Jo Robinson's Blog, page 101
February 19, 2014
Rave Reviews Book Club – Recruitment Day!
I am a very proud member of the Rave Reviews Book Club. Today we are inviting you to join us, be a part of our very quickly growing club, and start being supported as you have never been supported before. No matter where you are in your writing career, you will find only benefits at Rave Reviews. Membership is free.
Here is how it works.
“Rave Reviews Book Club is a virtual book club made up of authors and readers. Books reviewed by the club will be selected by the book selection committee at a frequency that is now being determined. We encourage each of you to join, especially if you are an author, as we expect that the books we select to propel the careers and sales of authors. The more members of the club, the more successful and stronger our collective voices will be. For more info on the club, please visit our FAQ page.
For those of you who are new to book clubs, here is how it works: Once the club has made a selection, members should get their copy of the selected book, read and then post their reviews on Amazon, B&N.com or whatever other forum they use for reviews. Then, once the club meets on its scheduled meeting date, all members will join in with the discussion. When circumstances allow, the author will also be a part of the discussion for Q & A. After our meeting/discussion, a collective review of the bi-monthly selection will be posted here under Book Club Reviews. Please be mindful of the club’s selection, as it is our hope to support, and propel the awareness and sales of each author during their selection period.
{The purpose of Rave Reviews Book Club is to Profile, Promote & Propel the careers of indie authors. The only way that WE can do that, is by supporting each of our authors with book sales and reviews. If you are an individual who is in the habit of skimming through the FREE sample that is given by Amazon, and then “claiming” to have purchased and read, this may not be the club for you. We encourage and hope that each of our members will run out and “PURCHASE” (either in e-book or paperback format) the selected author’s books AND when finished with the complete read, post an honest “REVIEW”. When it is your turn and your book is in that wonderful seat of being Profiled, Promoted & Propelled, you will want the same courtesy extended to you. We proudly work on the HONORS SYSTEM here at #RaveReviewsBookClub}”
Introducing our 4th “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR
Bruce A. Borders
Author of “OVER MY DEAD BODY”
This week BRUCE will be treated like royalty by the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB Family!
By being selected, he is appearing this week on a number of blogs and this tour is being sponsored by our TEAM!!!!
He has had press releases sent to “All Authors Magazine” as well as local newspapers in his hometown, all courtesy of #RaveReviewsBookClub!
We ask ALL of you to please SUPPORT Bruce by purchasing a copy of his book and then after reading, posting a review. We, as authors, all know how hard those are to come by.
Each of the blogs listed below are hosting Bruce, so we all ask that you stop by and support these supporters, too, with your comments and visits! Also,#Follow them on Twitter as they are a truly awesome bunch filled with plenty of #SUPPORT to give, and that’s what we encourage more of here at Rave Reviews Book Club…SUPPORT!!!
Bruce is our “SPOTLIGHT” Author for the next 14 days, and since you could be next in this beautiful seat that he’s sitting in now, SUPPORT HIM THE WAY YOU’D WANT TO BE SUPPORTED!!!
~~~~~~~~~~
HOSTS:
Radio Interview w/Janice Ross of Cultural Cocktails, Thursday, 2/20/14
TOUR HOSTS:
Kathryn Treat – @kathrynctreat – Be My Guest
Michelle Abbott – @MichelleAbbott4 – Michelle’s Blog
Mary C. McLeary – @marycmcleary – In My Mother’s Words
Marlena Hand – @mlh42812 – My Life
Janice G. Ross – @JGRWriter – Cultural Cocktails
Renee Shearer – @renee_shearer – Renee’s Blog
Shirley Slaughter – @motorcityauthor – Shirley’s Blog – Hunters of Reloria
***RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is pleased to announce a new Facebook “Question of the Day!” In an online Scavenger Hunt, participants will need to find the daily answer SOMEWHERE on the many Blog Tour Host sites! Please LIKE our FB page and play along:
https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Rave-Reviews-Book-Club/ 271290866357000?fref=ts
YOU COULD BE A WINNER!!! PLAY ALONG!!!
NOTE: Please visit each site and leave your comments or congratulatory wishes for our “SPOTLIGHT” Author! Bruce has a different message for you at each of his stops, so don’t miss out on all he has to share!
Please stop by Bruce’s blog.
He will be appearing on Cultural Cocktails, (a Blog Talk Radio Show)with Janice Ross, later this week, so please return here for the open link!
See below to check out more of the wonderful SUPPORT Bruce received!
Our illustrious & hard-working Board Members have come up with a way for Rave Reviews Book Club to honour more INDIE AUTHORS! We will now be profiling a total of 24 ADDITIONAL authors per year! And here is how it works: After our “CURRENTLY READING” selection has been promoted for four (4) weeks, we will select an additional 4 SPOTLIGHT AUTHORS to be profiled, promoted and propelled for one week each. (Your book will still be eligible to be selected as our “CURRENTLY READING” selection, this is just an added perk!).
