An Update on our Blog

by Narelle Atkins

History of ACW

Our Australasian Christian Writers (ACW) blog launched in September 2013. During the last three and a half years we've published 924 posts and received 9880 comments. 

Our ACW Facebook group has 511 members. The ACW blog posts are shared in the Facebook Group and we encourage our blog readers to join our active Facebook Group.

ACW was set up as an online community for writers and readers. We post five days per week, Monday to Friday, on the blog and we promote Australasian Christian authors and books.

ACW Blog Schedule

Monday is our Writing Craft Day. We want to help and educate writers at all different stages in their writing journeys.

This week I'm working with group admins Iola Goulton and Jenny Blake to set up our blog calendar for May - August 2017. If there's a particular writing topic you'd like to see addressed in our Monday posts, please leave a comment on this post or in our Facebook group.

On the first Monday of each month we share a joint blog post with our friends at Christian Writers Downunder. In 2017 we're looking at genres. 

Iola Goulton posted in February on Great (Genre) Expectations...

Adam Collings posted in March on Exploring Genres: Space Opera and Supehero     

We do a few different things on Tuesdays. We promote the Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance (ACRBA) book tours. ACRBA offers free blog tours for authors which are scheduled during the first week of the month.

Please read Jenny Blake's recent blog post (link below) if you're not familiar with ACRBA and how it works. 

The ACRBA Blog Alliance Needs Your Help

We also announce New Australasian Book Releases on the first or second Tuesday of each month. We post monthly requests for new book release information in our ACW Facebook Group.

The President of Omega Writers Inc. posts on our blog on the last Tuesday in January, April, July and October.  

On Tuesdays we also have spots available for guest bloggers. 

Thursday is our Book Review Day. Iola Goulton organises the book review blog posting schedule.

On Wednesdays and Fridays our regular team of bloggers share their posts.

How can I guest blog on ACW?

We occasionally post requests in the ACW Facebook Group for guest bloggers. If you'd like to guest blog on ACW, please contact one of the group admins (myself, Jenny Blake, Iola Goulton) or leave a comment on this post or in the ACW Facebook Group.

How can I join ACW as a regular blogger?

The first step toward becoming a regular blog contributor is to guest blog with us. If you've guest blogged with us and would like to join our blogging team, please contact one of the group admins. We have limited spots and we will create a waiting list if needed. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about ACW, please leave a comment on this post. We appreciate feedback from our blog readers. 

The ACRBA Blog Alliance Needs Your Help.

By Jenny Blake

Today I am talking about (ACRBA) Australian ChristianReaders Blog Alliance and how it can help you as an author and some of you may be able to help us.

Firstly A little background on what ACRBA is how and it came about. Several years back Narelle Atkins and I were talking about blog alliances and how many were no longer sending books to Australian and New Zealand readers unless they could get the book as an e-book. As a member of several alliances I was saying how much as a reader I enjoy being able to review books and promote authors. We got talking about how it would be nice to be able to support Australasian Authors and through this the alliance was formed.

From there we created a blog page and started recruiting reviewers and then authors and publishers. We do review overseas books as well as Australasian but first preference goes to books from this area. We read both print books and eBooks but at present have several members who can only read print books.

We do not charge for blog tours unlike some alliances the only cost is the books that are requested. We send out requests to our members and if they would like to review the book we will then send on the information to the author or publisher. If you are an author who wishes to tour with us we have a form on the blog to fill in and submit chapter one, and a blurb of the book. Publishers can also fill in the form. We also ask if you will send print or eBooks and how many you are willing to send. We understand it the costs and want to help authors as much as possible.

For reviewers the requirement is to have an active blog and to post the information we provide and a review. We also would like reviewers to post a review on sites such as Amazon, Goodreads and Koorong. We also encourage reviewers not requesting a book to post the information to help promote the books. We do encourage bloggers to read at least one book every 3 months. The exceptions are if you are only reading one genre such as children’s books or non-fiction.

Now to part of the reason for this blog post we need help. We recently lost some of our reviewers due to a few reasons most being they are not blogging or don’t have time to read books. We need new reviewers. If you enjoy reading and would like a free book we are interested in hearing from you. As mentioned we send out the info on the books and you can request the books that appeal to you. We do however request you average one book every 3 months. We also would like you to post the HTML of books you are not reviewing during the blog tour week to give the authors more exposure. We also have a form at our blog to fill in.

We also have a category called friends of ACRBA for bloggers who want to help promote the books and will post the HTML on their blog during the week we tour the books. This also provides free blog content you can use on your blog and we even provide the code for the tour. The tour is always the first full week of the month. 

