Tuesday Book Chat | 27th February 2018 | Narelle Atkins

Narelle here. Welcome to our ACW Tuesday Book Chat where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.  

Let's chat. What's your favourite Christian book genre?

Do I Have to Blog? 8 Memes for Writers

By Iola Goulton | @IolaGoulton

Last week I suggested participating in a weekly or monthly meme or blog hop as a way of developing the blogging habit. This week I'm sharing seven memes to give you some blogging inspiration! As a bonus, they are all great for sharing on social media ... which helps build your author platform and brand.

(If you know you need to start building your author platform but have no idea where to start, or if you've made a start but aren't sure if you're on the right track, you need to join my March Marketing Challenge: Kick Start Your Author Platform. Click here to check it out.)

Particpating in a Meme or Blog Hop

Some bloggers participate each week, others participate less regularly. Most memes don't mind whether you participate or not in any given week. Others have rules. For example, the Author ToolBox Blog Hop is only monthly and doesn't operate in November (because of Nanowrimo) or December. Participants can miss one other month during a calendar year.

Comment and Share

Most memes or blog hops ask participants to visit and comment on at least some of the posts each week/month. I usually visit each site once. If they have a post up, I'll comment (if I can add to the discussion), and share to social media where relevant. For example, I share add all Author ToolBox Blog Hop posts to a jukebox in SocialJukebox, which means they get shared regularly without any further action from me.

Commenting on other posts in the meme is encouraged, it's not usually compulsory (but check the requirements at the host site). A blog hop is similar. The main difference is that participants are encouraged to visit and comment on other particpating blogs.

Respond to Comments

Of course, people are also commenting on my post, so that's the final step: responding to any comments on my own site.

Time Commitment

It takes me about half an hour to write, post, and format a #FirstLineFriday post (including creating a post-specific graphic). I then spend half an hour to an hour commenting and responding to comments, depending on how busy I am, how many posts I want to comment on, and how many people have commented on my blog.

That might seem like a lot of time, but it's a its a lot less time than it would take me to read a book and write a book review, yet it serves similar purposes: bringing a book to the attention of people who wouldn't otherwise know about it, and connecting with readers on my own website.

Here are some of the memes and blog hops I've come across. Most of them are focused on fiction, but that's fine. You're a writer—you should also be a reader. Right?

1. Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners . To participate, you simply choose a random book from your Goodreads To Read folder, and show it off. Then link back to Lauren's Page Turners.

2. Top Ten Tuesday

Your top ten book choices on a certain predetermined topic. The meme is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. There is a link to future questions on each Tuesday post. Most of the participating bloggers focus on Christian fiction. Bloggers often tag featured authors in social media shares, which increases visibility and comments—a win-win.

3. Tuesday Book Chat

Answer a pre-set question about books or reading. This is hosted here at Australasian Christian Writers (yay!). If you'd like to contribute, let us know and we'll send you the list of questions for 2018. Write your post, then share it in the comments of our post.

I also create an image for each question, which I share on social media. I get more comments on Instagram than anywhere else. This means it's a great way of connecting with my followers and finding out what they are interested in.

3.Can't Wait Wednesday

A book you're waiting for, and why. This meme is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings. It's simple: a cover image and book description (from Goodreads or a retail site), and a sentences or two on why you want to read the book.

5. WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and has been revived by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

You can add as much or as little information as you want about each title. This is another excellent way of engaging with fellow readers.

6. Author ToolBox Blog Hop

The AuthorToolBoxBlogHop is a monthly blog hop hosted by Raimey Gallant. The hop takes place on the third Wednesday of each month, and posts are on topics relevant to writers e.g. writing craft, editing, marketing, and publishing.

I participate in this Blog Hop as Christian Editing Services. I've yet to be convinced that fiction writers writing about writing is useful—the point of blogging is to connect with readers, which is why I participate with my editor persona.

7. Throwback Thursday

I see a lot of people using the #ThrowbackThursday or #TBT hashtag to recycle old posts. Renee at It's Book Talk has taken this one step further and organised it into a meme. A #ThrowbackThursday title can either be an old favourite (i.e. a recycled book review) or an older book that's been sitting on the To-Read pile for too long. Most book bloggers tend to focus on new or recent releases, so this is a way of getting some of those older must-read books actually read.

Note that not all #ThrowbackThursday bloggers are reviewing Christian fiction (most of the other memes I've mentioned are mostly or exclusively Christian fiction). I recycle a book review each Thursday and tag it as #TBT or #ThrowbackThursday, but I don't officially join the meme (which is hosted by Renee at It's Book Talk).

