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GoodReads
20 Ways to Help Authors in 2021
by, Jill Swenson
January 12, 2021

Pre-order. You might be surprised to learn that pre-ordering a book is critical to the launch of a book. Publishers may make decisions about how much marketing support to provide a new release based on the volume of pre-orders. Some even determine the size of a first print run using those numbers. If a book has strong pre-order sales, reviewers are more likely to review it,… [Read More]

Filed Under: Amazon, GoodReads, independent bookstore, Little Free Libraries, shop local, Social Media, Support Authors, support indie
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Instagram, Book Reviews, and You – by Elizabeth Rynecki
by, Audrey Arnold
January 22, 2019

Social media gives us new ways to connect with others and pursue our interests, which can include following our favorite authors, publishers, and bookstores. While it may seem an unlikely place, Instagram is one of these platforms with a rather large book-loving community. Recently, I became the new admin behind the Swenson Book Development Instagram account, but of course, there are many others in the… [Read More]

Filed Under: book reviews, bookstagram, Chasing Portraits, Elizabeth Rynecki, GoodReads, Instagram, Litsy, Social Media
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Who is Your Reader?
by, Jill Swenson
December 11, 2018

Every writer hopes to captivate an audience. But who are you writing to? When you write a letter, you address your reader directly. When you write a speech, you anticipate a particular group of listeners. If you write a news article, you have a strong sense of who the readers will be, and your writing reflects your grasp of how best to address their subscribers…. [Read More]

Filed Under: audience identification, bookstore, children's literature, fiction, GoodReads, library, Nonfiction, YA
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GoodReads Begins Charging for Giveaways
by, Jill Swenson
February 6, 2018

On January 9, 2018, the social media site for readers, GoodReads.com, changed its policy regarding Giveaways. What used to be an inexpensive and clever marketing tool for books is now a new revenue stream for GoodReads, which is owned by Amazon. GoodReads, established in 2007, had more than 65 million members registered in 2017. Until Amazon purchased GoodReads in 2013, it was a rival to… [Read More]

Filed Under: Amazon, giveaways, GoodReads, Kindle, reviews
3 Comments
20 Ways to Help an Author
by, Jill Swenson
October 31, 2017

Whether you are a reader, aspiring author, or working on your next book, there are things YOU can do which make an enormous difference in the life of an author. The reason authors write a book is to connect with readers and the best rewards come from readers who let an author know their book had an impact. Most readers don’t know how important their… [Read More]

Filed Under: book clubs, GoodReads, Little Free Libraries, Pre-Order books, reviews
No Comments
Top 10 Tools for Authors in the Digital Age
by, Jill Swenson
October 10, 2017

What should be in your digital toolkit for the business of being an author? Google Suite for your email. Do you wonder why your emails don’t get a reply? It may be they were never delivered. If your account is with AOL, Hotmail, or Yahoo, there is a strong likelihood if you send someone you don’t already have a connection with they will never receive… [Read More]

Filed Under: Bitly, Facebook, GoodReads, Google Suite, Instagram, LessAnnoyingCRM, LinkedIn, MailChimp, Twitter, WordPress
No Comments
How to Handle Negative Reviews
by, Jill Swenson
February 7, 2017

Not every book gets a starred review from Kirkus. Whether it’s a review from a literary critic or the crank on Amazon, negative reviews hurt. They hurt a lot more than you’d think and in ways you can’t always imagine.  But how do you react to the pain inflicted from a negative assessment of your book? What do you do with your feelings? It’s increasingly… [Read More]

Filed Under: Amazon, catfish, donot respond, GoodReads, negative reviews, trolls
3 Comments
Who will review your book?
by, Jill Swenson
November 4, 2014

As an author, this is a critical question to ask yourself as you begin to plan and write your book proposal. You’ll need to provide a list of reviewers as part of your marketing and publicity plans. Book reviews come in all sizes, colors, and styles these days. Once the purview of literary critics, many book reviews have turned into book reports. Remember fourth grade?… [Read More]

Filed Under: GoodReads, Kirkus Reviews, LibraryThing, publisher''s weekly, Ravelry, Shelf Awareness, social media marketing
3 Comments
Reading is the gateway to good writing
by, Jill Swenson
October 7, 2014

Should I write or should I read a book? When I am short on time it’s easy to read a few pages on the bus, in the waiting room, or even in the bath. The number of pages accumulate quickly even though I only have time to read books in short bursts on most days. This is also true for writing. I grab every opportunity… [Read More]

Filed Under: Eleanor Catton, Francine Prose, GoodReads, Little Free Library, Reading, Readng Like A Writer, Social media tips
4 Comments
One in three book reviews is a fake
by, Jill Swenson
September 24, 2013

Biu Ling, a data-mining expert at the New York Times, estimates one in three book reviews is a fake. More than a year ago, the New York Times reported on the best book reviews money can buy. Further investigations into how authors buy their way onto bestselling book lists resulted in the Wall Street Journal publishing a news report earlier this year on how the… [Read More]

Filed Under: Amazon, Fake Reviews, Fiverr Report, GoodReads, NY State Attorney General, Paid Book Reviews, Payola
8 Comments

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