Well, we here at YA Blog Newsletter are being hit by this recession just like everyone else...
So we can't really afford to send books out to people, or even buy them in some cases...
Se we came up with a new scheme.
"BLOG OF THE WEEK"
So once a week, every week - almost - we will give one blog a free advertisement on this site - that is that we will post your blog and a link and a description and all of that good stuff...
It will USUALLY be posted on Wednesday, but allow for a little variation...
In order to be entered for a particular month, you must comment before the 9th of that month. You do NOT have to comment every month. Once you enter, you will be entered for every month after that.
+1 entry for following thesundaybookreport.blogspot.com...
+1 entry for adding it to your blogroll...
+1 entry for posting about this contest...
+2 entries for writing a comment about your favorite book...
+3 entries for following THIS blog...
+4 entries for adding THIS BLOG to your blogroll...
+3 entries for doing all of these things - this does not include posting about the contest.
You MUST also comment below with the name of your blog and what you did...
Just your user name WON'T WORK...
Please note that this contest will also be used for the scavenger hunt contest.
Good Luck!
Book Critic 101
- - ___ - -
I got tired of reading romance reviews - romance here, romance there - so I started a blog that wasn't as ROMANTIC. It has reviews of books that aren't as blogged about and it usually doesn't have chicklit - but it still reviews good books.
Check it out at thesundaybookreport.blogspot.com!
Thanks for visiting!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Newsletter 2 part one
Remember the real thing is much cooler looking :) You also dont get to know about things first if you just see it here. Please email me at princessashley9@gmail.com to be signed up. Also thats where you email me if you wanna be involved :)
v The Compulsive Reader at thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com is having Jennifer Banash around throughout the month (and they'll be giving away 5 books), and Zoe Marriot will be stopping by in about a week or so to host another mega contest.
v Alea over at Pop Culture Junkie is giving away FOUR titles worth having. ends February 20. http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/2009/02/benefit-from-my-bargain-finds-giveaway.html
v Lauren over at Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away an ARC of Golden Girl by Misol Ostow ends February 28. http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-arc-of-golden-girl-by-micol.html
v Kim Pauley over at YA Books Central is giving away multiple copies of THREE awesome books. ends February 28. Eternal by Cynthia Leitich http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.eternal 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.3Willows Jessican's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.Jessicas
v GreenBean TeenQueen (what a crafty name) is giving away a Prize Pack of books and Amazon Gift card. ends February 28. http://greenbeanteenqueen.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-love-books-contest.html
v Nicole B over at WORD for teens is having a Love and Lies February '09 giveaway. ends February 28. http://wordforteens.blogspot.com/2009/02/february-09-giveaway-love-and-lies.html
v Steph over at Reviewer X is having a HUGE party giveaway in honor of A. S. King's release of Dust of 100 Dogs ends February 28. http://reviewerx.blogspot.com/2009/02/heres-contest-you-dont-wanna-miss.html
v This is totally random but, Debs Store is having a Prom Makeover Sweepstakes ends March 20. https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/seventeen/21445
v Feb 21 - 27 Win an ARC of STARGAZER by Claudia Gray .. details will be announced on Saturday, Feb 21st
v http://cityofbooks.blogspot.com/ is fairly new but I thought I’d mention it anyways. What a great blog.
v http://trunerd.blogspot.com/ is also fairly new but super great!
v http://ceridwensbooklounge.blogspot.com/ doesn’t have many followers yet but its so cool looking.
v http://musingsofafledglingwriter.blogspot.com/ is really new and has great posts already!
v http://insertbooktitle.blogspot.com/ is an amazing new blog!
v http://www.jonathanzemsky.blogspot.com/ an author with a great blog!
Who's who:
Ashley and Erica are putting the stuff together.
Taylor S. told us what was coming up on blogs.
Jenny told us about a U.K. book.
People told us what they are reading.
Lisa May and Shooting star interviewed Jennifer Banash!
Nadine and Hope told us what contests to check out!
Bella Aire told us what author visits to check out. So did Laina!
Renee and Lisette told us some new releases.
Katie J. and Sharon helped us find new bloggers!
Magic Ink told us what happened this week.
My Favorite Author told us what’s new at her blog.
Ashley and Erica are putting the stuff together.
Taylor S. told us what was coming up on blogs.
Jenny told us about a U.K. book.
People told us what they are reading.
Lisa May and Shooting star interviewed Jennifer Banash!
Nadine and Hope told us what contests to check out!
Bella Aire told us what author visits to check out. So did Laina!
Renee and Lisette told us some new releases.