Links:

Blog: http://acrba.blogspot.com.au/

Submissions: http://acrba.blogspot.com.au/p/submissions.html

Applications for reviewer or Friends of ACRBA: http://acrba.blogspot.com.au/p/application.html

JENNY BLAKE (aka Ausjenny) is an avid reader. When not reading she enjoys watching cricket, in fact you could call her a cricket fanatic, scrapbooking and jigsaws. She volunteers at the local Christian bookshop where she can recommend books to customers. Her book blog is where she reviews books and interview authors. Her goal is to help promote new books and encourage authors. Her blog is at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com and is Co-Founder of http://acrba.blogspot.com

An Author's perspective of touring a book with ACRBA

Today I am interviewing Jeanette Grant-Thomson who recently toured a book with ACRBA. I asked Jeanette share her experiences with touring her book.

Jeanette you recently toured Mirage with ACRBA (Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance), how did you find the experience?

It was a very positive experience, Jenny. I loved getting the various reviewers’ reviews and I appreciated the way you told me clearly what to do so I didn't get lost in the system. I’m still finding my way online.

How easy did you find it to tour your book i.e.: reviewer requests, interviews, time commitments?

Easy because you told me what to do. I might not have found it as easy if left to my own devices. Anyone could do it, if given clear information about what to do. It did make me very busy for two days but I had anticipated this and allowed time for it.

How did you enjoy interacting with reviewers?

LOVED it! I really enjoy interacting with people and getting feedback. Getting to know them a little.

Did you find your time rewarding being able to tour your book?

Very rewarding. I was fortunate enough to get encouraging reviews. Two in particular were very positive. I also appreciated the way other members of ACRBA shared a bit about my book (Mirage) on their blogs.

When you toured your book did you experience anything unexpected?

Yes, towards the end, another blogger asked me for an online interview, which was fun.

Would you recommend touring a book to other authors?

Definitely.

Are there other comments or messages you would like to give to authors or publishers considering touring a book?

It’s a great idea. I think it's a good way of getting one’s book out there and read by other readers/reviewers, getting their opinions. It is likely to generate sales by making it clear to readers whether they would like the book.

Thanks Jeanette for sharing your experience with touring a book and showing how easy it is for an author.  

If you are interested in touring a book with ACRBA or want more information please ask or go to http://acrba.blogspot.com

JENNY BLAKE (aka Ausjenny) is an avid reader. When not reading she enjoys watching cricket, in fact you could call her a cricket fanatic, scrapbooking and jigsaws. She volunteers at the local Christian bookshop where she can recommend books to customers. Her book blog is where she reviews books and interview authors. Her goal is to help promote new books and encourage authors. Her blog is at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com and is Co-Founder of http://acrba.blogspot.com

Take Your Pick

by Jeanette O'Hagan

If I made a stack of all the books in my to-read pile — both virtual and real — it would probably look something like the leaning tower of Pisa.

I have 143 books listed on my Goodreads to-Read pile alone  — and there a swathe of e-books on my Kindle and the six or seven stacks of print books dotted around my bedroom all waiting for their turn. 

It hasn’t always been so. I can remember the days when I finished one book and would wonder what to read next. Despite my mammoth to-read pile, I’m still discovering new books to read and enjoy.

How about you — are you scratching about, wondering what to read next, or does your to-read pile grown ever higher like Jack’s beanstalk?

Thinking about my to-read pile got me wondering about how I find new books and how /what criteria I use to decide what to read next.

The Time honoured and the New

Browsing — I love browsing in book stores, picking up books, looking at their covers, flipping open their pages, soaking up the ambience of store. In fact, I find it hard not to leave a bookstore without at least a couple of purchases. Which is why I was devastated when the Word Bookstores closed down recently — and now the ABC shops are going the same way — and why I was excited to hear about the opening of the Little Gnome book store relatively nearby to me. Somehow browsing online is just not the same. Plus, online doesn't do coffee.

Secondhand bookstores — often hiding old treasures long forgotten or niche books you wouldn’t find anywhere else. There’s the Lifeline Bookfest — but also thrift shops and shops that will swap your old books for their old ones.

My favourite authors — having discovered a good author or a great series – I love tracking down their books in bookstores and libraries. At the moment, I'm keeping an eye out for books by Jodie Picoult.

The local library – now my children are no longer toddlers or preschoolers likely to attract the gimlet glare of the librarian for disturbing the peace, I feel safe enough to return to my local library and browse its aisles or return trolleys. I’ve found some Dee Henderson and Karen Kingsley as well as Neil Gaiman in our local library – and I know that the Toowomba library stocks Paula Vince J

Recommendations and/or gifts from friends and family — My family gave me I am Malala for Christmas. My kids introduced me to Emily Rodda and her series of books while my sister and I often exchange books — introducing each other to new authors to hunt down and devour (er – the books, not the authors).

