Of Reading and Writing Books ~ A World of Choices!
Last month, our topic was focused on the audiobook as all market trends are pointing to that as the new hot book market. What? Not ebooks? I can remember when (yes, not that long ago) when the ebook was being held up as both the savior of reading and the demise of the printed form. Neither has happened. The printed form continues to survive simply because there will always be people who love the feel of a book in their hands and who savor the experience of turning a real page. I know as I’m one of them. I treasure my old print favorites that line my bookshelves. Simply glancing over can bring up a phrase or a memory as I look at a binding. A ebook can never do that. But the eBook gave me other choices while bolstering the careers of authors old and new. It enlarged our options of the types of books available, the genres often described as niche are maybe less so, and now when I think books…its anything is possible. Libraries have ebooks, bookstores carry M/M paperbacks, and I can get audiobooks through a number of sources including Dreamspinner Press, Riptide Publishing, Less Than Three Press, Amazon…so many choices. What’s next? And how did we get here?
When I go somewhere local, its my Kindle that goes with me and not a dog-eared paperback as in a the past or a heavy hardbound copy of the latest mystery. I love that convenience and the light weight. (However, if I’m heading to some place where I know the wifi will disappear like this morning’s Krispy Kreme? Out comes the paperback.) The eBook made other things happen however, authors were able to get their stories out to readers who wanted to read them. Niche publishing like M/M romances or just plain M/M or LGBT fiction established itself and grew from a few publishers into a variety publishing houses offering now a number of formats from print to ebook and yes, audiobook versions and in a number of languages. But there are some authors who prefer to do it themselves, they go the self publishing route. I often wonder about them…how hard it is for them to find an audience for their stories, a following for their particular outlook on writing. How do you, the reader, find an independent author? How do you buy your books? Authors! What’s your experience like as a writer? Did you first publish in print? Or eBook? At a publisher? Or self publish? I want to hear from you! I’ll also be reaching out to several authors and publishers in search of answers and insight. I’ll let you know what I find.
So, that’s going to be our focus for my Sunday rambles. A look at books..ebook from a reader’s, author’s and hopefully, a publisher’s point of view. How its changed, how its remained the same and where we think its going. I hope you will stay with us all month long. I’ll be throwing in a Spooky Reading Contest or two as well because of Halloween.
Contest Time!
My first contest? Readers, tell me how you find your independent authors. Buy randomly? Pick them out from Goodreads? Already follow them? Or maybe you don’t? Maybe you only buy books from a publisher or a author linked to a publisher. I want to know that too. 3 winners who leave comments will get a $10 gift certificate (Dreamspinner, or Amazon, or Riptide…your choice). This contest will end quickly as I need the answers to use in in my blog, so think about them. Contest ends Oct 15th, midnight. Make sure you leave your email address where you can be reached. More winners maybe chosen if the comments are extra wonderful. Thanks.
Meanwhile here are our winners of the audiobooks from Joel Leslie. Congratulations!
Our 10 winners are in no particular order:
- Ardent Ereader at ardent.ereader@gmail.com
- waxapplelover (at) gmail (dot) com
- alexjoujou@gmail.com
- tdblomander AT yahoo Dot com Mail bouncing back…please contact us!
- DawnD at dmdkindle at Gmail . Com
- jbst at strive4bst(AT) yahoo(dot)com
- sadanna sxswann@gmail.com
- susana at toimuharta@hotmail.com
- lisa44837 at legacylandlisa@gmail.com
- suze294 at Littlesuze at hotmail dot com
Joel will be in touch with each of you about choosing and receiving your audiobooks. Happy listening. For all our other listeners and readers? New contests for ebooks starts this week. Don’t forget to leave your comment and email address, plus more is sure to come. Hmmmm, meet us back here to find out. Meanwhile this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
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This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Sunday, October 2:
- Of Reading and Writing Books~ A World of Choices!