Katie J. and Sharon helped us find new bloggers!
Magic Ink told us what happened this week.
My Favorite Author told us what’s new at her blog.
Contests:
v http://carriesyabookshelf.blogspot.com/ is giving away some great books.
v The Compulsive Reader at thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com is having Jennifer Banash around throughout the month (and they'll be giving away 5 books), and Zoe Marriot will be stopping by in about a week or so to host another mega contest.
v Alea over at Pop Culture Junkie is giving away FOUR titles worth having. ends February 20. http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/2009/02/benefit-from-my-bargain-finds-giveaway.html
v Lauren over at Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away an ARC of Golden Girl by Misol Ostow ends February 28. http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-arc-of-golden-girl-by-micol.html
v Kim Pauley over at YA Books Central is giving away multiple copies of THREE awesome books. ends February 28. Eternal by Cynthia Leitich http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.eternal 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.3Willows Jessican's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.Jessicas
v GreenBean TeenQueen (what a crafty name) is giving away a Prize Pack of books and Amazon Gift card. ends February 28. http://greenbeanteenqueen.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-love-books-contest.html
v Nicole B over at WORD for teens is having a Love and Lies February '09 giveaway. ends February 28. http://wordforteens.blogspot.com/2009/02/february-09-giveaway-love-and-lies.html
v Steph over at Reviewer X is having a HUGE party giveaway in honor of A. S. King's release of Dust of 100 Dogs ends February 28. http://reviewerx.blogspot.com/2009/02/heres-contest-you-dont-wanna-miss.html
v This is totally random but, Debs Store is having a Prom Makeover Sweepstakes ends March 20. https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/seventeen/21445
v Feb 21 - 27 Win an ARC of STARGAZER by Claudia Gray .. details will be announced on Saturday, Feb 21st
New(er) bloggers:
v http://yaromancereviews.blogspot.com/ is a fantastic blog to get chick lit ideas.
v http://cityofbooks.blogspot.com/ is fairly new but I thought I’d mention it anyways. What a great blog.
v http://trunerd.blogspot.com/ is also fairly new but super great!
v http://ceridwensbooklounge.blogspot.com/ doesn’t have many followers yet but its so cool looking.
v http://musingsofafledglingwriter.blogspot.com/ is really new and has great posts already!
v http://insertbooktitle.blogspot.com/ is an amazing new blog!
v http://www.jonathanzemsky.blogspot.com/ an author with a great blog!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Mrs. Magoo: Guest Blog
Hi everybody! My name is Sophie (alias Mrs. Magoo), I’m thirteen years old, and I have a blog at www.mrsmagooreads.com. I started my blog in August of 2007, a month before my twelfth birthday. When I started, I had no idea that this teen book blogging community existed, and it was actually several months before I learned about it.
My blog has many of the standard features, such as reviews and author interviews/guest blogs. In addition to the reviews that I write, I have Mini Magoo Reviews (reviews for younger readers) and Mama Magoo Reviews (reviews for adults). You can read about those features here. I have author interviews/guest blogs weekly, in a feature I've titled "Saturday's Scribe". You can read a guest blog by Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank, here.
The feature that is unique to my blog- and thus my favorite- is Movie Monday. Every Monday, I make a video out of one of my reviews by reading the review out loud and then laying pictures on top of it. You can see an example- a review video of Thirteen Reasons Why- here. Starting this Monday, I'm also giving away a copy of the book that I make the video out of. This means that I'll be having weekly AND monthly contests, so if you like free books, be sure to visit! =)
Another thing I started this year: I'm keeping track of all the books I read by writing down the title and first line. The next month, I hold a poll where people can vote on the best first line. Click here to vote for January's best first line, and come back in a few days to vote on February's!
If you're a new blogger and need help, please feel free to contact me! I'd be really happy to help! My number one tip, though, is be friendly. Links around the blogosphere are important, and to get those, people need to like you and think of you as a friendly blogger. Also: come up with creative ideas. If your blog is special, it will attract more visitors.
I joined this amazing newsletter to do publisher spotlights. I hope to have the first one up within a couple of weeks, and I hope you enjoy them! =)
So if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section! I'm so excited to be joining this fabulous newsletter!
My blog has many of the standard features, such as reviews and author interviews/guest blogs. In addition to the reviews that I write, I have Mini Magoo Reviews (reviews for younger readers) and Mama Magoo Reviews (reviews for adults). You can read about those features here. I have author interviews/guest blogs weekly, in a feature I've titled "Saturday's Scribe". You can read a guest blog by Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank, here.
