via 6 Reasons Why a Bookworm Should Be A Book Blogger! – Nocturnal Devices
Tag: books
Check out Christoph Fischer’s new mystery box set!
Further to my recent “New-Release-Posts” I proudly present you my first ever Mystery Box Set: “The Fraud or Miracle Trilogy” – available in paperback and available for pre-order o…
Source: Mystery Monday: “The Fraud or Miracle? Trilogy” by Christoph Fischer | writerchristophfischer
Two of my favourite bloggers joined today. Pete from BeetleyPete features Robbie Cheadle’s new and utterly delicious book.
Today, I am delighted to be featuring the new book by the lovely Robbie Cheadle, and her son, Michael. Robbie is my kind of blogger; committed, engaged, and generous with her time and comments. Rob…
An amazing article by Maria Popova that shares her contribution to what sounds like a fabulous collection, especially for Beatles fans.
“The garden of life is strewn with such dormant seeds and so much of art blossoms from their unwilled and unwillable awakenings.”
Source: In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs – Brain Pickings
As a horror fan, I had to share this post. Full to the brim with great suggestions! Thanks!
This time in This is Horror we’re going to have most of our focus on something very awesome. After all, February is Women in Horror Month!
Source: This is Horror #3: Women in Horror and a Mutant Rainforest – Sci-Fi and Scary
Hi all:
I need your help once again. As you know I’ve been thinking about book marketing strategies, looking at what has worked well for me so far (? I enjoy the interaction with other bloggers and I’ve met very interesting people, both fellow authors and non-authors [not many left] but what might make a book sell remains a mystery to me), and what are the things that I haven’t tried.
From the very beginning I heard, and I was advised, to have a newsletter. As I didn’t have many (any?) followers at the time, and I wasn’t sure about my plans, I didn’t, and to this day I haven’t. I’ve read posts about the mechanics of it, possible tools, etc. I understand it is a way to be in touch with your readers (or clients if you do other things) and of collecting an e-mail list.
The reasons why I haven’t yet set up a newsletter are varied. I don’t know how much time I’d be able to dedicate to it. I translate, I blog, I read and review, I write… Life? What’s that? I know frequency can be varied but still… I write in different genres, and many avid readers readmostly within their preferred genre. Would I have to have different newsletters and different lists for different readers? Would I have enough to write in them? Or should I assume that people would read anything I write because it’s mine? (Ja!) Also, most newsletters offer something as a way of enticing people to sign. A PDF of some sort, a story. Many seem to be how to booklets but if one only writes fiction and with so much fiction already available free, what could I offer? (Yes I could translate a page for somebody but that might work for the translating, but not for the books, and it could end up being very labour intensive).
So, once more I’m looking for help from you, authors and anybody else who might have a newsletter. And from people who sign onto newsletters too. Or have an opinion.
To people who have newsletters: How often do you publish them? What kind of content you offer? Do you have a giveaway or special offer as a way of getting people to sign on the dotted line? What tools do you use in relation to it (to reply, to collect e-mail addresses)? If you write in different genres, do you have only one newsletter and mix content or would you publish a different newsletter for different topics? And, as I’m so terrible with designs and visuals, feel free to share yours in the comments, for inspiration (and of course, hopefully some people will sign).
To people who subscribe to newsletters (yes, I do sometimes), what encourages you to sign? What content do you like to see in them? How often is too often? What makes you unsubscribe? And, what do you think about the pop-up boxes? (I must confess I hate them with a passion).
Before I leave, I must make an apology and a confession. I got Sally Cronin’s (don’t miss her blog) invitation to the impromptu writing that is going around. I thought I’d do it over the weekend but still went to her blog to thank her. And being me, I was going to leave a comment and inadvertently read the prompt. So I ruined the experiment. Since then, I’ve seen quite a few people taking part, so I have no idea whom I might be able to invite. So, I’ve decided to file the idea and get it going again at some time in the future, when everybody has forgotten about it (and hopefully I’ve published the series, so I won’t have so many things in my head) and catch everybody unawares.
