Tina Gayle's Blog, page 104

MMI - Intentions

The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.


Have a great week,

Tina

RT - Weird and Wacky

Meet your lover at the door with ballons.


Tina

Interview with a Reviewer

I want to thank Tina for having me on her blog today.  It's really an honor.  Most people don't want a reviewer on their blog much less having them talk about reviews.

Okay, right to it…a little background on myself.  I live in East Texas, raised in Dallas, married with one son in 1st grade and work an EDJ.  I review for CBLS Reviews, The Romance Studio and The Forbidden Bookshelf.  I also have a review blog that I update semi-regularly.  Why the information about me?  To let you know, that I'm a real person, with a real life and real everyday issues.  I'm not a god, a fairy, or an ogre.  I bleed just like you do.  Why the dramatics about me?  I have some things that I want to talk to you about reviewing and what goes through my mind when I'm reading a book for review.

1. I get to pick the books that I review.  Bet you didn't know that?  Well, I do and I choose books/authors/publishers that I normally don't read or know much about.  I pick books that are way out of my comfort zone.  When I decided to review, I decided that I wouldn't read books or authors that I was comfortable with.  In the year that I began reviewing, I have found authors, genres and publishers that I seek out on a regular basis.  I have been given books to review from authors for my blog and again, I follow the same guidelines if I was reviewing it for one of the sites that I review for.

2. When I review a book, I look for the following:  plot (does it hold my interest), characters (do I even like them), flow (am I having to start and stop all the time) and lastly, did the characters connect emotionally and was it believable?

3. When writing a review, I don't give out spoilers, the ending, the conflict, nor do I give out plot points.  I will however, talk about what I did like about the book and what I didn't.  I hate when book review blogs from individuals give you a dissertation on the book.  I mean, why buy the book in the first place?  The blog already told you everything that you needed to now and more.  This is becoming more and more commonplace with so many people reviewing books on their blogs and it really pisses me off.  I have books on my Nook that I bought that sadly, I'll probably never read because of it.  Grrr…

4. Also, if you get a bad review, just remember, its only ONE reviewer's opinion.  Some people are going to love your stuff and some won't love it.  Reviewing is subjective and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt.  That said if the review is snarky and/or down right rude and mean, please, please let the review coordinator/owner know.  That should not be tolerated at all.  That does happen and it puts all reviewers in a bad light.

5. Lastly, why do I review?  I review because I love to read.  Period.  Some reviewers crave the power they have over an author but for me that's the wrong reason to review.  I review for the simple pleasure of reading and then telling people why I liked it.

If you're an author, tell me some of your experiences good or bad with reviewers.  No names, please.  If you're a reader, what do you look for in a review?  I've listed below links to where I review to check me out.  I look forward to hearing from you.

http://harliebooks.blogspot.com - personal review blog
www.theromancestudio.com - Marika is my review name
www.theforbiddenbookshelf.com - Kate is my review name

 And you thought reviewers were stuffy and not human?

Thanks Marika for sharing with us.

 Tina

A Guest on Brenda Williamson's blog

http://www.aneclecticauthor.blogspot.com/

Stop by and read about my failure as a gardener.

Tina

Happy November

May you rise to new heights.

Tina

Happy Halloween

A towel's costume for Halloween.

Hope you have a great day,

Tina

RT - Read

To each other before bed.

If you need any suggestions just look around.

Tina

New Cover for Baby Decision

Should be out in a week or so.

Tina

What Are You Planning to be for Halloween?

[image error] I kind of like this one.

Just as long as my nose doesn't grow.

Tina

Special Guest - Stephanie Campbell

1- Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?

My road to publication was like running over hot coals, winding a corner, and then finding a beautiful park. It's a bit funny, actually. For many years I had no publishers, and the amount of manuscripts I had under my belt just kept growing and growing. (I am a writer that keeps pumping out ideas one after the other.) Now, I have many great publishers and love all of my editors, so I am "in the park." I have to admit that there were times when I wondered whether any of my manuscripts would get picked up, let alone seven of them. It really was an incredibly experience.

2- Tropical or European vacation?

Without a doubt, European. I actually spent many of my summers with my relatives in Rottendorf, Germany. On top of that, I'm not a big fan of direct sunlight and beaches. *Ducks head. Nobody shoot me.* I am one of the few people who favor wind and rain over sunshine. Plus, I like cuddly sweaters (because nobody would be in a bathing suit in the rain), delicious European food, and cute cottages instead of resort hotels.

3- Tell us about your real life romance.

Many people ask me this. I think it's because I'm twenty. I date some, nothing serious, but I guess that I haven't found Mr. Right or something along those lines. I am in love with writing and with books. Plus, right now I am so busy that trying to get an hour with me outside of business is about as difficult as climbing Mount Everest. (Yes, it seems like a boring answer, isn't it?) I suppose it might help if I spend more time with people my age. Most of my friends are married and are in their forties.

I am looking for Mr. Right, though. I believe in love and all that creamy goodness, but I'm independent and don't need to rely on some else for my own happiness. I suppose that's all there is for now. *Laughs.*

4- If you were going to cast the hero of your book, what actor would get the part?

Viggo Mortenson! Viggo Mortenson! Viggo Mortenson! Though that isn't at all because he reminds me of my main character. In fact, he probably wouldn't fit at all. I suppose it's a good thing that I'm not a casting director. He's my biggest celebrity crush. If he ever worked on a movie based on one of my books, I would stash him in my closet. (Just kidding. I'm not THAT crazy.)

5-Where is your favorite place to write?

My office in my little "cave." That's what everyone else calls it, anyway. I disappear in there and don't come out all day. I'm very crazy about my environment. *See statement above about my inner crazy.* I love quiet. I even write with ear plugs so that I can't hear a thing. If I so much as get jolted out of my "scenario," heaven help whoever it was that interrupted me.

6- What is your favorite dessert/food?

I thought that I would end this interview with the most important question. My favorite food is ice cream. I am neurotic about it. I think that it should be considered an addictive substance. If I don't have a scoop a day, I develop an eye twitch. If I have enough, I'll have a scoop for every meal. You would think that I would get tired of all that creamy goodness, but I never do…Mmm.

I would like to finish off this interview by thanking Tina Gayle for hosting me! Thanks Tina. By now, you probably are aware that I waste a great amount of time sucking down fattening substances while watching Viggo Mortenson. At the very least, I hope that you feel much better about yourselves after you read this.

Book Bio:

Ronnie Toll has never played with other kids. He's never slept soundly throughout the night, turned a corner without checking first, or laughed for the sake of laughing. All Ronnie knows is a world of shadows and monsters. His mother and father, Marion and Leon, are the only ones by his side. But all that is about to change when his mother is murdered by the monsters that only he can see. With his only safe haven crumbling around him, Ronnie becomes a poacher for the other side to help protect human civilization as he knows it. The problem is, he's taking on more than he bargained for when he tangles with creatures that are larger than life—and himself.

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About Stephanie:
Stephanie Campbell had her first book, Until We Meet Again, published at the age of seventeen. Now, at twenty, she is still wacking away at her computer, one day at a time. When she isn't reading or writing, she likes to dance, take karate lessons, and run. After all, you never know when you're about to be sucked into another world.