Categories
Interviews Videos

Seeking #authors #illustrators, #editors & more for interviews! #booklovers

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This post is for book lovers like me.

Not sure if you noticed any changes in my posts as of late, but I’ve really switched gears to focus more on my love of reading. When I was approached to take over the IWSG Book Club I took it as a sign. While I will always be a writer at heart, whether I publish or not, I really think I’m a booklover first. More importantly, I want more people to read. That’s why I consider myself a reading advocate. I want everyone to have a healthy reading lifestyle, at whatever level that means for them. Of course, I’m all for the spread of literacy, but I also think there’s value in seeing reading as a form of entertainment. That’s why I’ve decided to launch my new interview series on YouTube.

I want to create an interview series that’s all about how great authors, books, and reading really are. I don’t want just another interview program about shameless and boring self-promotion. I want to sit down with authors, illustrators, and other industry professionals and talk about why reading is so wonderful, how they come up with their stories, break down some of their best plots, and then get silly and relate to them on a real and personal level.

I get that this won’t be for everyone, but I think it will be a lot of fun and look forward to being able to share it with the world. Click the images below to learn more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
Fun Hops Promotion

Joe and Chip in Quarantine #childrensbook #fundraising #giveaway

Today, I’m launching Joe and Chip in Quarantine to the world. To celebrate this launch, I’m offering a free ebook and a fundraising giveaway for #GivingTuesday.


Daddy, what’s a quarantine?

Mommy, why can’t I play with my friends?

Life in the time of a quarantine can be hard and sometimes kids have trouble understanding what to do and why. That’s why I’ve written this book. I want to help kids and adults cope with the “new normal” that is a quarantine.

Meant for educational purposes, but still an enjoyable, light, and colorful read, Joe and Chip in Quarantine leaves you with an overall impression that this is what we have to do, for now, so let’s make the most of it.

Amazon: eBook (FREE) US  UK  DE  FR  ES  IT  NL  JP  BR  CA  MX  AU IN

All 5 of my other children’s ebooks are on sale today for $0.99.

For anyone interested, SellMyTees.com is running a promotion.

$2.00 OFF EVERY ITEM IN YOUR CART!
Use Coupon Code TOGETHER at Checkout.

I designed two t-shirts in celebration of this release to go along with my other 16 bookish designs. Check them out here.

Enter to win a $20 (USD) donation for the
charity or cause of your choice.

I am giving to
Hampton Roads Writers and
The Muse Writers Center

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, Toi Thomas may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see her affiliate disclosure for more details. Thank you for your support.

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG October 2016: When is your story ready, in case you missed it, & #book drive donations.

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Monthly Question: When do you know your story is ready?

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The smarta$$ in me wants to ask the question, “ready for what?” When is your story ready for sharing, ready for editing, ready for publishing? Who knows… I guess, for me, this question is asking when is your story ready to be shared with others, whether on a blog, in a message to a select few, or with an editor in preparation for publication.

This is a tough one. I don’t always know in the same way for each story. Sometimes the story is ready only after it’s been self-edited enough. Sometimes it’s ready when the story feels complete and satisfying in a way that I no longer feel I need to add to or improve. Sometimes the story is ready when I’m tired of working on it. It really depends on the story and where I am emotionally.

And now on to the updates and in case you missed it.

This blog has been through so many changes over the years and I’m not in a place where I want it to change again, but it may have to. Some of the blog hops I participate in are either ending or changing and I’m feeling anxious. My movie review hop is ending, but I’m still going to try to review one movie a month. I feel like the love of cinema is an important part of me and my creative process that I should share with anyone who might want to know something about me from reading this blog. Also, the Question of the Month and Flashback Friday host has decided to walk away from those hops for good and personal reasons. I’ll miss him and am curious to see what direction these hops will take now that he’s seeking replacements. I threw my name in the hat, but I’d be happy with whoever he chooses. I just want these hops to continue. I really enjoy them.

So…now… let me choose my words wisely. Amazon(dot)com and I had a bit of a tiff recently. I’m seriously considering publishing my email correspondence with them as a free PDF download on this blog for anyone who’d like to read them. They are shocking, sad, and terrifying all at once. If you want to know the summary of our tiff, check out the article I wrote about it last week, by clicking the image below.

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I mentioned it before and here’s the results. I’ve updated all my books and am ready to release my children’s books on my birthday. If you have a moment, please enjoy my unboxing video.

And last but not least, I’m trying a wacky campaign that may not go anywhere, but since I’ve only shared it with family and friends so far (I don’t count Twitter), I won’t feel too bad if no one supports it. I’m used to my family and friends ignoring anything involving my writing, excluding my mom and a handful of others who are my biggest supporters. Again, if you have the time, I’d love for you to check out my campaign video.

Don’t say it enough; thanks bunches for visiting this blog and reading my babble.

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When is your story ready?
Do you handle unwanted change well?
Ever had a tiff with Amazon? Should I publish my emails?
Any thoughts on my new children’s books?

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Megan Morgan,
Viola Fury,
Madeline Mora-Summonte,
Angela Wooldridge, and
Susan Gourley!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #71).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords