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Monthly Archives: December 2011
Happy New Year and 2011 Challenge Wrap Ups!!
First, I want to thank all of my wonderful followers for your amazing patience during my site transfer two weeks ago. I have never been happier than when I made that switch! I am a woman in love twice over. First with my amazing Kindle, Kent, and now with my amazing self-hosted WordPress Blog (thank you, Gina@HottBooks!). I am LOVING it and now wondering why the heck I didn’t switch sooner! LoL. Oh well.
Anyways, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wow! Where DID the time go??? Seems like it was just yesterday that I gave birth to my third baby….in August of 2009. No, not a human one. My BLOG!!! Yep! In 2.5 years, I have gained a wonderful following and feel like you ALL are my family! I have such a wonderful extended family that I feel so blessed! Do you all have any New Year’s resolutions? I don’t really keep up with that anymore like I did SOOOOO many years ago as a teenager. I guess if I had to have one, it would be to FINISH MY TBR STACK!!!! LoL! I have between my Kindle and print copies over 5000 books. LoL. Wow. I’ll be busy forever, if I never get another book. LoL.
Now, on to my challenge wrap ups. I joined in 7 actual challenges for 2011, and out of those 7 I completed six completely, with only 6 away from completely the 7th one. You can see the challenges I completed/didn’t complete here. Not bad if I say so myself! YAY! How’d ya’ll do on your challenges? Are you participating in any new ones in 2012? I’ve signed up for some great ones again. See them here.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the start of a fantastic reviewing year here at Reviews By Molly, with the first review being Blood Of Anteros by Georgia Cates!
From my family to yours, HAPPY NEW YEAR, ya’ll!!!
Sizzling PR Tour Author Interview: Lizzy Ford (War Of God series)
Tell us about Lizzy Ford. Who are you when you’re not writing? For the past year, I’ve been a writing-and-networking fool! Outside of Lizzyland, I’m a wife to a Border Patrol agent and mama to three animals.
Do you have a day job as well?
Not any more! I did up until this fall.
Not any more! I did up until this fall.
How did you choose the genre you write in and where do your ideas come from?
My ideas come from my muses, which I call ‘demons.’ They just won’t leave me alone! Ha! I’ve always been fascinated by the fantastical, so I
My ideas come from my muses, which I call ‘demons.’ They just won’t leave me alone! Ha! I’ve always been fascinated by the fantastical, so I
tend to write in subgenres where I can mix magic or the supernatural with the story. When I began writing early on in school, I started with fantasy. I’ve written all rom
ances this year but am going to launch my first young adult fantasy the last week of December. We’ll see how it goes!
Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?
It took over ten years of rejections from traditional publishers and literary agents before I was able to digitally publish my first book. I ended up going the self-publishing route, once the technology had advanced enough that it was cheap (or free) to do.
If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?
I would’ve pursued the self-publishing route many, many years before. I sell tens of thousands of books and receive incredible support and feedback from my readers. Had I know how fulfilling it is, I never would’ve waited!
How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?
I use several strategies. The most important key to my success has been the online platforms (website, various social media) my husband created to sell me as a brand. We pull in hundreds of people a day through various channels, and we chose to focus on the Lizzy Ford brand rather than individual books.
I use several strategies. The most important key to my success has been the online platforms (website, various social media) my husband created to sell me as a brand. We pull in hundreds of people a day through various channels, and we chose to focus on the Lizzy Ford brand rather than individual books.
Second has been our employment of the free method. I gave away all my books for free (everywhere but Amazon) up until 1 November. Even with them being free in so many places, I still sold books on Amazon. Word-of-mouth is still key for selling, even with all the technology we have now. I took a lot of flack from other writers about giving away free ebooks, but I generated discussion among readers and writers alike.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
Toughest criticism: that’d I’d never be able to make enough money writing to support myself.
Best compliment: from readers who say my writing inspires them. It’s an incredible feeling when someone can find inspiration in something I create!
Here’s a couple of quirky questions for you,Lizzy….
What’s your favorite movie?
Zoolander
Zoolander
Cake with or without ice cream?
With!
Date night out, or date night in?
Date night out.Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Christmas
Christmas
Physical copy of a book or eReader??
Physical copy.
Physical copy.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for your continued support and feedback! My writing has improved a great deal this year because of the feedback I receive from readers.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for hosting!
Author Lizzy Ford
About The Author:
Lizzy Ford is the hyper-prolific author of the Rhyn Trilogy and War of God series, both launched in 2011, as well as multiple single title young adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Lizzy’s books have reached into the top ten best seller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK for multiple categories. Through her unconventional online marketing strategies, Lizzy has gone from selling 20 books in January 2011 to a projected 5,000+ books in September 2011 and from over 7,000 free downloads of her work in January 2011 to over 40,000 downloads in September 2011.
Lizzy Ford’s team consists of: Matt, IT and search engine optimization expert; Christine LePorte, freelance book editor; Dafeenah, graphics artist; and Toni, English-Spanish translator.