And, before I leave you today, and on the subject of letters…
Ketty Lester, because I love you all.
Thank you all for reading, and you know, like, share, comment…and if you want to CLICK somewhere, please, do!
Hi all:
As you know, I love to read and review books and other things (movies, plays…). Although I read and watch things in very different genres (and I have a penchant for the unclassifiable, I must admit, both in my work and in that of others), and I love horror, and don’t flinch at gore or hard scenes or topics, sometimes one just fancies something gentle, that will leave us with a smile on our face and our heart, and a sigh of contentment, rather than making our blood pressure go up and leave us thinking about how awful the world can be.
I’m lucky enough, through Net Galley, to catch glimpses of books before they go on sale to the general public, and that was the case with this book, that will be officially published on the 18th of June but is available for pre-order.
First, the blurb:
The readers of the Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
Sara is 28 and has never been outside Sweden – except in the (many) books she reads. When her elderly penfriend Amy invites her to come and visit her in Broken Wheel, Iowa, Sara decides it’s time. But when she arrives, there’s a twist waiting for her – Amy has died. Finding herself utterly alone in a dead woman’s house in the middle of nowhere was not the holiday Sara had in mind.
But Sara discovers she is not exactly alone. For here in this town so broken it’s almost beyond repair are all the people she’s come to know through Amy’s letters: poor George, fierce Grace, buttoned-up Caroline and Amy’s guarded nephew Tom.
Sara quickly realises that Broken Wheel is in desperate need of some adventure, a dose of self-help and perhaps a little romance, too. In short, this is a town in need of a bookshop.
Here, my review:
A dream of a book for all book lovers
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this book that was a bestseller in its original Swedish.
What a wonderful book! If like me, you love books, you find time spent reading always rewarding, and would love to live in a library or a bookshop, this is your book.
Sara, the protagonist, who has always found company, consolation, friendship and support in books, takes a leap of faith and when the bookshop where she works closes down, she accepts the invitation of her pen-pal and fellow book lover, Amy. She goes to spend two month with Amy in Broken Wheel, Iowa. Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan, but when she is adopted by the whole village, she comes up with a scheme to repay them in kind, by sharing the magic and power of books.
The transformation of Sara and the town are what drives the narrative, and the assorted characters (some more recognisable than others) become humanised by their contact with Sara and her books. So much so that they can’t let her go and will do anything to keep her with them.
I enjoyed Amy’s epistles that help us imagine the missing character, the sad characters (like George and John), the riotous ones (Andy, Grace), wonderful Caroline, the love interest… Well, everybody.
This isn’t a book of mysteries and intrigues. There are no major surprises and the plot meanders along gently inviting us to share in the characters’ adventures, where nothing drastic or earth shattering happens, just life as usual.
I loved the bookshop, and Sara’s classification system, and I’d like to work there and move to Broken Wheel. Because a book about books can’t be wrong.
A delightful read.
Ah, let’s not forget the links:
Kindle: $8.97
http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend-ebook/dp/B00TQDWHJO/
Paperback: $ 13.05 http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend/dp/070118907X/
Hardback: $12. 92 http://www.amazon.com/The-Readers-Broken-Wheel-Recommend/dp/0701189061/
Through Amazon Prime I have access to movies, TV series, etc, directly streamed to the TV (if you have it connected to the internet, that is) or to the Kindle or wherever. And I found a movie from 2010 I hadn’t seen, by Rob Reiner, called Flipped that had a similar effect. A gentle movie, good for family viewers, set in the late 1950s. I haven’t read the original book, but now I’m quite curious about it. The critics didn’t seem to like it very much, although viewers were kinder. OK, it’s no Stand By Me, not many movies are, but it is a kind movie, for all the family, mostly about children, their families, and I particularly enjoyed watching John Mahoney (from Frasier fame) portrayal as the grandad, and thought Anthony Edwards played with considerable restraint a truly unsympathetic character.