Book Clubs — in one former book club I went to, we talked about (and exchanged) the books we were reading. I discovered Geraldine Brooks and Ahn Do among others. In another book club, we read set books each month and discuss them. Some of the books have been fantastic —The Book Thief for instance — at other times, it’s been more of a challenge to read (Welcome to Normal comes to mind) — but each time I've learnt something.

Movies — yes, I’ll admit that sometimes I first learn about a book when if comes out as a movie — The Hunger Games, for instance, or, maybe I’ve heard of it, but it’s only after watching the movie that I more actively search out the book — as with John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.

Review sites — like GoodReads — or blog review sites like Soul Inspirationz, Rel's Reviews,  Iola's Christian Reads or The Vince Review. Sometimes sites offer giveaways or Advanced Review Copies (ARC). Light the Dark website is another great place to look for books.  

GoodReads Listopia —  has lists of books under almost any topic you can think of — like this. I discovered Turn Right at Machu Picchu in the library, then looked at Listopia to find other, similar books such as Eight Feet in the Andes, which I’m enjoying reading at the moment.

Offering to review or critique books — I’ve enjoyed reading a number of books this way – including Imogen’s Chance and Mark’s Strength. I like to support local authors and have discovered a great many enjoyable books and great authors at the books tables of Christian Writer’s conferences or interaction with other authors. Sites like ACRBA, Netgallery or (recently) Rhiza Press may give new releases for honest reviews.

Searching Amazon or the internet for a specific title or subject — I found a great book on world-building by searching Google and then used my Mother’s Day voucher to purchase it from Amazon. But, this is my least likely source of new reads.

I try to rotate my reading, alternating between books set for book club, recommendations of mainstream and Christian fiction, writing craft, and non-fiction books from family, friends, review sites and dipping into offerings discovered through network of local and Christian authors. I usually review the books I read on my GoodReads page.

So, there really is no need to be at loss for reading material. 

How big is your to-read pile and where do you find the books you read?

Jeanette O'Hagan has recently had a short story published in the general market Tied in Pink Anthology  (profits from the anthology go towards Breast Cancer research) and two poems in the PoeticaChristi’s Inner Child anthology. She has practiced medicine, studied communication, history and theology and has taught theology.  She cares for her children, has just finished her Masters of Arts (Writing) at Swinburne University and is writing her Akrad's fantasy fiction series.  You can read some of her short fiction here. 

You can find her at her Facebook Page or websites  JennysThread.com or Jeanette O'Hagan Writes .

Benefits of a Blog Tour

By Jenny Blake

Today we would normally have a blog tour up but we didn’t have a book to tour in July and at this stage August and September are also free. We thought it would be a good chance to explain some of the benefits of a blog tour for both the Author and Reviewer.

ACRBA (Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance) offers blog tours for Christian books for fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. We have reviewers who review the different genres with some reviewing all books and some specialising in certain catagories. The aim is to promote Christian books to a wide audience. We primarily promote Australasian books but are willing to tour books from other countries.

There are benefits of being involved in a blog tour for both authors and readers. This post will also explain some of the etiquette for the tours.

Benefits for Authors include:

• Exposure to new readers in a confined timeframe.
• Reviews that will also be added to review sites
• A chance to connect with new readers and bloggers

Benefits for reviewers include:

• Free books to read and review
• Interaction with authors
• Added traffic to your blog.

With ACRBA books being toured are offered to the reviewers to review and they will then choose the books they wish to review. Once requested the list is sent to the author or publisher and the books sent out. We have a variety of reviewers that read a large variety of books. While not all will read all books many will post the information for all books which gives even more exposure. Many authors will also do interviews for the reviewers to add to blogs. This also gives more exposure for both authors and readers.

For Bloggers the benefits are free books to review, and a chance to interview an author for their blogs. They also are part of an alliance which often leads to more traffic to your blogs. They also feel they are helping an author promote a book.

Recently I have been asked what is required of an author or what they need to do during the week the books are toured. While we do not require authors to comment on blogs, it is however encouraged. For bloggers who have requested a book and take the time to read and review the book  post the information, appreciate having an author take the time to visit there blog. Its is an encouragement to the blogger. Even more so if a reviewer posts an interview and has blog reader’s comment. Having the author respond to questions or comments on the blog really encourages the blogger. It can also lead to new ways to link with new readers. 

If you have any questions please ask and I will answer as best as I can.

We are aways looking for good quality books to tour and reviewers,

JENNY BLAKE (aka Ausjenny) is an avid reader. When not reading she enjoys watching cricket, in fact you could call her a cricket fanatic, scrapbooking and jigsaws. She volunteers at the local Christian bookshop where she can recommend books to customers. Her book blog is where she reviews books and interview authors. Her goal is to help promote new books and encourage authors. Her blog is athttp://ausjenny.blogspot.com and is Co-Founder ofhttp://acrba.blogspot.com