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Showing posts from October, 2012

Bloggers Revolutionize Book Review Industry

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     Next to the Internet itself, the second greatest thing that ever happened to writers was the advent of Bloggers. In the past, writers stood little chance of getting their work reviewed unless their book landed on the Bestsellers List. Now, thanks to the Blogosphere, it's possible for writers in every genre to connect with readers all over the world. The U.K.'s Sophie Gonzales of Life Between Pages is one example. http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/p/review-information.html      Ms. Gonzales is a university student who has been blogging for less than two years and already has 384 followers. In fact, the Life Between Pages Blog has been such a hit that Gonzales is currently unable to accept review requests. How does she do it? Gonzales' technique is relatively simple: using social networking, Gonzales is able to spread the word about her blog to a huge range of readers. Freebies like Twitter, Facebook and Google + Goodreads are all tools G

Hanging with the Big Boys on Audible.com

     In the not-so distant past, only bestsellers stood any real chance of being turned into audiobooks. It was like an exclusive club limited to the most elite books. Then audio software programs like ProTools galloped in to drastically reduce the cost of producing audiobooks. Score one for the little guy, but producing cost effective audiobooks still put indie studios in the same pickle as self-publishers: where to market their work. Most bookstores owners have little interest in using precious shelf space on products from undiscovered writers. This is where Audible.com comes to the rescue (cue dramatic music).      Audible.com offers a program called ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) which make it possible for studios living on a shoestring budget to compete in the global market. Essentially, the deal works like this: indie studios who have produced an audiobook in mp3 format can apply to sell it on Audible.com through ACX. Once the green light is given, ACX

Spooky Books and Audio Books for Halloween

     I'm not going to complain about the 300 days of sunshine we typically get each year in St. George, Utah, but the downside of living in Paradise is that there isn't much of a change of seasons. My favorite time of year is Autumn and I miss the beautiful fall colors I grew up with in my hometown of Boulder, Colorado. To compensate, I have found new ways to celebrate the seasons. Novels and audiobooks are an excellent way to get me in the mood for whatever holiday is on tap. October is an especially fun month for me, and there are a number of books and audio books to set the tone for a month of thrills and chills. I'd like to share some of my top picks for some spooky October fun: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. I read this book with the enthusiasm I normally reserve for Halloween candy. The setting, tone and delivery kept me turning pages long after I should have been turning out the lights for sleep. I also loved the movie version of P

Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book is now for sale on Amazon and Audible.com!

The latest installment in the Quirky Audio Book Series is now available for sale. WHEN MARIJUANA AND REALITY TV COLLIDE . . . Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book is the story of Blue McKenna, a pot grower who gets involved in a reality TV show as a means of curing an apocalyptic case of writer's block. A conglomerate of kooky contestants invades the polygamist community of Navel, Utah, to compete in a reality show called Yikes! Participants include Steven Finch, a loveable stoner who develops a conspiracy theory involving a rock band called the Rectal Surgeons, and Randall Smoot, a member of the Gay Mafia. Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book features a cast of 11 actors who portray the characters in funny, engaging chronologies. Steve Campbell, a delightful actor with a long list of singing and performance credits, serves as the narrator. The narration pieces give the listener a glimpse into the wacky community of Navel where every day is Christmas but it never snows