Just in case you feel curious, here is the link to IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817177/
Two eighth-graders start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites. Based on the novel “Flipped” by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Director:
Writers:
Rob Reiner (screenplay), Andrew Scheinman(screenplay),
Stars:
Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Rebecca De Mornay, Aidan Queen, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney, Penelope Ann Miller
Thank you all for reading, thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the advance copy of The readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, and if you’ve enjoyed it, like, share, comment and CLICK!
Hello everybody:
Those who know me already know that I’ve been publishing my books and posts in this blog for over two years (I’ve been writing for much longer), in Spanish and English. I’ve lived, studied (Psychiatry, a BA and a PhD in American Literature and a Masters in Criminology) and worked in the UK for many years now and the truth is that I didn’t give it much thought and it seemed the normal thing to do to publish in both languages, although it meant spending more time working before I could publish my books (as I always try and publish both versions at the same time).
Despite the time involved, translating a text helps me to read it and to become submerged in it totally, that results in an in depth editing of the original. Reading it slowly one notices details that might escape even repeat fast lectures.
A few months ago I started translating other people’s book, and the same is true for those. I spend a lot of time with the book, living with it, and if I notice some typo or misplaced detail in the original I let the author know. The process is more complicated than with my own books, as the correct interpretation of the texts requires working closely with the author to clarify any details that could be confusing.
After a few months doing it and enjoying it (although it is a job that requires dedication and many hours) I’ve decided to adjust my prices ($40 per 1000 words of text) in the same conditions as before. I’m happy to offer a short sample translation for free (a page or a page and a half), or a longer one (a whole chapter or a number of pages) for the price as stated, that would be deducted from the final price if the project goes ahead. Most of the authors I’ve worked with so far have preferred to pay by instalments and that’s not a problem (although of course before I sent the final manuscript I require the payment in full), and the translation also includes the description/synopsis of the book, the blurb (including a brief biography if that is used for the paper version), and a few promo Tweets (if the author so wishes), a press release or a post for a blog also translated at no extra cost. (As I usually publish reviews in my blog and in others, I will also publish a review of the finished book, although as I’ll appear as translator, I could not post it to any of the shops officially, at least not for the translated version).
More recently several authors I know have asked me to check and proofread some translations of their works, to ensure there were no typos or anything missing. That is also fascinating work (as it allows me to learn from the work of other translators) and as it takes me far less time I’m currently charging approximately $100 per 100 pages.
Apart from translations of books and the corrections and proofreading already mentioned, I also offer shorter translations (blog posts, press releases, biographies for the author page in Amazon or other sites, Tweets, synopsis and descriptions, letters to publishing companies and authors, interviews…) for very reasonable rates, depending on length. Ask me and we’ll talk about it.
If you want more details about my works, here I leave you my web page.
And the cover of Virgin of the Sun by Jordi Díez, that I love and really enjoyed translating (and I learned a lot about the Incas!). The next novel I’ve translated for another author is nearly ready…but for the moment we’re keeping it quiet.
Thanks to all of you for reading, and if you’ve found it interesting, you know, like, comment, share and CLICK! And if you’d like to chat about a translation, leave me a note and I’ll be in touch. Of course, previous clients always have a special price.
Note: Ah, several authors have asked me about the possibility of doing translations for a percentage of the royalties of the book. I’ve thought about it although currently due to time constraints I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I’ll think about in the future, and might participate in a special project every so often. If I do it, I’ll advertise it and see if there’s any interest. I’m also happy to consider exchanging a translation for other services.
And I could not help but share the image David Cronin (husband of a great friend and fabulous blogger, Sally, visit here) created for me. He’s also doing a great series on how to create an e-book in Sally’s blog, so don’t miss.
