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Guest Posts

Blog swapping by Paula Hrbacek

A cheap and effective promotional opportunity

Self-published authors need to be on the lookout for inexpensive opportunities to promote their books.  One opportunity is to swap blog posts with another blogger who has a site about books or book reviews. Swapping posts means that both authors get a chance to promote their books on another site.  I post about your book, and you post about mine.

To participate in this opportunity, it is important for the author to have a story that is already written and ready to go.  The story should read like a feature or author interview, not an ad.  That means that all opinions should be put in direct quotes and attributed to someone.  Instead of saying “this book will change your life” like an ad would say, a feature story would attribute it as someone’s opinion–“This book changed my life,” said Joe Smith.

The story should contain all the information the reader needs to know before making a purchase; what the book is about, the author’s motivation or reason for writing it, the author’s qualifications or past publications, the average star rating on Amazon or Good Reads, quotes from reviews, and the purchase info of price, binding, ISBN number and where to buy it.  The story can also include the author’s social media sites such as a web site, Facebook page or Twitter address.  If the story is ready to go, most bloggers will edit it to suite their style, and appreciate the ease of posting the article.

The author then finds bloggers that are willing to swap stories.  One place is on Linked In, in the Book Promotion group.  Triberr, a service for bloggers who want to expand their reach on Twitter, also has a discussion group for bloggers who are seeking guest posts.

It’s a simple “you rub my back, and I’ll rub yours” trade.  It’s best to find bloggers in the same subject or genre as your book, because that is where your customers are.  An author who blogs about science fiction is not the best place to promote a romance title, but a blog about relationships and dating would have readers who are interested in falling in love…

To see the rest of this article and learn more about this author, Paula Hrbacek, visit the ECS blog.

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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Guest Posts

My Friend, Uzo by Darlene Jones

drums
provided by D. Jones

Let me introduce you to Uzo

I don’t remember how we met. Uzo reminds me that he was surfing WordPress looking for authors, found my blog, and read some of the posts about Mali. He made a comment, I responded and a new friendship was born.

Uzo is a young Nigerian with a blog. He lives in Asaba, Delta State (South-South Nigeria), one of the oil producing states in his country. I’m an older Canadian with a blog. I live a world away (in so many respects) on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Uzo writes novels. I write novels. Uzo writes in English, which is not his first language. As he says, “English is quite a vast language. Every day is a learning process for me.”

We begin by talking about books. We both like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I’d read Half a Yellow Sun. He told me about Purple Hibiscus. Here’s what he had to say about that book. “Purple Hibiscus is a wonderful story. Adichie did a marvelous job there from the first person pov. Kambili’s account is so real and reflects the life of a rich, caged Igbo child-woman during one of the military regimes in Nigeria.”  We’re both anxious to read Americanah.

Uzo says, “I’m a no-good writer. I’m just a wannabe like you guys call it.” On the contrary, Uzo is a powerful writer. Here’s a sample.

Although the Liberian war is now over, I cannot wish away the memories. There are nights in my sleep when I still find myself dressed in army uniform, AK-47 ready. On these nights I hear the voices of parents calling their children; others joking, shouting: “Where’s your bunker?” The air cracks and I hear the sounds of diving jets and stuttering LMGs. Fire, blood, bullets and bodies everywhere. Things soon simmer to normal as danger passes. People fill the streets, young boys and girls going on various errands. Then he appears in a blood-stained enemy uniform. His oily dark face is teased with abandon. He’s about to aim his rifle at me. In my dreams, he dies in different ways. I’m his killer. Something tells me that he is my son. But I’m too afraid to believe it.

I’m not a professional editor, but I’ve offered to help Uzo with his English as he’d be drained if he had to pay an editor, so files are sent back and forth. I’m careful not to tamper with the uniqueness of his voice.

Only the eyes that moved swiftly would see the legs that desperately sprinted across the farms and pathways. Thereafter thoughts would arise if the runner was after something, or rather, was the prey.

Beautiful, right? And yes, my life, as a person and as a writer, is richer for having met him. That’s the beauty of the Internet…

To see the rest of this article and learn more about Uzo and  Darlene Jones, visit the ECS blog.

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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Guest Posts

Spiritual Warfare by Dr. Sheila C. Carpenter

image provided by author

Title: Spiritual Warfare

Author: Dr. Sheila C. Carpenter

Publisher: Carpenter’s Press & Media, Inc.

Reading Level: Adult

Genre: Christian Fiction, Spiritual

Content Rating: PG

Formats:  Hardcover, Ebook

Pages: 274

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Blub provided by author

Four Midwestern families and a local congregation are about to embark in life-changing Spiritual Warfare. But are they spiritually and emotionally prepared for battle? God sends His head angel Ashshod to lead a host of angels to stop Satan from destroying His people. But Satan has plans of his own and sends Greed and his imps to kill and destroy whoever gets in the way. The angels must put on the whole armor of God to help protect all of God’s people if they want to stop Satan from getting the job done. Will good prevail? Or will the unthinkable happen? “Spiritual Warfare” is a thrilling page-turner that reminds us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

About The Author

Dr. Sheila C. Carpenter is the Executive Chief Officer of Carpenter’s Press & Media, Inc. a Christian company that spreads the Unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ through books, media and video games.

Dr. Carpenter provides Psychological Therapy services to inner-city youth and adults; she also serves as a mediator and rape counselor. She has studied in Egypt and done missionary work in Japan. Dr. Carpenter’s books include, Forgive Me, and she is the award winner of The Christian Walk: The Struggle to Remain On The Path.” – www.carpenterspress.com

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