Category: Guest Posts

Contributions from other writers, usually, but not limited to book promotion or writing tips.

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Guest Posts

Burnt Promises by Brenda Perlin

Book Title: see comments below

Series: Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles

Author Name: Brenda Perlin

Publisher: Master Koda Select Publishing

Reading Level: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Content Rating: R -for adult subject matter

Available Formats: Ebook

Number of Pages: 151

Purchase Links: Consumer Review by Ea Stanmore | Home Wrecker II: The Brooklyn Chronicles is available, for a limited time only, for $0.99 at Amazon.com

Book Blurb

Brooklyn Rosen had high moral principles and was raised properly. Married for over fifteen years, those standards went out the window along with her fidelity when she met Bo. After becoming a self-proclaimed “Home Wrecker” Brooklyn left behind her marital home, along with the damage caused by her emotional wrecking ball. But the whispered remarks followed.

In “Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles” we learn what shaped Brooklyn, the trials of an unhappy marriage and a deep abiding love that would not be denied. We meet a troubled, spiteful wife, who does not want to become an “ex”.

Will Brooklyn and Bo survive, or will all be lost to a bitter woman?

Book Excerpt

On the day that I left for good, I remember getting into my car like I always did. While driving out of the garage I watched our dog Grace watching me drive away. I knew it would be for the last time. Fortunately, she wouldn’t remember any of it. As for me, I wouldn’t be able to get that image out of my head. As I drove away, tears filled my eyes. The guilt that I felt at that moment was insurmountable. Those tears that I cried were the only tears that I shed throughout that entire time period. Never once did I cry for my husband.

Author bio

Brenda Perlin is an independent adult contemporary fiction author.   Brenda evokes emotional responses in her readers by using a provocatively unique writing style.   Her latest book in the Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles, captures the soul-wrenching conflicts of a personal struggle for emotional fulfillment.

Ever since Brenda was a child, she has been fascinated with writing.  She draws her biggest inspiration from Judy Blume.  This sparked a passion in Brenda to pursue personal expression through writing.  Once she was old enough to go to coffee shops alone, Brenda recalls losing herself in the world of writing, all while documenting her ideas on paper napkins.

“There is really no creative process, I just write,” – Brenda Perlin

Brenda’s first book, Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles, was published with Master Koda Select Publishing. Within a short time, the book developed a strong fan base and is continuing to grow as it both entertains its readers and leaves them in a state of profound reflection.  In the near future, Brenda would like to have Brooklyn and Bo Chronicles expanded into a trilogy in order to tell the untold stories of her characters.

Author Links:

Blog: http://brendaperlin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrooklynandBoChronicles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrooklynandBo

Website: http://Brooklynandbo.com

Also to learn more about this author, check out her special Facebook Interview here.

See the title and cover updates for this book, at the link, provide by the author in the comments below.

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

If Brains Were Dynamite by Alec Hawkes

image from Amazon.com

Book Title: If Brains Were Dynamite

Author Name: Alec Hawkes

Publisher: Independent

Reading Level: adult

Genre: satire

Content Rating: PG

Available Formats: ebook, paperback

Number of pages: 116

Purchase links: Consumer Review by C.W. Lovatt| Amazon UK | Amazon U.S.

Book Blurb from Amazon.com

The follow up to ‘Common Sense Would Be Good’. Expanding on the same theme, the author mocks the crooks and idiots who continue to make a mess of running government while lining their own pockets. Very funny.

Author Bio from Amazon.com

image from Amazon.com

My name is Alec Hawkes, an English chap with a rather good sense of humour. I am in my early 50’s, and have had no formal training whatsoever in how to write. That is, of course, since my school days. However, I love to read and I love to write. My writing style is all mine. My day job is a night job, for I am part of a nearly extinct species, the dear old milkman, unique – I do believe – to Britain. Please correct me if I am wrong. I have a deep affection for comedy, irony, satire, and anything that raises a chuckle or deep belly laugh, or even merely an eyebrow. My own books – two so far, with more to come – are satirical swipes at the political and banking systems in Britain. I am told that many a chuckle and raised eyebrow come from reading my books. My third, which I am working on now, will have a more international feel as I have a ‘pop’ at many more politicians. All in fun, of course, though with a serious underlying message for the buggers to TELL THE TRUTH!

To learn a bit more about Alec Hawkes, check out his special Facebook Interview here.

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

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013: A Review By Paula Hrbacek

Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013, by Kathryn Jones

Pages: 46

Reading level:  General

Genre: Non-iction

Content Rating: General

Publisher: Idea Creations Press; 2013 edition (March 15, 2013)

ASIN: B0094XV6MA

Format: ebook (also available in paperback)

A quick guide for indie authors, Four Stars, 5-29-13

I received a copy of “Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2013” as a free Kindle download when I responded to a discussion posted on Linked In.  The author, Kathryn Jones, is a published author who shares some of the avenues she has found for marketing a fiction book.

It is a good start for someone who doesn’t have a clue about what to do about marketing a book.  Many self-published authors jump into the fire not realizing just how much promotion they will have to do in order to make their book successful.  This booklet is a quick overview of some of the things they need to consider and do, such as set up a web site, engage in social media, and have promotional materials available.

Each chapter lists a few of the resources the author has found for promoting her book.  It lists a few blogs and web sites that will run promotional copy.  But it is not an exhaustive list, nor does it include every avenue possible.  It talks about requesting reviews and how to write a cover letter, but it didn’t mention press releases and how to write one.  It mentioned post cards, but not business cards, bookmarks or magnets.  It didn’t say what companies will print these items inexpensively, or how to make your own on a computer.  It listed web sites that promote fiction, but not nonfiction.

The book ends with information about a publishing company and the services they offer.  That means that this book is a promotional item, just like the free pens and coffee cups you get at the bank.  So, if you have the chance to get a copy for free, take it.

I was given a Kindle version, but would have liked a paper copy better.  If it had blank pages where I could add my own resources, then it might become a useful tool that I could turn to every time I publish a book.  I turned to taking notes, and wrote down a full page of web sites to check out.  But, format is in the eyes of the beholder, and ease of use depends on how many computer skills you have.  It is available in paperback, so that choice needs to be made at the time it is ordered. Amazon, Kindle.

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Paula Hrbacek is the author of five books including: Stars Shine After Dark, a sweet Christian romance, available in paperback, Kindle and Nook, and Day Camp in Hawaii, a complete program guide for summer camp or summer school, available in paperback, Nook and Kindle.  For more information see http://paulahrbacek.weebly.com or her author page at https://www.amazon.com/author/paulahrbacek. She also writes two columns for The Examiner, a free online newspaper; Children’s Arts and Crafts, and Book Reviews.

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