If you are lucky enough to be chosen as a “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR here is what you and your book will receive:
1) A one week long blog tour on several blogs, set up by us;
2) Press releases sent to your local hometown newspapers (if you so choose);
3) A PDF file that you can print and post in local businesses and book stores promoting your status as a SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR of Rave Reviews Book Club;
4) A Blog-spot Radio Interview (if you so choose);
5) Tweets and RT’s promoting you and your book heavily during your SPOTLIGHT week from the RAVE REVIEWS BOARD MEMBERS and other members, as well as Facebook blasts on club member walls;
6) A SPOTLIGHT here on our site, with your photo, book cover, blurb and buy links, directing and encouraging the masses to purchase/read and post reviews of your book.
Now, I know you’re wondering how you can become one of our “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHORS. Well, have you joined yet? Membership in our book club is the only way to the awesome title of “SPOTLIGHT” AUTHOR!!! Book selections are about to begin and they will be coming from our BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS FOR REVIEW page.
“You Can’t Buy This Kind of Support!”
SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR #3: Margo Bond Collins http://margobondcollins.com/
SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR #2: Katie Hayoz http://www.katiehayoz.com/
SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR #1: Jennie Sherwin http://jsherwinblog.wordpress.com/
Surviving BIG Blogging Mistakes
Originally posted on "CommuniCATE" Resources for Writers:
Sometimes we goof. We put up dead links, make spellling misteaks, or publicly make ourselves look as credible as Jar Jar Binks. “Yoosa should follow me now, okeeday?” *
shudder*
If you have made a grand faux pas, how do you recover?
That is the problem I have been pondering for the last week, as after placing too many promotional posts together, I have consistently lost 60% of my blog traffic. Damn! I wrote a reactive post, then thankfully had the sense to delete it. I realised that those who had walked away, would not be here to read my “ooops, my bad, I will ease up” rant. Instead, I have modified the posts to something much softer… but my ego hurts!
February 17, 2014
Monday Funnies
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's New (to me) Authors Blog:
Alarm Clocks
Four sad facts about growing older
Book Blog Tag Monday!
Mondays are TAG days! I’ve been tagged by a lady who I greatly admire, not only because she writes the stories that I love to read, but because she’s a wonderful and caring friend. I had difficulty picking which of her books I wanted to share today because I love everything that she writes, then it occurred that you all probably know how to surf Amazon to find her others. So, here is the latest release from author Christine Campbell. Thank you for including me Christine!
Once upon a time …
Little Red Riding Hood took matters into her own hands
And the miller’s daughter struck a flawed deal with Rumpelstiltskin
In these–and two more–twisted fairy tales there are no happy endings, and what you’ll find from these heroines is not what you would expect to find at all.
I’m a poet collector. I’m a sucker for anyone who can turn words into magic, and twist your heart with a sentence. So far I have about seven favourites, and right up at the top is Pamela Beckford. She’s also become a favourite blogger, and another one of those lovely people whose words I never want to miss. Dreams of Love is a must have for anyone who loves beauty and of course, love.
Amazon.com: Dreams of Love: A Poetry Collection eBook: Pamela: Books
John J. Cannon successful San Francisco lawyer takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. He is unaware that his newly-purchased boat had already been targeted by a terrorist group. John’s first inkling of a problem is when he wakes up in the hospital where he learns he was found unconscious next to the dead body of the attractive young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. John now stands between the terrorists and the success of their mission.
I’m not planning on asking permission to tag any author. I’m just going to tag those I find awesome, but any indication from you that you actually won’t throw stones at me if I send the chain your way would be cool too.
February 16, 2014
Memoirs of a Flower Child by George Geisinger
An incredibly moving memoir by a man who has had one of the most awful childhoods imaginable.
Originally posted on Feed My Reads South Africa:
Presenting Memoirs of a Flower Child by George Geisinger.
Review by Jo Robinson
February 14, 2014
Introducing Author Kevin Cooper and FREE Promotion of The Wizard, The Girl, and the Unicorn’s Horn
The Wizard, The Girl, and The Unicorn’s Horn is your FREE Valentine’s gift from Kevin Cooper today.
Originally posted on Feed My Reads South Africa:
Introducing the multi-talented Kevin Cooper, and his Valentine gift to readers of his book, The Wizard, The Girl, and The Unicorn’s Horn.
Author Kevin Cooper
I was born in Hull, East Yorkshire, England in 1963. At school, I always had a passion for writing. A couple of teachers encouraged me and this helped me to succeed with 3 CSEs. I wrote some poetry and songs but did nothing with them.
In 1985 I moved to the USA where I studied to get a GED in Kentucky. (This is the equivalent of a High School Degree.) Afterwards, I obtained a scholarship and went on to study Music at Western KY University for two years.
Later, I transferred some of my credits from WKY to Asbury College. I changed my major to Psychology (Pre-professional track) and added a minor in Greek. I tutored for the languages department and taught a study-skills class. A few years later, I graduated with a BA in Psychology in 1991.
