readers

An Author’s Best Friends: An Interview with Meez Carrie & Franciscan Mom

/ CAstfalk / 2 Comments

Let me introduce you to two fabulous women, Carrie and Barb.

Both are voracious readers, bloggers, magazine editors, and the best friends to authors that I’ve ever met! These ladies have written, raved, reviewed, tweeted – you name it – in sharing books.

As an author, I’m so grateful for both of these women, who voluntarily trumpet about the good books they read. They’ve helped authors reach an untold number of new readers with their promotions, articles, and reviews. They are the avid readers authors write for. And, they’re both responsible for the addition of dozens of books to my personal to-read list!

An author's best friends: Interview with avid readers Meez Carrie & Franciscan Mom Share on X

Let’s get to know Carrie and Barb better, and then be sure to follow them and their endeavors and check out their beautiful magazines! Continue reading →

Are You Under-Utilizing Goodreads? Tips for Readers and Writers

/ CAstfalk / 3 Comments

goodreads(Updated 9/15/2019 – Just added: Kindle Notes and Highlights!)

Maybe you log books you read on Goodreads, but are you taking advantage of its other features?

For instance, did you know you can post a general update on Goodreads, like you would a status on Facebook or other social media? You can!

While logged into Goodreads, look in the left-hand column beneath what you’re currently reading.

All it takes is a little time browsing and clicking to discover what’s there. Pro tip: Scan the WHOLE page, including the sidebars, menus, and widgets for links. I guarantee there’s more there than you realize.

You may wonder, what’s the difference between a Goodreads “Friend” and a Goodreads “Follower.” Simple: Being a friend means the flow of information goes both ways. You see what your friend posts, and your friend sees what you posts. Being a follower means the flow of information goes one way: only the follower sees information; their posts are not shared.

For tips on establishing a new account, Dave at Kindlepreneur provides a good step-by-step guide and highlights some Goodreads features. Continue reading →

How Do You Make Time for Reading?

/ CAstfalk / 12 Comments

I thought life would slow down a bit once school ended. How wrong I was! After a month filled with baseball and softball games, Boy Scout meetings, talent show rehearsals, a ballet recital, field trips, eighth grade graduation, and many other activities and events that I’ve already forgotten, I was sure life would return to a manageable pace.

Kindle in the wild

My feeble attempt at a Kindle in the wild.

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Beneath the Cover of Your Kindle, How Hot Is Too Hot?

/ CAstfalk / 1 Comment

Sometime during high school, I read Nathaniel by John Saul. Roughly twenty-five years later, I can tell you nothing about the plot. Nothing. Not. A. Thing. However, the book contained a single sex scene, observed by a teen from a barn with a bedroom view. I can recall that scene in detail.

Woman Reading

I’ve heard of people who can skim and skip explicit scenes in novels. The vast majority of times, such details can be passed over without diminishing the reader’s knowledge of the plot. In other words, they are gratuitous. Continue reading →