The feature that is unique to my blog- and thus my favorite- is Movie Monday. Every Monday, I make a video out of one of my reviews by reading the review out loud and then laying pictures on top of it. You can see an example- a review video of Thirteen Reasons Why- here. Starting this Monday, I'm also giving away a copy of the book that I make the video out of. This means that I'll be having weekly AND monthly contests, so if you like free books, be sure to visit! =)
Another thing I started this year: I'm keeping track of all the books I read by writing down the title and first line. The next month, I hold a poll where people can vote on the best first line. Click here to vote for January's best first line, and come back in a few days to vote on February's!
If you're a new blogger and need help, please feel free to contact me! I'd be really happy to help! My number one tip, though, is be friendly. Links around the blogosphere are important, and to get those, people need to like you and think of you as a friendly blogger. Also: come up with creative ideas. If your blog is special, it will attract more visitors.
I joined this amazing newsletter to do publisher spotlights. I hope to have the first one up within a couple of weeks, and I hope you enjoy them! =)
So if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments section! I'm so excited to be joining this fabulous newsletter!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Dona at Bites
I keep it real. Maybe a little too real. Maybe like wet your pants when you're passed out drunk on your friend's floor real (because that doesn't come from a life experience . . . really . . . O_o).
When it comes to writing, I take my gymnast years of training to the table - Are you broke? No? Then shut up, get the ^*(% up and do it again. And I had that form of crazy in my face from the age of 6 to 12. Just in the winter sessions though. Woman was nuts. The thing is, my skin thickened then and little did I know it was preparing me for my future as a writer (at whatever scale that may be).
You know what? This industry is a bitch. Bend over and say 'thank you sir, may I have another?' I'm convinced you have to be a masochist to be a writer because of the beating that your writing, and you as a by product, can take on a daily basis, whether from an outside force or you yourself. You write because you have a story to tell, because you want to see your work in print. And for every fifty rejections you get, you live for that one YES! that'll pay you with publication and author copies. You write to be dredged from the slush pile like a gold nugget from the East River and squeal with joy when the tables turn and your dream agent says I want YOU! You strive for that call that says your book's been sold.
But getting to that point takes a hell of a lot of work (for most) and staying there takes a turtle shell and a hell of a lot of resilience. The thing is though, all of this negative does something (aside from callous your butt). It makes you better. All of those critters saying 'WTF is this?', all of those editors saying 'tweak this' and all of those reviewers saying 'I've seen more substance in a puddle' MAKE YOU A BETTER WRITER.
That's why I review the way I do.
I've been editing and critiquing fiction since high school (broaching ten years now, I'm on the verge of a premature When Harry Met Sally moment, I'm telling you) and I've never wanted anything less than the very truth on my writing. Why? Because that's the only way I'll get better. If it sucks, for the love of god tell me and help me make it better! In turn, I've always offered the same advice to everyone I've edited and critiqued over the years. Published authors are not exempt.
The number of backlashes I've had from such honesty? From the beginning? I can fit them on one hand with fingers to spare. Literally.
Whether they'll see the review or not, I won't know unless they let me know (I know at least one author saw a review I did of his book and it wasn't the most flattering of reviews). But the way I look at it, it's still a learning process, even for them. MOST authors look at their careers in much the same way. It's forever a learning process.
I say what I think about the book as if the person were sitting right in front of me waiting for my reaction to it. And I have done that many times before, and just as honest. Just because I can do it doesn't mean it doesn't sting, either giving or receiving, but it needs to be said. The thing is, as any writer would know, you take what you need and leave the rest behind. If multiple reviewers are saying the same thing, perhaps it's time to take notice. If it's a matter of opinion then they can't do much about that, right?
I devour a book like my dog does his food and if I want to digest it properly for a review, I need to look at it with my critical eye. Some people might not like that. Then they can walk away from it. Some appreciate the honesty. In that case I take payment in pound bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans. But everyone's different. I know the mantra, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all" but that's murder in writing and detrimental to the entire process. The last thing I'd want anyone to do is pat my head and tell me how special snowflake my writing is. Tear into it, would you? So I give that back as well because I wouldn't want any less for myself. So long as the opinion is substantiated, I don't see the harm.
So go head, sick Butch on me but just remember, I have my own Cujo and he bites back.
When it comes to writing, I take my gymnast years of training to the table - Are you broke? No? Then shut up, get the ^*(% up and do it again. And I had that form of crazy in my face from the age of 6 to 12. Just in the winter sessions though. Woman was nuts. The thing is, my skin thickened then and little did I know it was preparing me for my future as a writer (at whatever scale that may be).
