishers alike. Every book that I accept is passed on to my team of twenty readers, which is made up of an international mix of book bloggers, writers, editors, creative writing tutors and the reading public. Most books gain just one or two reviews, but once in a while a gem comes along that piques the interest of several team members and receives highly favourable reviews across the board.

We mainly use e-books which can be sent as .mobi or e-pub file to us. This involves little or no cost to the author. Once a month or so, I send a list of accepted submissions to the team, and they pick which one(s) they would like to read. I ask that they review the book within 4-6 weeks, but I don’t give deadlines.

The reviewer will post the review on at least two sites; Goodreads and Amazon are where most authors like to see a review, but some also post to other sites like BookBub. Most of the team have their own book blog (though this is not a requirement) where they post any team review; they will also send me a copy to post on my blog at a later date, with full credit to the reviewer.

From the author’s point of view, the benefits of submitting to my review team are many.

Often, a book will be chosen by more than one reviewer, which saves them having to apply to multiple book blogs. Once read, an author will have the review of their book posted on up to six sites.

As for the team, I am delighted to say that we all get on so well, and some of us have met up a few times in real life. I never anticipated that running my book blog would make me some great new friends – this was an unexpected bonus!

The team is constantly evolving; over the years members have come and gone; sometimes life gets in the way and a person may not have the time or headspace to review for a while, but obviously, I understand this and there is never any pressure. I am lucky to have a core of supportive, reliable reviewers who have read for me month in, month out, over the years.

To date, the team have reviewed over 2000 books in a wide range of genres.

If you’d like to join our team you can find out more about it here.

Or, if you would like to submit a book for review, then here is the page that you need.

Find team review posts on Twitter using #RBRT (Rosie’s Book Review Team)

Thank you, Rosie, for giving us an insight into your fabulous team of book reviewers.

Before you go, if you missed it, why not read Rosie’s Book Bloggers Unveiled interview now. Find out more about her life on and off the blog.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Rosie ~ the blogger behind Rosie Amber

Posted on 06/02/202209/04/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Rosie the blogger behind Rosie Amber.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the lovely Rosie @ Rosie Amber.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Rosie (Part 1)

Hello Rosie, thanks for joining us. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

Why Did You Start Blogging?

I started blogging to combine a love of reading with a desire to embrace social technology; since then it’s developed into a passion to introduce avid readers to new writers, and offer a platform for little-known talent.

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

Creating a place where readers can discover exciting new books. Talking to writers and readers and that special moment when someone says ‘I have just bought that book after reading your review.’

What Books Do You Read?

I read both fiction and non-fiction

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

I prefer not to read horror, political works, high fantasy, scifi, poetry and short stories.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

Yes, several! I will just mention a few.

Historical fiction – I really enjoy Kate Quinn’s war themed stories, I like anything realistic and gritty from either World War, especially if it is resistance themed.
Historical romance – I’m quite happy reading Mills and Boon/ Harlequin romance. A few of my current favourite authors are Virginia Heath, Janice Preston, Annie Burrows and Marguerite Kaye.
For contemporary adult romance I will read anything by Melissa Foster and I do enjoy a sports romance which tend to fit the new adult genre.
I like an action adventure and will read any Scott Mariani story, I recently read an indie author in this genre whose book was good too; Jenks by Barney Burrell.
I enjoy urban fantasy and can recommend books by Debra Dunbar, Kalayna Price and Kirsten Weiss.
This then crosses to the paranormal genre with books by India R Adams, Melissa Haag and Sarah Addison Allen.
While I’m going down my list, I like young adult stories too and would like to mention Joy Jenkins, Kylie Scott and Margot de Klerk.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

Ooh a dinner party, that’s a thing of dreams with another Covid induced Lockdown looming! I’d actually like to host a dinner for some of the authors that I have built a great book relationship with: Reily Garrett (author of romantic suspense Moonlight and Murder stories), Marguerite Kaye (author of many Historical romances most recently the joint author of Her Heart For A Compass with Sarah, Duchess Of York), Virginia Heath (Historical romance author of many books; The Wild Warriners were some of my favourites), Kimberly Wenzler (contemporary author of Seasons Out Of Time) and Chris Bridge (His war story Back Behind Enemy Lines was brilliant).