8. First Line Friday

The first line of a the book nearest you. The meme is hosted by Hoarding Books, and I participate. The posts are quick and easy to schedule, although commenting takes a little longer ... and my to-read pile grows by more books than I can manage thanks to the recommendations of the other participants. #BookWormProblems

Do you participate in any memes or blog hops? What's your favourite (as a reader or as a writer), and why?

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, and currently works as a freelance editor. When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

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Print Book Giveaways for Australasian Readers | Narelle Atkins

By Narelle Atkins  @NarelleAtkins

Do you read the fine print before getting excited about print book giveaways? 

If you're an international reader who lives outside the USA, you'll know to check the giveaway rules to see if you're eligible to enter. You'll also know to check the sale prices on ebooks before buying due to potential territory limitations on ebook deals.

At Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) we don't do a lot of giveaways, but when we do a giveaway here we try to make sure there's an option for readers who don't live in Aust and/or NZ to at least win an ebook, if not a print book.

There is a reason why print book giveaways from US-based authors are often limited to US mailing addresses: postage costs. The same logic applies for Aussie authors limiting print giveaways to Aussie mailing addresses.

For US authors who are sent print books from their publisher to give away, it's only around $3 US to mail the books within the US. It's significantly more expensive to mail that same book to an international mailing address.

The Book Depository has traditionally been our go-to place at ACW to buy and send print books to winners of our giveaways who live overseas. They offer competitive prices and free worldwide shipping.

I also blog with Inspy Romance and we're celebrating our 4th birthday by offering 10 giveaway bundles - 4 print book bundles (US only) - 4 ebook bundles (international) - a Grand Prize (US only) - PLUS a print book bundle for an international reader to win.

Yes, Inspy Romance is offering a print book giveaway containing 6 books specifically for readers who live outside the US.

If you like reading contemporary Christian romance, stop by the Inspy Romance blog and enter the Birthday Bash giveaway.

Have you discovered many print book giveaways that are open to readers who live outside the US? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

      

A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, NARELLE ATKINS was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia.

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Book Review: Land of Britannica

by Jeanette O'Hagan

Land of Brittanica by Jenny Woolsey

Description:

Twelve-year-old Brittney is upset her parents have split up and she wants them back together. After Dad introduces his girlfriend to Brittney and her brothers, she is plunged into a strange world... the Land of Britannica. This kingdom is ruled by the evil Storm Queen and it is Brittney's mission, as stated in the Book of the Kingdom, to defeat the queen and restore the cracked green heart that hangs in the sky. She must face many perils and dangers. Will Brittney be able to fulfil her destiny?

Land of Britannica is an allegory. Brittney must work through stages of grief as she goes on her mission to save the people.

This is a wonderful story of a brave girl who fights evil for good.


Middle Grade Novel
Ages 9 - 12
198 pages
Publication Year: 2017

About the Author

Jenny Woolsey is a writer and blogger, speaker, teacher, youth worker and advocate for people with facial differences, mental illness, and disabilities. She lives in the north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia, with her husband, three magnificent children, three spirited cats and her cute fluffy dog.

Jenny started writing stories when she was little. As a teenager, poetry was her favourite genre. In 2014 Jenny decided it was time to begin writing again and published her first novel, Ride High Pineapple. In 2016 she published her second, Brockwell the Brave. Jenny writes to help children and teens who feel different and are going through tough situations. She understands as she's felt this way all through her life.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed Jenny Woolsey's debut novel Ride High Pineapple which dealt with difference (the heroine has a congenital face dysmorphia), bullying and being brave with an engaging story. So I was looking forward to reading Land of Britannica. This book was pitched to a younger audience with clear language.

Twelve-year old Brittney is struggling with the separation of her parents, especially when her Dad introduces his new girlfriend. Unable to sleep, she is transported through a strange green portal and finds herself in a kingdom with a cracked green heart hanging in the sky and an evil Storm Queen. The people of the kingdom believe Brittney is the girl from the Book of the Kingdom, who will mend the green heart and save the realm from the Queen.

Brittney must face her fears as she battles trolls, fierce guards and the Queens magic. She receives help along the way, and there are many strange cross-overs between her normal world and this new one, including her companion, a talking cat called Marmalade almost identical to her cat at home.

Land of Britannica follows the well-tried path of hero's journey, with a quest and many difficulties along the way. Britannica is a world with fantastical elements, including an evil stepmother Queen, a fairy, talking animals, and dragons; elements that connect with Brittany's inner battle. There is plenty of action and a satisfying conclusion. All the while, the story explores the confusion for children when their parents separate.

