IWSG - Long Time No See

I have not, with the exception of posting two reviews, been active in the blogosphere for approximately two months. With full-time responsibilities at work, at school (working toward a degree), and at, I don't know, a social life, I simply have not had the time—not even half an hour to write a blog post or accept an addition book for review.

And yet, I do not, as I often do, feel disassociated from my writing. In fact, I feel closer to the characters, the words, and the atmosphere than ever before. While I do not have enough time to make significant progress on anything, I do feel that my passion is closer to my every day life than it has ever been before. Though I hardly have the opportunity to sit down and crank out a page or two on any given day, I do certainly feel like a writer—or that I'm inching closer to the writer lifestyle which has always been my goal.

So I wouldn't say I'm feeling insecure about my writing, though I am definitely feeling that tug, the yanking in my chest, my heart going "We need this. Get those hands on that keyboard or your life will be a waste." And I'm proud to say that I'm not scared anymore about not being able to achieve my goals. I can see a writing future for me ahead, even if it's not an amazingly successful one. As long as I'm writing—fame and fortune or not—then I'm living.

Peace, Aimee

White Cedar Press by Eric Burnett Timar

After working as an editor for a small yet prestigious publishing house in New York for four years, Tim Craire receives a request from the publisher to edit and prepare for publication a novel featuring Huckleberry Finn as a slave trader. A few more reimaginings of literary classics get Tim thinking that White Cedar Press is attempting to start a new, quirky trend, but soon he fears the worst: the head honcho is starting to go a bit mad, and he will likely take the press down with him.

From New York to New Zealand to Miami, Tim begrudgingly follows his boss’s wishes, conversing with authors regarding their work, questioning coworkers, and attempting to piece together the implications of White Cedar Press’s turn for the worse—implications for both the company and for Tim’s own future.

Though the young editor is simultaneously working on writing his own fantasy novel and struggling through a complicated relationship, his loyalty remains with White Cedar Press, even through its usual transformation. Tim continues to obey his orders and work on these humorous, borderline-offensive projects, though he feels like the odd one out as his colleagues jump aboard the press’s changing bandwagon. Questioning authority (aloud) is not Tim’s strong suit. Tim often feels as though he’s the only one driving the right way down a one-way street, but, as it turns out, some of the odd books begin to sell decently well. Perhaps their creativity is what grabs an audience.

White Cedar Press is a well-written and delightful—though not revolutionary—comment on the current publishing climate. Like the future of the publishing industry, the novel’s ending is a bit vague, leaving the reader wishing it to be a bit more defined. The humor and frustration along the way to this end, however, makes for an entertaining read. Readers with knowledge of the publishing industry will get more out of the book than those without. 

Social Media Just for Writers by Frances Caballo (Part Two)

Last Tuesday, I was a part of the book tour for Social Media Just for Writers by Frances Caballo and announced a giveaway of the book. The winner is…

Lara!

Congratulations, Lara. I will be emailing you shortly. Now, here is my review of Social Media Just for Writers, which I would have posted on Tuesday had I not been ridiculously bogged down with other responsibilities: 

From Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest and more, the options for networking and gaining readers are more plentiful than most writers believe. By comparing the significant social media vehicles to writers and artists who would have loved the tools had they lived in the modern age, Frances Caballo outlines the best online marketing skills needed to reach a wider readership. This guide is an invaluable source that takes writers through a simple step-by-step process—led by writer and communications marketer with over 23 years of experience—to develop their knowledge of social media and to promote their books using the internet.

For each media vehicle she outlines (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, blogs, and offline marketing) Caballo provides an in-depth step-by-step process that details how to set up a profile, develop a following, and maintain a presence. The approachability of the guide is excellent even for those writers who are unfamiliar with social media. Screenshots and hints and tips are easy to follow, while lists of applications for all media forms will aid writers in organizing their posting schedules and analyzing the number of followers and hits their sites get, to help them gauge the success of their marketing—and to help them decipher how they can improve. 

Not only does Caballo explain how to use social media successfully in order to promote a book, but she also explores why these media vehicles are useful for writers and why they work the way they do. If a writer were to follow Caballo’s word to the tee, they could easily master the basics of social media marketing by the time they finished reading the book. Online marketing is essential for writers hoping to promote their book, and Caballo’s Social Media Just for Writers is an invaluable source to teach those writers the ins and outs of the process. There is nothing else like it out there that I know of—highly recommended. 

Learn more about the book on Frances Caballo's website, or by visiting her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Social Media Just for Writers by Frances Caballo

From Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest and more, the options for networking and gaining readers are more plentiful than most writers believe. By comparing the significant social media vehicles to writers and artists who would have loved the tools had they lived in the modern age, Frances Caballo outlines the best online marketing skills needed to reach a wider readership. This guide is an invaluable source that takes writers through a simple step-by-step process—led by writer and communications marketer with over 23 years of experience—to develop their knowledge of social media and to promote their books using the internet.

As a part of this book tour/review, I will be hosting a giveaway! Everyone who comments on this post will be put into a drawing for a copy of Social Media Just for Writers. I will announce the winner on Monday 28 January 2013. 

Learn more about the book on Frances Caballo's website, or by visiting her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Books Released This Month - January 2013

Fear of Beauty by Susan Froetschel
Fiction
15 January 2013
An Afghan women searches for her son's murderer while a US soldier attempts to escape the effects of a rough childhood, each learning the extent of cultural differences.

The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
Historical Fiction
10 January 2013
During WWII, a newlywed couple leaves Wales for the first time in their lives to live at a missionary post in India.

The Day My Brain Exploded by Ashok Rajamani
Memoir
22 January 2013
The memoir of a young man's journey through the recovery from a brain aneurism.