After finishing at Asbury College, I studied Christian Counselling & Psychotherapy and Languages at Asbury Theological Seminary. I also did private tutoring for students who needed to brush up on their language skills in order to pass the Greek Proficiency Exam. It is a requirement for Master of Divinity candidates for entry into the seminary. I was there for just over a year before moving to Arizona. I enrolled at The Grand Canyon University and was awarded a Graduate Fellowship. I studied Secondary English and received State Certification to teach English in the high schools. I graduated with a, M.Ed in 1998.
I worked as a substitute teacher for several high school districts in and around Phoenix until I found a full-time career in management at The Hertz Corporation. I also worked as a visiting lecturer for Computer Learning and a part-time lecturer of General Studies at The Golf Academy and The Metropolitan University, respectively.
In 2004 I returned to the UK. I got a job working for the NHS and stayed with them for almost 7 years. In Dec 2012, I came out of work to care for my wife and regained my passion for writing. I began by starting my blog at http://kevs-domain.net/ where I also have a publications page that give links to all of my works for both paperback and e-book versions. Since starting my blog I have become author of the following four works:
The Wizard, The Girl and The Unicorn’s Horn is a children’s fantasy. We join the wizard on his quest to find the people of Geo and bring them back to their homes. On his journey he runs into a young girl who asks for the unicorn’s horn. She then leaves him and he finds help from a band of goblins who accompany him on his quest. Will the wizard be able to defeat the sinister shadow and its cohorts? And what role does the little girl play?
The Wizard, The Girl and The Unicorn's Horn
February 13, 2014
Happy Valentines Day!
Let the 
begin! It’s not a secret that I’m an old sloosh-bucket. At this point in my life I feel a lot of love. I love the Earth and most of who sail on her. I feel a very real love for animals, that turns to very real pain when I see them suffering. Then I feel very real urges to go all Greenpeace, and beat the crap out of those doing the hurting. But that’s not what today’s about. I love YOU bloggers! I really do. Over the time I’ve known you, and seen all your wonderful personalities shine through in all sorts of wonderful ways, I’ve grown very partial to so many of you. So. Once again I give to you the words of one of my favourite poets, and my favourite poem of all time.
How Do I Love Thee?
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use, in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
And some mellow love vibes to continue my slooshing of you today.
I hope you have a wonderful day of love, wherever on this floating rock you’re lurking over a hot keyboard. And…. MWAH! Sloosh out.
Six Star Book Reviewers
One of my favourite authors and people…
Originally posted on lawrence grodecki:
I’ve never been published by a major publisher, though I’ve worked with a pretty big one (Reader’s Digest). When I look back to those days, it’s ironic how my closest friends were in the creative department – artists and writers. It’s also funny how I had all these preconceptions of the place – “they must be a bunch of stodgy teetotalers” – nothing was further from the truth. I’ve got the stories to prove it . . . one about a night at Casablanca , the extra replica of Rick’s Cafe on Montreal’s rue St. Denis, a night full of surprises . . . martinis by the jug, an amorous couple looking for “weekend friends”, and unexpected party with then-premier Renee Levesque – and “friends”!
I hope they’re friendly?
You would think a person would learn over the years – manage to avoid the stereotypes – and I have to a large degree, but still catch myself once in awhile. It’s safe to say that I had a certain image of a group of people who write book reviews. That was about seven months ago now. I was just then learning of the need to approach them about Dawn at Last.
Few Are Chosen: KBarthan Trilogy is Free Today from M T McGuire
Awesome Alert! M T McGuire is giving away one of her books for free today!
Originally posted on Feed My Reads South Africa:
http://www.amazon.com/Few-Are-Chosen-KBarthan-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004ASOS6A/ref=la_B00408BIHC_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392279030&sr=1-1
The Pan of Hamgee isn’t paranoid. There must be some people in K’Barth who aren’t out to get him it’s just that, right now, he’s not sure where they are. His family are dead, his existence is treason and he does the only thing he can to survive – getaway driving.
As if being on the run isn’t bad enough, when he finds a magic thimble and decides to keep it, he unwittingly sets himself on a collision course with Lord Vernon, K’Barth’s despot ruler.
February 12, 2014
Dreams of Love by Pamela Beckford
Description: Poetry is an expression from deep within the soul. It can be therapeutic and healing. It can bring out all the best or the worst in life. Her poetry comes from the heart, not the head. It is an outpouring of emotion and she exposes it to reader in the pages.
Various poetry forms are explored: free verse, tanka (5-7-5-7-7), doidotsu (7-7-7-5) and etheree (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10).
Dreams of Love
Dreams of you and me
Together in ev’ry way
Your lips pressed to mine
Assuring me of your love
Dreams of love eternally
Purchase here!
Pamela began writing poetry in just the last year. She is a nonprofit executive by day and spends her hours trying to be sure that everyone has a chance for a good life. Pamela is passionate about her job and it spills over into her writing. Dreams of Love is her debut poetry collection. Pamela feels that poetry can be very personal but invites you into her soul as you read her poems.Visit the Author!
Poetry by Pamela
Year ‘Round Thanksgiving Project