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

One of the most challenging parts is creating interesting content on multiple platforms to keep your audience entertained and to gain additional genuine followers.

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

I like baking although I look on a recipe as a guide rather than something which I must follow! I also enjoy gardening. In the last two years I have been growing more and last year I created a kitchen garden.

green parsley seedlings on marble table — Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Tell Us Something That Your Existing Followers Don’t Know About You?

I come from a farming background and I have a cow named after me, although she is can be quite awkward at times, so I hope I’m nothing like her!

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us Rosie. Now, I’m even more excited to find out more about your book blog.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Rosie (Part 2)

What’s Your Blog Called?

Rosie Amber

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

10 years

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Although it is mainly book reviews we do a few other posts including advice posts. See (https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/wednesday-wing-useful-posts-and-tips-for-authors/)

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

This would be a review of a book that I enjoyed so much that I can’t wait to share it with others.

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

Excluding the time to read the book and write the review, probably about 20 minutes as I keep to a format.

What Are Your Top Three Favourite Blog Posts You’ve Written?

I have a lovely team of reviewers who help me review and between us we have written some popular posts:

Authors reviewing authors (it’s a minefield) https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-aBT.
Before you sign up with an Independent Publisher, read this. https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-aIm
10 Reasons your book is not getting reviewed by book bloggers http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-9Ky

What Has Been Your Proudest Blogging Moment To Date?

Creating a successful team of book reviewers has been brilliant. They come from all over the world and I have even met up with some of them.

Back in July 2020, we celebrated 6 years of the review team with our top 14 books. Here’s a link to the first post: https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-fzh

Where Else Can We Find You? Please Share Your Social Media Links.

Find me on Twitter @rosieamber1 My review team and I created the popular hashtag #TuesdayBookBlog for anyone who has a book-related blog post that they post on a Tuesday. We help to share as many as we can each week.

I am also on Instagram @therosieamber and of course my book blog

Do You Have Any Blogging Goals This Year? If You Do, Please Share Them With Us.

I am always ready to learn new things which will help to continue to grow the blog and the social media platform connected with it. Reaching new followers and communicating with them to make them feel a part of our group is something that I would like to do more of.

I couldn’t agree more, Rosie. Every day is an opportunity to learn and using new skills to help grow your platform sounds like a wonderful goal to have. Thank you for sharing these insights into your blogging life with us.

I hope that you’ve found this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Rosie, as insightful as I did. Running a successful book blog and a team of reviewers obviously has its ups and downs, but Rosie’s passion for the written word shines through every page of her site.

Do you follow Rosie Amber already? Please take a moment to visit Rosie’s blog, like, follow and comment on a few posts. And as a bonus, if you browse through her review archive, I’m sure you’ll find your next favourite read!

I’ll be sharing more information about her review team later this month, but you can find reviews from Rosie Amber and Rosie’s Book Review Team on my Twitter feed all month.

Next month, I’ll be unveiling another fantastic book blogger.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Flora ~ the blogger behind Flora’s Musings

Posted on 16/01/202209/04/2022 by Kim

Hello everyone and welcome to The BG Blog. Today’s post is Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Flora the blogger behind Flora’s Musings.

Therefore, I’m using my voice to sing the praises of the humble book blogger. Today, it’s the lovely Flora @ Flora’s Musings. Flora has already written a couple of posts for The BG Blog and has kindly agreed to be my first ~~victim~~ participant of the Book Bloggers Unveiled series.

Hello Flora, thanks for joining us again and for agreeing to answer my questions about the life of a book blogger. Firstly, let’s find out a little bit about you.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Flora (Part 1)

Why Did You Start Blogging?