- This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Monday, October 3:
- A Paul B New Release Review: Unsafe Exposure (Hidden Wolves #4) by Kaje Harper
- A VVivacious Review: Immortal Watch by Olivia Helling
- An Alisa Audiobook Review: A Shot at Forgiveness by Cardeno C. and Robert M. Clark (Narrator)
- A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Dinner at Jack’s by Rick R Reed
- A Paul B Release Day Review: Warrior’s Pledge by EE Montgomery
Tuesday, October 4:
- Spotlight Tour: Investigating Julius Drake with Daisy Harris ( Riptide Publishing giveaway)
- A Free Dreamer Review: Pendulum by LC Davis
- An Ali Audiobook Review: Alaska Hunt by Shelter Somerset and John Solo (Narrator)
- An Alisa Review: Smoke and Spots By Deirdre O’Dare
Wednesday, October 5:
- Cover Reveal: Line Drive by Sloan Johnson
- Can’t Hide From Me blog tour with Cordelia Kingsbridge (giveaway)
- Release Day Book Blast and Giveaway for Engineering Love by Jackie Nacht
- In the Spotlight: Soaring Hearts by A.L. Boyd (giveaway, excerpts)
- A Caryn Review: Silences of Fallen Stars by Vivian Dean
- An Alisa Review: A Little Blood by Aimer Boyz
Thursday, October 6:
- Re-Release Day Blitz & Giveaway for Settling the Score by Eden Winters
- In the Spotlight: A Pirate’s Honor by Tricia Owens ( excerpt and giveaway)
- Audiobook Spotlight: Opposites (Opposites #1) by T. M. Smith and Greg Boudreaux (Narrator)
- An Alisa Audiobook Review: Opposites (Opposites #1) by T. M. Smith and Greg Boudreaux (Narrator)
- A Stella Review: God of Jazz: Fugue, Concord by Varian Krylov
- A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Fear of Frogs (Brimstone #2) by Angel Martinez and Narrated by: Vance Bastian
Friday, October 7:
- Release Day Tour and Giveaway: Surviving Elite High: The Next Generation by John Ames
- In the Spotlight: The Ghost in the Mirror by Faith Gibson (excerpt and giveaway)
- Coffee Sip and Book Break with Turn The Page…. release blitz Charity Anthology
- A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes *
- A MelanieM Review: Rain and Whiskey (Stormy Weather #1) by B.A. Tortuga
- A Jeri Review: The Ghost in the Mirror by Faith Gibson
- A Alisa Review: Model Bodyguard by Lissa Kasey
Saturday, October 8:
- Book Blitz for The Wolves of Daos 5 by Rebecca James (excerpt and giveaway)
- A Lila Review: Bitter Legacy by Dal Maclean
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
I get lots from friending authors and bloggers on FB. I check Amazon lists but probably most from GR friends, and their friends, in reviews and comments. I follow all my authors on GR and most on Amazon. I usually know about new books faster from GR and FB than from notifications from Amazon. I buy direct from publishers or/and ARe as often as I can.
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I have found independent authors through friends recommendations and Goodreads reviews. I usually buy their books on Amazon. Two independent or self pub authors I read are Jordan L Hawk and Jordan Castillo Price.
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I find books by independent authors a number of ways: goodreads lists/reviews/recommendations, blog reviews/tours and authors that I already follow.
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Forgot my email: jen(dot)f(at)mac(dot)com
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I use Scribd, it a suscription service for ebooks mostly, if there is a book I want to try but am uncertain if I’d like it I’ll use my credit there to get the book. Some of their books are unlimited and thats also a good way to get a new author/book to get noticed, since one only has 3 credits per month. When looking for things to chose for the credits on Scribd, I use the monthly lists of new releases at Goodreads or themed lists if I am looking for some particular genre/theme.
Especially for new independent authors its important that the book are shelfes correctly, since a lot of people use the Goodreads lists for reading challenges. A nice cover and a good sumary are also a must. Drawn covers get more attention at least its that way for me, a leftover from my manga reading days. Reviews are nice especially if its been around a few month.
I buy my books where its convenient for me, like ARe and Amazon but also Kobo. Sometimes the publishers website but its inconvenient to have a lot of accounts. KU is also a good way to get noticed, again it should be shelfed, the author might think about joining the GR M/m KU group, add the book to the upcoming list there and shelf it on the bookshelf of the group.
