Tag: author

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IWSG

#IWSG Feb. 2024- Author Website Turn-offs!

IWSG

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

Optional Monthly Question: What turns you off when visiting an author’s website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author’s books? Constant mention of books?

For me, it comes down to a lack of information and little to no interaction. If I have to look too hard to find out anything about an author, I’ve moved on. So many authors I’ve interviewed over the years have had this problem. If I hadn’t been doing my due diligence to learn about them ahead of time, I wouldn’t have bothered. When I go to an author’s website, I want to know who they are, what they write, and how to connect with them if I so choose. I hope I’ve done these things on my own site so, please, if I haven’t, halla back! I need to know so I can rectify it.

I’ve also posted this response to my social media accounts. I’d love to see you over at Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.

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I was hoping to announce my grand plans for the quiet release I’m planning for the book I did about my dog, but I’ve had some health issues that put everything on the back burner. I’m giving myself grace and acting with compassion to not beat myself up about this. I think I’d like to do a fun giveaway and invite other authors, bloggers, or even just pet fans to participate. I’m hoping to do something fun and pressure-free where people get to share stories about their pet for a chance to win… something that I have in mind but haven’t decided on yet. Also, I’m hoping to send out some ARC copies, print and digital, to help gain some reviews. Like I said, this is going to be a quiet release- no major promo. I’m mainly just doing this to honor my dog before she crosses the rainbow bridge. So, hopefully, next month I’ll be better prepared with real details.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

Health issues- check.
Server and hosting issues- check.
Time limitations and demands of everyday life- check.

I hope to have more and better updates next month. In the meantime, I did manage to post three vlogs in January. I hope to post the last previously planned vlog this month, along with the others planned for this month, but since I’m already behind schedule, I’m not going to stress it.

Click to see my reading vlog- https://youtu.be/N0g3kHcyrsw
Click to see my food vlog- https://youtu.be/EFZpn4Rh814
Click to see my writing vlog- https://youtu.be/41k6reFNO8E or watch below.

I hope to have the missing lifestyle vlog out soon.

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What turns you off or on about an author’s website/blog?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
My response time has gotten slower but I’m still making my rounds.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Janet Alcorn,
SE White,
Victoria Marie Lees, and
Cathrina Constantine!

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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 #27).

Did you know you can join my community for FREE over at Patreon to receive a monthly update on the creative projects I’m working on? I tell you the truth, it’s better than a newsletter!

Thank you for making it this far down the virtual page. Kudos to you! I’d love to know what you thought of this post in the comments below. Stay safe and be blessed.

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

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About Toi Videos

Yay, More Winter-ish Stuff ’17 Haul – #books #vinyl

Well, today is a day of, what one art teacher I know calls, ‘happy mistakes’. Not sure how I didn’t know about this, but I was interviewed by Angel M, but somehow missed the post. Please check it out here. It’s a really fun feature called #SQUIRREL.

So, this is a fun little video I threw together in preparation for an early Spring. Turns out, I jumped the gun. Oh well, I still got some pretty cool stuff: clothes, vinyl, and of course books. I’m so blessed.

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