I just wanted an online space that allowed me to share more than a Tweet. Stuff that I found inspiring, and somewhere I could share my thoughts on what I was reading and watching. But also a place I could talk about subjects that were important to me.

What’s The Best Part About Being A Book Blogger?

You mean apart from authors and publishers sending me audiobooks to review? Lol! 😘 Well, I’d have to say the best bit is being part of a wonderful book blogging community. I’ve made some fabulous friends and have found so many new-to-me authors.

What Books Do You Read?

Fiction

Are There Any Genres or Type of Books You Avoid?

I avoid stories where that protagonist is under 18.

Do You Have A Favourite Genre, Author, Series? Tell Us More.

I love paranormal romance and urban fantasy. My favourite author is Dianne Duvall, she’s got a few series – Immortal Guardians, The Gifted Ones, and Alderbarian Alliance. Each series could sit on a different genre shelf but they all have gritting plots with adventure and a romance weaved in.

Which Five Authors (Living or Dead) Would You Invite To Your Dinner Party? Tell Us Why.

Dianne Duvall, Felicity Heaton, Teresa Gabelman, and Holly Bell of course because they’re all my favourite authors and I have a million questions I’d love to ask them. My blog’s review archive is full of their titles. But I’d also like to invite Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, apart from finding out how he devised his plots, I’d also like to know how he feels about all the TV and film adaptations of his books.

What’s The Worst Part About Being A Book Blogger?

I had to think about this one for a bit. I used to get stressed about the number of ARCs (Advanced Reader Copy) I had to read/review by a certain date. Having to read a book and wanting to can shift your emotional state. You get reading slumps, blogger burn-out, and flounder about like a fish out of water. However, this year I swapped to audiobooks and no longer have any deadlines. I’m much more relaxed.

Do You Have Any Hobbies Outside of Blogging? What Do You Do To Relax?

Listening to audiobooks is my happy place. Oh, and I like doing jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and watching stuff on Sky or Netflix.

Tell Us Something That Your Existing Followers Don’t Know About You?

When I was a teenager, I used to write stories about The A-Team and Battlestar Galactica where I was the protagonist.

person holding white ceramci be happy painted mug — Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

Thank you for sharing your innermost secrets with us Flora. Now, I’m even more excited to find out more about your book blog.

Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Flora (Part 2)

What’s Your Blog Called?

Flora’s Musings

How Long Have You Been a Book Blogger?

about 8 years

What Type Of Posts Can We Find On Your Blog?

Reviews, Lists, Blog Tours, Tags and memes

What is Your Favourite Type of Blog Post to Write?

I still love sharing my thoughts about the audiobooks I listen to.

How Long Does it Take You to Create a Post For Your Book Blog?

Not including the actual listening/reading, a good few hours. I have a regular format but I still have to organise my thoughts, create the graphics, add purchase links so my followers can buy it too.

What Are Your Top Three Favourite Blog Posts You’ve Written?

This is another tough question, Kim. It’s like choosing which of my kids I love the most! But I’ve found three that I enjoyed writing

What Has Been Your Proudest Blogging Moment To Date?

Easy, the first time I plucked up the courage to reach out to an author and ask if we could do a Q&A for my blog.

Flora Meets Maria Vale ~ author of The Legend of All Wolves series.

Do You Have Any Blogging Goals This Year? If You Do, Please Share Them With Us.

I’d love to get more followers, but I’m happy with the organic growth I’ve got going. It’s quality rather than quantity.

I couldn’t agree more, Flora. Quality always outweighs quantity in my mind. Thank you for sharing these insights into your blogging life with us.

Flora’s Social Media Links. Go Follow, Like, and RT

I hope that you’ve found this post, Book Bloggers Unveiled: Meet Flora, as insightful as I did. I’m looking forward to unveiling another book blogger next month.