This is a solid middle-grade book, easy to read and full of adventure. The book is written for the general market, though from with Christian values and worldview. Great for kids that might be struggling with family conflict, change and separation or know someone who is.

Available as an e-book on Amazon or as print book from the author's website.

'MINDFULLY ~ ONE AT A TIME'

by Josephine-Anne Griffiths

As moments turn into days, days to weeks, and weeks to months, I ask myself the same questions, 'Who am I really? Am I just a fraud? Do I truly have a talent for writing, or should I just return to reading the wonderful writings of others?'. And then there are those critical questions I constantly ask myself 'Why do you keep doing this? Why are you forever taking on so much "stuff"? Why are there always so many pots on the stove, about to bubble over?'.

'O Lord , I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord , for you are a faithful God.'
~  Psalms 31:1‭-‬2‭, ‬5 NLT

Issues with mental health tend to run in my family. I don't know why. However, this does not define who I am ... I am one of God's precious children, as we all are.
There are many troubled people in this world with various problems, but when I remember ... 'although many things are impossible for man, they are never impossible for Our Lord Jesus Christ' ... I feel so much better.

I love to become involved with lots of people, activities, and things, but at the end of the day, week, or month I seem to have accomplished nothing. God has given us all gifts, and besides loving to read and write, I know He's given me capacity to create something beautiful, to share with others, and to love others the same way I want to be loved and treated.

I tend to be rather hard on myself, as I am sure we all do at some stage or another, but it's true, nothing will get done if I don't clear my bipolar head of all these silly notions and snippets of folly. I had planned to write this post in January on my own site, but things kept standing in my way ... my health, HoneyBun's health, critical illness within the family, funerals to attend, and a plethora of other things. One of my worst habits is failing to say 'no' when I should, and another is being overtaken by compulsiveness and impulsivity. Everything has to be done perfectly or not at all. Lots of things are appealing to me, and I find it almost impossible to resist. I have wasted money on silly things in the past, now I can't afford to be so irresponsible ... but I still waste precious time on "stuff". I'm certain many would know exactly what I mean. What about you? Do you waste time?

So, what is the solution?
Simple ... ONE THING AT A TIME, WITH PATIENCE!
I apologise for the bunch of capital letters, but I've just had an epiphany 😃
I have been threatening to empty out my email inbox for ages. Well, that is just about to happen. I have so many unnecessary emails coming in that I'm missing the important ones. I spend way too much time on Facebook  ... hmm, I'll work on that soon 😉  My calendar is full with medical appointments, funerals (I have two to attend this week), oh and I mustn't forget my elderly parents  ... they need care, love, and kindness as well. And regarding my beautiful parents, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Then there is the challenge of trying to think and write with chronic pain. My osteo and rheumatoid has flared up badly, making concentrating on anything tiresome ... but I am certain many of you can relate to this. My wonderful husband has offered to purchase the latest version of Dragon software for me. He's such a sweetie (most of the time), but then I suppose I'll have yet another thing to learn (laughing to myself).

Yes, one at a time, that's definitely the way. I won't be able to cast aside all my bad habits in the flap of a bird's wing, but with God's help I shall gradually eliminate most dreaded distractions. I will get a handle on this.

And, I will continue to write and read (just try stopping me), but perhaps I'll practice a wee bit more mindfulness while doing so. When I begin my day (around 6.00am) with Jesus, I find my day pans out far better than when I just kind of fit Him in somewhere later in the day. I need to remember that He has my back no matter what.

'Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.'
~  Ecclesiastes 11:5‭-‬6 NLT

So, with patience and mindfulness I shall take one day at a time, and one moment at a time. How about you? Do you get distracted? Do you put your fingers in too many pies (just like me)?

I'd love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment  ... it'll make me feel better if I believe I'm not on this uncertain, and sometimes terrifying journey alone.  God bless 💞

Tuesday Book Chat | 20th February 2018 | Narelle Atkins

Narelle here. Welcome to our ACW Tuesday Book Chat where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.  

Let's chat. How many books do you read in a year?

Do you keep count? I'll be honest - I'd prefer to answer this question without revealing how many books I add to my to-be-read list each year that remain unread.

Do I Have to Have a Blog? 4 Tips for Writers Who Hate Blogging.

By Iola Goulton | @IolaGoulton

I'm often asked this question. It seems that the very thought of marketing and platform building and blogging—especially blogging—strike fear into the heart of even the most intrepid writer. So they tell themselves they hate blogging. And don't blog.

