Comments on: Blogland Is Alive with the Sound of Readers

By: JS

JS — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:40:19 +0000

I had a terrible experience with Bookliquidation.com and would recommend anyone to not purchase from them. Their customer service and business ethics were terrible.

By: Yaroslav Stolyarchuk

Yaroslav Stolyarchuk — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:00:34 +0000

While studying Computer Engineering at University I came across staggering data and statistics regarding minorities, graduation rates and access to books. In todays high tech media environment, all people, young people especially need to be encouraged to read physical books. When I had my first child I was disappointed at the high price of used books for children in my area. As I searched for a cost effective way to locate books I ran across this company: http://www.booksliquidation.com.
They offer wholesale prices on boxes to truckloads of used books (by genre) at very reasonable shipping rates throughout the US and abroad. For instance, at less than $50 a family can receive around 100 good condition kids books including shipping. Most books are like new condition and priced lower than books found at Goodwill or any used book store. The price of books is definitely one factor not talked about when promoting reading. Access to quality books at a price anyone can afford will most assuredly eliminate one barrier in regards to young people’s ability to read. Statistics show that the average high-school graduate has(had) a minimum 50 books available to them to read in their homes. Those going on to post elementary education had atleast 100 books in their homes. Books are expensive! Booksliquidation.com is one company that is assisting families in their effort to create a rich at-home reading environment for their children and their personal reference.

By: Sonya Kate Childers

Sonya Kate Childers — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:31:42 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with the comments about authors, websites and readers. I currently have three sites and have found much success on MySpace with blogging.

The praise comes from averaging fifty friend requests per day from readers who all e-mail me. The most touching, a single mother of three and avid reader, who wrote to tell me just how much she enjoyed my book and why. There was no hidden agenda just book talk. These are the e-mails I treasure so much!

By: Charity

Charity — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 03:13:32 +0000

I read Hot Dish and reviewed it. It was not kind. Those quotes were so far from the truth it isn’t even funny.

I have a joint review blog with a friend and we try to post at least every other day. We’ll review a book if we read it. If we liked it or not.

By: ag

ag — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:44:52 +0000

Hi Alison,

Great to hear MySpace is bringing you results, and I hope skeptical authors could take a pag off your experience.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:06:16 +0000

Marg – I love reader blogs too. Must update my blogroll

Karen S – I have excluded international readers from my contests because it was quite costly to ship 3 books overseas. I feel bad about that. :( Can I cop to the excuse that I am not an author?

Miki – Thanks for the heads up. Penguin’s ebook department needs a kick in the ass.

Mica – I am unsure about AAR’s numbers. LLB had a blog post about her numbers, but it was a “private” one so I couldn’t link to it and I didn’t want to quote from it either. But I thought she indicated that they had several hundred thousand “unique visitors”

Kat – Weird crap is indeed annoying. I went to one website last night that had one of those “flash” pages which you had to see before you could get to the website and it loaded music and a silly animation. I clicked away.

Kristie J – Readers blogs are very subjective but I love reading about what works and what doesn’t for readers.

BevBB – authors blogs do tend to be boring but I still skim them for good tidbits on what is coming next. That’s really my main reason for reading blog posts. I like Vanessa Jaye and HelenKay Dimon’s blogs. They are less boring than some of the other big name blogs.

Katherina – how interesting. I definitely see some review sites that have upbeat reviews for everything. Please send us a link when you get your blog up and running.

Robin – I hope that more readers come onto the internet. It’s a great clearinghouse for readers.

Tara Marie – Oh, cover quotes are great aren’t they? I have a whole blog post about those in December.

Nora Roberts – I love it when you ~~suck up~~ say nice things about the blog. Sigh, I am so easy. Oh, I think Brockway’s friends did enjoy the book but it just lacks credibility after reading the love fest they have for each other at Squawk Radio everyday.

Alison Kent – wow. That’s remarkable. Do you also tell the authors to do myspace overlays? Because many myspace author webpages are so hard to read. Also, do you tell them that when Sawyer from “Lost” friends them, that it really isn’t Sawyer? I had to laugh when I saw a couple of authors excited about a celebrity friending them.

By: Alison Kent

Alison Kent — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:32:18 +0000

[quote comment="6592"]I’m a strong proponent of online marketing (heck, I even do this for a living), and IMO, the modern day author without an online presence risks alienating themselves from new and younger readers.[/quote]

I was checking my webstats at the first of the month, and saw that for October my MySpace page was my #13 referrer. So far this month, #3. And the MySpace demographic is much younger overall, so I’ve been very vocal on author loops about reaching readers this way.

By: ag

ag — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:50:05 +0000

hey Jane,

I’m a strong proponent of online marketing (heck, I even do this for a living), and IMO, the modern day author without an online presence (be it through own/ branded website, blog, forum or messagae board participation) risks alienating themselves from new and younger readers.

The web is one of the best medium to market/ promote to a niche audience, and authors should think of themselves as a brand/ entity, not just a writer. Just at a the number of fan sites and Harry shrines that’s sprouted ever since Rowling launched him into the reading world, and you can already imagine what the web can be. And guess what? These are all created by the readers!!

So, yeah, like you, I’m always happy when I hear of new, and younger readers discovering the wonders of books.

By: Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:18:54 +0000

I think reader blogs can be valuable to readers, writers and publishers. But, from my casual blog-hopping, there are only a handful that are consistently interesting, articulate or informative. This site is certainly one of them–and that’s not just sucking up. There are others I’ve found from links that draw me back because they’re routinely interesting–and not only with reviewing but with what the reader and the commentators think about various issues in publishing. I’ve found a few authors sites the same way.

The power of the Internet.

As to the blurbing on, say, Brockaway’s new book, it’s very possible her friends really, honestly enjoyed it. She’s a strong writer. I’ve blurbed for friends before BECAUSE I liked the work. In fact, I’ll be doing a cover quote for Patricia Gaffney’s MAD DASH. I asked her if I could give a quote; she didn’t ask me. I just loved the book. Recently, I turned another friend down–and believe me that was difficult–because her book simply wasn’t for me.

By: Tara Marie

Tara Marie — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 10:52:07 +0000

The more the merrier. I may not have time to visit all the blogs on my blogroll on a daily basis, but I certainly try to get to them all every few days. Obsessive readers unite.

On the cover of Hot Dish, there are cover quotes from almost every Squawker: Christina Dodd, Theresa Medieros, and Elizabeth Bevarly.

This drives me crazy. How can you trust this, they’re bestest friends–LOL.