You know what? This industry is a bitch. Bend over and say 'thank you sir, may I have another?' I'm convinced you have to be a masochist to be a writer because of the beating that your writing, and you as a by product, can take on a daily basis, whether from an outside force or you yourself. You write because you have a story to tell, because you want to see your work in print. And for every fifty rejections you get, you live for that one YES! that'll pay you with publication and author copies. You write to be dredged from the slush pile like a gold nugget from the East River and squeal with joy when the tables turn and your dream agent says I want YOU! You strive for that call that says your book's been sold.
But getting to that point takes a hell of a lot of work (for most) and staying there takes a turtle shell and a hell of a lot of resilience. The thing is though, all of this negative does something (aside from callous your butt). It makes you better. All of those critters saying 'WTF is this?', all of those editors saying 'tweak this' and all of those reviewers saying 'I've seen more substance in a puddle' MAKE YOU A BETTER WRITER.
That's why I review the way I do.
I've been editing and critiquing fiction since high school (broaching ten years now, I'm on the verge of a premature When Harry Met Sally moment, I'm telling you) and I've never wanted anything less than the very truth on my writing. Why? Because that's the only way I'll get better. If it sucks, for the love of god tell me and help me make it better! In turn, I've always offered the same advice to everyone I've edited and critiqued over the years. Published authors are not exempt.
The number of backlashes I've had from such honesty? From the beginning? I can fit them on one hand with fingers to spare. Literally.
Whether they'll see the review or not, I won't know unless they let me know (I know at least one author saw a review I did of his book and it wasn't the most flattering of reviews). But the way I look at it, it's still a learning process, even for them. MOST authors look at their careers in much the same way. It's forever a learning process.
I say what I think about the book as if the person were sitting right in front of me waiting for my reaction to it. And I have done that many times before, and just as honest. Just because I can do it doesn't mean it doesn't sting, either giving or receiving, but it needs to be said. The thing is, as any writer would know, you take what you need and leave the rest behind. If multiple reviewers are saying the same thing, perhaps it's time to take notice. If it's a matter of opinion then they can't do much about that, right?
I devour a book like my dog does his food and if I want to digest it properly for a review, I need to look at it with my critical eye. Some people might not like that. Then they can walk away from it. Some appreciate the honesty. In that case I take payment in pound bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans. But everyone's different. I know the mantra, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all" but that's murder in writing and detrimental to the entire process. The last thing I'd want anyone to do is pat my head and tell me how special snowflake my writing is. Tear into it, would you? So I give that back as well because I wouldn't want any less for myself. So long as the opinion is substantiated, I don't see the harm.
So go head, sick Butch on me but just remember, I have my own Cujo and he bites back.
Monday, February 23, 2009
My Blog Post
OMG. I was supposed to do this Saturday but I totally forgot. Sorry! So I'm making it up right now. :)
Anyway, I'm Stephanie from Juiciliciousss Reviews and I've started my blog in November 2008.
Why?
Because I wanted a place where I could jot down my thoughts on books I either liked or disliked AND the free books are also a huge plus. :)
Currently, my blog has a lot of awesome things :).
Contests: there's my bimonthly giveaway [Jan/Feb Giveaway] and my Half Birthday Contest and they both end in less than a week
Author Visits: I have weekly YA author interviews and my next one is with Rachel Vincent, author of the Werecat series.
Reviews: This is where I talk about whether or not I liked that book and gives you suggestions on whether or not you should read it.
Why I joined this awesome newsletter?
Because I wanted a way to get my info out and to share advice to the blogging world.
How to contact me:
Email me at juiciliciousssreviews@gmail.com for any information whatsoever. I tend to respond in less than a day. I'm addicted to email, what can I say?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Survey- Update time :)
Two orders of business to discuss.
The first one is contributors. People are wanting to know about you and have your email address. If you would be interested in doing a blog post about you, your blog, email etc. please email me so we can pick a date.
The second one is newsletter format. The first newsletter went out in broshure format. This one is a normal document. As of sunday I will count votes for those two and we will go with the highest voted one. To vote comment here or email me.
Thanks :)
The first one is contributors. People are wanting to know about you and have your email address. If you would be interested in doing a blog post about you, your blog, email etc. please email me so we can pick a date.
The second one is newsletter format. The first newsletter went out in broshure format. This one is a normal document. As of sunday I will count votes for those two and we will go with the highest voted one. To vote comment here or email me.
Thanks :)
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