Do authors have to have a platform? 

Yes. Your platform is how you sell books—it's your way of demonstrating authority in your chosen topic, and of developing relationships with current and potential readers.

And a blog is one of the typical components of an author platform. The others are:

• Website
• Email List
• Social Media

(If you know you need to start building your author platform but have no idea where to start, or if you've made a start but aren't sure if you're on the right track, you need to join my March Marketing Challenge: Kick Start Your Author Platform. Click here to check it out.)

It used to be said that non-fiction authors need to blog (as a way of establishing authority in your chosen field), but that fiction authors didn't. But opinion on this is changing, as a blog is a great way to establish a relationship with potential readers.

But don't let that frighten you off. Blogging isn't scary—at least, I don't think so. Although I might be lying to myself ...

In fact, I am lying to myself. Here's the big lie I tell myself:

Only one person is reading my posts.

My professional background is as a management consultant specialising in writing long and detailed reports (never mind the quality. Feel the weight!). Lots of long words and long sentences and long paragraphs. Plenty of passive voice. My early blog posts—even my book reviews—reflected that writing style. I still struggle with writing a swoof-y book review (swoof = squeezing words out of feelings).

So it was a good thing that only one person was reading my early posts. It gave me the opportunity to try, experiment, and improve. I know more than one person reads my posts now. But I still write as though only one person is going to read it. It frees me to write what I think needs to be written. And it helps me solidify what I need to include because I'm not writing for everyone. I'm writing for that one person.

(Note that the "one person" may change depending on what I'm writing. If you've ever read one of my posts and thought, "Wow. She could have been writing that for me!" ... maybe I was. Knowingly or unknowingly.)

Yes, I write for an audience of one. (Not One. He already knows!)

I've discovered a few secrets in writing and publishing over 1,000 blog posts in the last six years. Okay, so most of those were book reviews which some people say aren't real blog posts. But other people loathe writing book reviews. And Aunty Google sees them as blog posts, so they count.

Here are my four tips.

1.Think Positive

If you think you're going to hate blogging, you will. Conversely, if you think blogging regularly might be a fun challenge, it will be. If you really hate the idea of having a blog, call it something different: a journal, a diary, a magazine, a letter.

2. Find Your Voice

Blogging is great training for writing. It helps you find your writing voice. It gets you used to writing to a deadline and that's a good thing. I am a procrastinator. I say I work best with a deadline, but that just means I ignore everything that doesn't have a deadline (like, say, housework). It also means that the only way I can get anything done is by setting myself a deadline.

Blogging is perfect. I set myself regular weekly deadlines, and I achieve them (almost) every week. Plan. Write. Revise. Edit. Schedule. Promote.

The hardest part is getting started.

If you're seeking a traditional publisher, blogging regularly has the advantage of showing potential agents and publishers that you can write, and that you can write to a schedule.

3. Have a Plan

One of the most common complaints I hear about blogging is that people don't know what to write. Planning ahead helps. Jeff Goins suggests keeping a list of possible blog post topics. No pressure—just write down the topic and a few notes when inspiration hits. Later, go through your list of potential topics and pick one to write. Edit, and schedule.

I always use the schedule function. 

It means I can blog at the same time each week. When I'm on a blogging roll I can write two or more posts, then edit and schedule them to post over time. It's a much better approach than posting three days in a row, then not posting again for a month.

So pick a regular time to post, and stick with it.

4. Join a Meme

Joining a meme is an extension of having a plan. A blogging meme is where a group of bloggers post on a similar subject at a set time. The meme usually has a host, and all participating bloggers link back to the host's site (and from there, they can find other participants in the meme).

Many memes pose a question of some kind. The blogger answers the question, then asks visitors to answer the same question in the comments. This encourages participation, and is a great way of getting to know your readers.

More importantly, participating in a meme or blog hop a ready-made answer to the eternal question: what do I blog about? It's also a regular weekly or monthly blogging schedule, which Google likes.

I'll be back next week to share some of my favourite memes.

Do you blog? Why or why not?

About Iola Goulton

Iola Goulton is a New Zealand book reviewer, freelance editor, and author, writing contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist. She is a member of the Sisterhood of Unpronounceable Names (Iola is pronounced yo-la, not eye-ola and definitely not Lola).

Iola holds a degree in marketing, has a background in human resource consulting, and currently works as a freelance editor. When she’s not working, Iola is usually reading or writing her next book review. Iola lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty in New Zealand (not far from Hobbiton) with her husband, two teenagers and one cat. She is currently working on her first novel.

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