Hi all:
As usual on Fridays I bring you a guest (and recently also new books). A few weeks ago I shared a new book by one of the writers I know from one of the groups of writers in Spanish who had had her book translated (Blanca Miosi). Today I have another guest from the same group, Jordi Díez (this time from Terrassa, Catalonia), who’s had his bestseller ‘El Péndulo de Dios’ translated to English, ‘The God Code’. If you’ve enjoyed ‘The Da Vinci Code’ I would have a look at this novel.
The God Code
Cècil Abidal, an experienced and well-known auditor for a non-profit organization, is asked to organize an auction for an antiquities’ lot of dubious origins found among the ruins of an old chapel. The artifacts’ value is not high but he´s assured the proceeds will fund humanitarian causes. He accepts the job even at the risk of his own reputation. However, what at first appears to be an ordinary sale of illegal antiquities, suddenly turns complicated when, at the last minute, an ancient codex is added to the inventory and a mysterious bidder pays a million euros for it. After the sale, and just as the codex´s falsehood is revealed, one of the auction’s “go-betweens” is murdered in unusual circumstances. In order to remain alive, Cècil needs to find the original codex. His desperate search takes him to Azul Benjelali, an old love and also an expert in ancient languages who disappears just as she is about to discover the location of a more than a thousand-years old relic that has been lost for centuries. Finally, with Mars´s (a mysterious and beautiful woman) help, Cècil races against time and is taken from one clue to the next while tracking the historical events that connect the Romans with the Templars, the Almogavars, Napoleon’s troops and the Nazis. This is a puzzle he desperately needs to solve before the secret falls into the hands of those who have been after it for centuries.
Thanks for reading, and if you’re as intrigued as I am, like, share, comment, and of course, CLICK!
You’ll remember I’ve written about my new romance ‘Click Me Happy!’ a few times. I hope you aren’t already bored of it, because now it’s finally out! I don’t normally write romantic novels but the idea for this one came to me and kept bothering me so I had to give it a go.
Some readers had left me comment about the ending of ‘The Man Who Never Was’ telling me they’d much rather a conventional happy ending (I don’t think it’s unhappy, but rather neutral), and therefore I decided to try and leave it to the reader’s opinion. I’d write several endings and the reader could choose. To being with I was going with only a happy and an unhappy ending but then I realised I would most likely have gone for something more neutral, so now there are three endings to choose from. You can choose an ending or read all three and choose, or make up your own. At the end of the novel I leave a series of links so you can tell me what you think. And of course if you like it, I’d be grateful if you share and leave a review! The novel is on special promotion this first week at $0.99. Don’t miss the chance to choose your favourite ending!
I leave you the beginning of the first chapter…
Chapter 1. We meet the “heroine”
“No. Not another bleeming romantic novel! I’m going to puke! Come on, come on, look at it! Pink cover with a hunk showing off his chest and a gorgeous girl looking impressed. And somebody’s idea of a Scottish castle on the background. I can’t stand it any longer!”
Lilith Darville was far more attractive than she ever gave herself credit for. She was not a ravishing beauty (whatever that means) but she had nice brown hair, that she always wore short (no talent for creating hairdos), big almond shaped brown eyes, a beauty spot on her left cheek, a small nose and a well-defined mouth. A very pleasant combination whatever her opinion.
She only wore makeup under extreme duress (and on very special occasions), and although she used to be big as a child, between healthy eating and plenty of exercising she was now slim and reasonably fit. Not a supermodel but, who wants to be that skinny anyway?
“What’s it called?” Asked the Head librarian and good friend of Lilith, Debbie.
“What does it matter? It should be called: Just look at the six pack in this guy, get horny and buy my book. Does anybody believe all this rubbish?”
“It’s not about believing, Lilith. It’s fantasising. Who wouldn’t want to go out with a gorgeous guy and be the centre of his world, and have other women envy you and…?”
Thank you for reading. Remember to share if you’d like it and don’t forget to CLICK!
Related articles
- Work in Progress. New romance. Click Me Happy! (cont.) and Modified cover. (olganm.wordpress.com)
Just Olga 