Lizzy is considered by most to be the ultimate writing freak of nature. She holds a full-time job that requires 2-3 months a year of travel and still manages to write 30-60,000+ words a month in addition to managing her online platform. She is also a regular contributor for the Curiosity Quills website and is an active member of a small guild of nine passionate, talented writers, the Indie Eclective.
Lizzy’s books are available from Amazon, BN, Smashwords, iBooks/iTunes, and all other eReader libraries.
GoddessFish Tour Review: Claws And Effect by Amanda Arista
Claws And Effect
Amanda Arista
Diaries Of An Urban Panther, #2
Avon Books
December 27,2011
eBook/432 pages
Amazon|B&N
RBM’s Disclaimer
5/5 Books
Dear Diary,
Once I took down Haverty, the Primo of the city, I thought life was going to get better. After four assassination attempts, I’m thinking not so much. Haverty’s pack needs a new leader and I’ve just about run out of reasons why I’m not right for the job. Besides, having loyal followers would definitely help me fight off whoever’s out for my blood. Especially since my boyfriend is always busy playing White Hat to every wanderer except me. It’s nice that he thinks I’m tough enough to handle my own business, but a little extra back up would be nice. So now I just need to figure out how to mentor new shifters, run a pack, keep my “real” job, and have some sort of personal life. I guess it’s all in a day’s work for this horror movie writer-turned-shapeshifting panther.
Author Amanda Arista
About The Author:
Amanda was born in Illinois, raised in Corpus Christi, lives in Dallas but her heart lies in London. Good thing she loves to travel.
During the summer after second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library, much to the surprise of the local librarian. So she started making up her own stories and hasn’t stopped.
She has a husband who fights crime, one dog who thinks he’s a real boy, and another who might be a fruit bat in disguise.
When not writing, Amanda often dreams of co-opening an evil bakery and sell despicable desserts. Her particularly favorites are larvaceous lemon bars and sinful cinnamon streusel.
She spends her weekends writing at coffee shops, practicing for the day that caffeine intake becomes an Olympic sport, and plotting character demises with fellow writers Wolvarez, Killer Cupcake and Keith (names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent).
Amanda Arista is now among the many talented authors that I’m happy to say are on my favorite authors list. Now, I’ll admit, when I sat down to read this awesome book, the first chapter had me a little confused. I just wasn’t sure where the author was going with the story. But, after that, wham! She hit me with complex characters, and fantastic written plot line that will leave the reader spinning and ready for more, by the time the reach the ending.
Violet Jordan, werepanther. Now THAT is a character to be reckoned with! She is a fantabulous character and one that I really am glad I made friends with. I loved watching her as she took on so many situations, while her boyfriend laa-dee-daaed over gosh knows what, leaving Ms. Jordan to figure things out on her own.
Violet Jordan’s story really kept me hooked, especially when Ms. Arista added in the mysterious factor to the story, with someone hell-bent on killing off the panther. Each page turn brought a new,sometimes funny twist with it, and watching Violet mentor the new shifter-recruits was awesome. The complexity of Violet and her pack, and the awesome mystery factor really brought the story into a whirlwind of fantasteriffic reading!
If you are looking for a fun, fast paced read and you love shifter stories, this is for you. It’s definitely a 5 Book worthy read, and one that will pull you into the heart of the story. This is the second in Ms. Arista’s Diaries of an Urban Panther series, and after seeing the effects this story had on me, I’ll definitely be going back and reading Violet’s beginning in book 1: Diaries of an Urban Panther.
- Amanda and Harper Collins will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter, so click the banner and comment away!
CBLS Promotions Giveaway: Fate’s Second Chance by AJ Jarrett
Fate’s Second Chance
Twists Of Fate, #1
AJ Jarrett
Silver Publishing
November 3,2011
eBook/167 pages
Amazon|Barnes&Noble
RBM’s Disclaimer
Marie thought dying was the worst thing to happen to her, until informed she’s always been a man’s soul trapped in a woman’s body. As Marc, he’s got one shot to set things right–by finding love with his best friend and soul mate–with only a month to do it.
Marie Carter has never felt comfortable in her own body, and it took dying to find out why. Ross, her unlikely guardian angel, informs her that mistakes were made and he needs her help to save her fate, Ross’s wings, and her best friend’s heart.
Six month’s after Marie’s death, Marc arrives with one month to heal Sabrina’s—his sister’s—suffering, and win his soulmate, Shawn. If he fails, Sabrina will never know peace, Ross will be kicked out of heaven, and the love of his life will die from a broken heart. Will that be enough time to heal the wounds a lifetime in the wrong body has caused?
Author AJ Jarrett
About The Author:
AJ Jarrett currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children. A lover of M/M romances she has started writing her own stories for others to enjoy. She is currently published through Silver Publishing and her first release Fate’s Second Chance is the first in the Twist of Fates series. When she is not chasing around her kids she can be found sitting on the couch with her trusted laptop giving life to the voices in her head.
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