Month: January 2015

Why you should join Rave Reviews Book Club TODAY

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

If you haven’t checkout into Rave Reviews Book Club as either an author or a reader, please read this blog!

Ella Emerson

This is an awesome group, I am a new member. I just joined not even two weeks ago. But, I can honestly say…I already see the support so much. Did I tell you Sky Watcher Book 1 was on the top free list for a little while on Amazon?? I am excited about it.

Join Rave Reviews Book Club TODAY!!!

Ok back to the matter at hand:

January 28th is Recruitment Day over at Rave Reviews Book Club. One great thing about this club is the reviews. Membership is a mere 25 bucks a year….Yes, a YEAR!! They offer mentoring, a spot in their online catalog, and so so much more.

The only requirement….You have to review 1 book a quarter. Which is easy to do. You review someone’s book, and usually they or someone else reviews yours. It is a great system…and it seems to be working.

Become a…

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Social Media is a Waste of Time for Writers—Hmmm, Think Again

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

Great blog on the advantages of social media by Kristen Lamb.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

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We’ve been talking a lot about social media lately and I am always grateful for your comments and thoughts. This kind of feedback not only helps me improve my blog, but my also books, because I get a glimpse of your worries, weaknesses, fears, loves, and strengths.

As a teacher/mentor/expert, it’s my job to address those fears and put you at ease or reinforce when you’re headed the right direction and give you tools and tips to take what you’re doing to another level.

There’ve been some comments that have piqued my attention lately. Namely this notion to give up on social media completely to write more books (out of vexation for the medium and the task).

Oh-kay….

Social Media is a TOTAL Waste of Time

Write more books instead of tweeting or blogging. Social media is a giant time-suck better spent writing great books.

I don’t know how to…

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Yo ho ho and a bottle of Rum!

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

Tread Carefully

This story begins with a bang. The Governor of Jamaica in the 1700s, Edward Trelawny plans a huge birthday party for his niece who is coming of age. But, the black-hearted pirate, Captain Flint and Long John Silver have other plans and soon a kidnapping is underway. Not only is the Governor’s niece, Jessica, and her maid, Libby, captured, but a British Naval sea Captain, Michael Townsend, and his first officer Patrick O’Hara,,are taken captive as well while trying to rescue Jessica and Libby.

A ransom is demanded from the Governor, which he pays in hopes of recovering his niece, but things go awry and the pirates get away with the loot and the captives.

Author, David Bryant has done his research and the depiction of the famous pirate characters is very well done as well as the descriptive scenes that allows the reader to see Jamaica and the Caribbean sea trade as it was in that time period.

It is a tale of honor in unexpected places and ways, as well as deception and ruthless treachery in others.

If you like tales from the eighteenth century on the high seas, you will enjoy this book and it’s characters.

Connect with David K. Bryant!

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Did YOU know?

Published on by Jan Sikes2 Comments

Who knew? Fascinating tidbits of information that could be helpful to any author!

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

Q: Why men’s clothes have buttons on the right while women’s clothes have buttons on the left?

A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid’s right! And that’s where women’s buttons have remained since.

Q: Why ships and aircraft use ‘mayday’ as their call for help?

A: This comes from the French word m’aidez –meaning ‘help me’ — and is pronounced, approximately, ‘mayday.’

Q: Why zero scores in tennis called ‘love’?

A: In France , where tennis became popular, round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called ‘l’oeuf,’ which is French for ‘egg.’ When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans (mis)pronounced it ‘love.’

Q. Why…

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Safe Reviewing

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

Lit World Interviews

It’s important not to tarnish your brand when you’re in the public eye – or to invite others to tarnish it for you. No matter how small a fish you might think you are. As an Indie author you really do have to be reading books by other Indies as well your traditionally published favourites, and leaving reviews for our peers is absolutely necessary for the good of the whole tribe. I will ask you one question though – how many times have Dan Brown or J K Rowling publicly published a bad review of their peers? They don’t, because there are reviewers out there who get to do those things, and they probably don’t want to get into barnies with other scribblers either. If you have set yourself up as a book reviewer as well as an Indie author that’s fair enough, as long as you’re prepared to take…

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Why Writers Should Use Twitter (and HOW to USE It Effectively)

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

Kristen Lamb has offered up some great advice on how to effectively use Twitter.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Screen Shot 2015-01-14 at 8.51.29 AMFor the last couple posts, we’ve been talking about how to use Twitter effectively. Too many writers are like Stormtroopers—lots of shots fired  tweets that hit NOTHING.

I can admit, when I got on Twitter (when it was invented) I didn’t get it. I would—KID YOU NOT—freak out when people I didn’t know followed me. WHAT? Are you, like, a stalker? Yes, I was missing the ENTIRE point of Twitter. Hey, we all start somewhere.

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Do you have to do Twitter? No. No one will take you to writer jail because you didn’t. Is it wise to use Twitter? ABSOLUTELY.

I strongly recommend Twitter for two main reasons. First, couple Twitter with a good/consistent blog and this is your best formula to go viral. Secondly, Twitter helps us find READERS (and helps readers find US).

Going Viral

We will rarely go viral from Facebook because the nature of…

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Sizzling Romance!

Published on by Jan SikesLeave a comment

Texas Mail Order Bride

Linda Broday has woven together another intriguing tale from the fringes of the Old West. In the first book of The Bachelor of Battle Creek series, we meet three brothers determined to never marry, Oh, they had their reasons alright, but Cooper Thorne was no match for the blonde haired beauty that stepped off the stage claiming to be his mail order bride.

It was obvious someone had tried to play matchmaker for the tall handsome cowboy, but who? It was also obvious that Cooper Thorne wanted nothing to do with this woman who claimed he’d sent for her.

Delta Dandridge wasn’t the kind of woman to tuck tail and run, never mind the fact that she had nowhere to run to. She dug her heels in and in no time, won the hearts of the residents of the small failing town of Battle Creek.

Cooper Thorne saw red when Delta not only stayed in Battle Creek, but set about spiffying up the town and seeing to it they gained a school and school teacher.

Through lots of twists and turns in this story, an old nemesis comes gunning for Cooper and his two brothers, dragging Delta dangerously into the fray. Cooper realizes he loves this woman and not only does he love her, but he can’t imagine life without her when she goes missing and he knows she is in grave danger.

I loved this story and all of the characters that are woven through it like a delicate spider web. Romance sizzles on the pages and the good guy wins. If you love a great love story set in the old West, you’ll love Texas Mail Order Bride!

Connect with Author, Linda Broday

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