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I find them mostly on goodreads, by friend’s recommendations, or in post on goodread’s groups when other reader mention them. I also find some in reviews from reviewing blogs i like. If the book sounds interesting I’ll go to goodreads to check it out and if i liked it i buy it. Also by suggestions from authors i follow on twitter, facebook or their blogs. I’ve found some great authors that way. I read either from publisher or independent authors, i don’t really have a preference there, if the book sounds good, i’ll read it.
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I’ve usually read books by the independent or self published authors because they previously wrote for publishers I buy my books from I’ve also picked up others authors from Facebook, Amazon or I’ve entered contests and found freebies.
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I get many referrals/recommendations from friends, group threads and updates at Goodreads. Also follow several m/m blogs, receive emails from Dreamspinner Press, ARe and a few other publishers. And I utilize Bookbub and Amazon, not just for the daily deals, but also for updates regarding new books being released by authors I follow.
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I find them various ways: recs from GR, blog posts, Facebook, entering contests, surfing the net & I come across something that sounds interesting.
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As a reader: I don’t pick a book based on author or on publisher. If I like the Blurb and the reviews are decent, I’ll buy it. I get “recommendations” from BookBub, Amazon, Goodreads etc. I don’t check for publisher status at all so I don’t go looking for only from publisher x books. The blurb and a good cover is what will attract me to buy a book from anyone.
As an Author: My first short story was published in e-book format only from a small independent group as the publisher. My first longer book was both print and e-book, the second was e-book only for over a year. And my third is print and e-book from the start. All done independently.
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Thanks for the offer and the inquiry. I mainly have 3 sources, and I mainly search for gay-themed books across a number of favorite genres. Most recently I’ve usually used GR – I’m a member of several glbtq groups and follow their posts, as well as have several fav authors, and I find books on various “best of …” lists. Initially, I mainly looked at library and Amazon “best” lists and various award nomination lists, like Lambda, Rainbow, etc. Finally, I’m a member of a gay men’s book group in Chicago, and our discussions can lead me to some authors of interest.
Tex Reader – TheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
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Mostly, I find them through review blog sites, known authors’ blogs whose books that I’ve enjoyed, Goodreads and Amazon reviews, Also, it may be through an ebook that I won in a contest or if the story or author was nominated and/or won awards. Sometimes, it’s just because I liked the cover, blurb, genre.
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Forgot to mention about that sometimes a freebie book or MM group’s free stories have resulted in finding a new author which I’ve became a fan. Although, I’ve become much more picky about the freebies now.
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I tend to find my authors from a variety of sources. I get recommendations on Amazon based upon books I’ve already bought. I have discovered a few that way. I also participate in Goodreads M/M Group’s Don’t Buy My Love program and discover a lot of new authors/books. Also just general recommendations on Goodreads. I’ve recently subscribed to Scribd and have discovered a couple of new authors there. I still have my old standby of favorite authors but every now and then I like to break away and discover something new.
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I get my read recommendations from a number of review blogs I subscribe to, including Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words! I have gradually whittled them down to about 6-8 whose reviews seem to match my reading wants.
I also subscribe to a few favoured authors newletters and/or follow on wordpress to get both their new releases and those they have enjoyed.
I also get the newsletters/updates from ARe, Pride Publishing, Dreamspinner, Riptide (think there is more too) to pick up new releases and deals!!!
On GR I check the feed from friends to see what they are reading but I dont get so many new reads there. The New Releases/Deals and Steals threads are handy too though it does rely on us posting what we see elsewhere.
And excited to see I won last time!!
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Independent Authors: Before, I got to know independent authors from Goodreads reviews. But these days, I don’t go to GR anymore for updates. Instead, I tend to go scrounge the ‘recommendation’ section from Amazon based on books I love. I found them to be useful. I also subscribed to few author’s newsletters, diligently keep track of upcoming sections from favorite publishers and ARe, as well as checking out Netgalleys.
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I mainly purchase books from new authors at publisher site, so authors who go independent without publishers are seldom on my radar, except when they are recommended by multiple people/authors (Jordan L Hawk was recommended by Rhys Ford and KJ Charles, River Jaymes and Leta Blake was recommended by multiple friends). However, once I like books by certain authors, I follow them on social media or subscribe to newsletters to make sure I don’t miss their new works
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