grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

How to Write a Book Review

By

How to Write a Book Review

Since I’m always preaching on the importance of book reviews, I thought I should put my blog where my mouth is and write a post about it. How to Write a Book Review plus my random thoughts on a topic near and dear to me.

Reviews are important, y’all, for reasons I never understood until I wrote a book. It’s about visibility. Most authors (including me) have no publicist or agent, no real budget for advertising. We do our own marketing and typically feel invisible in a sea of books being released daily.

Most readers search Amazon for book recommendations. Amazon doesn’t promote books that only have a handful of reviews.

It makes complete sense.

I was a reader long before I became a writer. And on those days when my writing confidence drags in the dirt, reading keeps me sane, inspires me, makes me want to write again. I’m always looking for books to read. I find them based on reviews and word of mouth recommendation. Don’t you?Continue Reading

Gracie Lee’s Anniversary and a fab GIVEAWAY!

By

Gracie Lee's Anniversary! One year later...

It’s Gracie Lee’s anniversary!

Today marks the one year anniversary of the release of The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. To those of you who are still with me on this journey (and if you’re reading, I suppose you are), a humongous thank you all the way from the bottom of my heart.

Gracie Lee Anniversary

No really.

THANK YOU.

On Gracie Lee’s anniversary, the book is selling well and may even be picking up steam. That’s a cool thing, especially for a first-time author one year later. And I have you to thank for it. Because when you tell a friend about it or write a review or post something on Facebook, the buzz builds little by little.

Of course, we must celebrate. Right?

Celebrate = cool GIVEAWAY! (Woodworx Workshop is sponsoring this giveaway, but all opinions are my own.)

But first, a few thoughts on the year.

One year later, I have lots to say about the experience. Continue Reading

A writer’s (nano) descent into madness.

By

descent into madnessYesterday, I open the mailbox to discover a neat, tight envelope sealed on the end rather than the middle (which for whatever reason, appeals to me), and inside, an unexpected book. Not really a book-book, more of a chap-book, larger than pocket-sized but compact and slender and flawless. And the matte cover is fashioned from heavy, charcoal-colored card stock (or a level up from card stock), certainly more substantial than a flimsy pamphlet or typical paperback cover.

Intriguing. Everything about it, including the minimalistic design, an atomic swirl printed in silver with an “N” in the center where the nucleus of everything lives. At the one o’clock position, a simple “10”. Also shiny and silver.

I trace the design with my index finger. I channel long lost junior high science class. I press the silver “N” in case it’s THE button unlocking Narnia for writers.

Or a port key.

Could be.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!