Feature and Follow - One Book for the Rest of Your Life?

As our hostess, Alison, says, this one is exquisite torture. I have to go with The Lord of the Rings, Omnibus Edition. The story has so many layers that rereading it gives you something new every time. (And its very thick so it takes a while to get through each time!)

Brick and Mortar Bookstores - The B&N Conundrum

(Photo courtesy The Dusty Bookshelf, Manhattan, Kansas)

Barnes & Noble reported, this morning, that their losses have more than doubled over the same time last year. This puts the question before lovers of physical books, and the experience of browsing through shelves, as to whether the chain will need to close some or all of their remaining 675 stores. Since B&N is the last chain of bookstores of any significant size is the end of the physical book store experience nigh? I certainly hope not.

My expectation is that B&N will need to shrink but my hope is that the loss can be replaced by rejuvenated local independent book stores, with the support and nurturing of the publishers, both large and small. My two local independent book stores both have cafes and loads of programming - readings, author visits, music, kids' programs, etc. as well as knowledgeable and personable staff. They encapsulate everything that the monster B&N store has, but in a smaller, more intimate setting.

I, personally, would love for more indies to return to more neighborhoods. The survival of the small independent stores would require the support of publishers large and small. They would have to back off of selling everything cheaper on Amazon than the brick and mortar store can afford. As a buyer, I am willing to often trade the convenience of being able to order anything I want any time I want online for the experience of shopping/browsing but I, as a bibliophile, cannot pay a premium.

What do you think?

Feature and Follow - Currently Reading (photo)

I am currently reading two - the weighty history tome, and the old, frivolous, fantasy/humor novel. Which do I pick up? Depends on my mood and exhaustion level! As to the picture, I don't ever seem to be able to do the "selfie" thing with a photo I'm willing to post!

 

 

Feature and Follow - What Have You Learned About Blogging?

I learned, empirically, as opposed to just hypothetically, that you get more comments the higher up you are in the list for a blog hop.It doesn't seem to reduce traffic, just traffic from people who leave comments. Curious. Has anyone else seen this?

AQUA BLUE blog tour

Marian L. Thomas' new book is out!

The Back Cover:

In 1968 a child was born. Her father's eyes boast a beautiful green and her mother was born with hazel. Yet, Aqua Blue was brought into the world with neither.

Haley wishes her parents would forget her. Her mother wants to control her, her father constantly beats on her and Haley, however, just wants to dance on Broadway. Will her dreams cost her more than she ever expected?

Jonathan Jacob Benjamin Brown is running from the memory of a mother he loved. His journey will thrust him into a world filled with secrets so shocking, he must determine whether he will forgive or walk away.

As they each step foot into the intoxicating city of New York, their dreams are standing before them with open arms. Yet, in order to embrace the possibilities, they must first learn to live, love, and breathe.

What People Are Saying About this Book:

"Aqua Blue is an emotionally gripping story that will keep readers turning the pages as they travel back in time to the turbulent 60's to meet characters whose forbidden romance is sure to mark a place in their hearts, long after they close the book."

 ~ Rhonda McKnight, Author of Black Expressions Bestsellers, What Kind of Fool and An Inconvenient Friend.

“When I first opened Aqua Blue I was pulled in to the main character's desire to explore the world outside her small town. I won't give it away but right from the start you know something major is going to happen to the two best friends -- and their traveling companion -- that will change them and their relationships. Once you start reading this novel, you won't want to put it down!”

~ Faith Knight, Author of the Real Book on How to Cook

The Genre:

Contemporary Women's Fiction

Available on:

Amazon.com | Kindle | Barnes & Noble.com | Google Books

 

Author Marian L. Thomas, is no stranger to the world of fiction. With three dramatic and engaging books to her credit: Color Me Jazzmyne; My Father's Colors and Strings of Color, this award-winning author continues to weave colorful stories of emotion and realism, that crosses all boundaries and finds a home in the heart of today's female reader. This has become her trademark. Her new release: AQUA BLUE, is slated to arrive July 16, 2013. Order through bookstores & online retailers, nationwide.

Author's Website

 

Book Blitz - Abra-Cadaver

 

 

From the author of "Gated" a UK Amazon Horror Chart #4 bestseller and "Asylum - 13 Tales of Terror" a UK & US Amazon Horror/Anthology Chart #1

Abra-Cadaver by Matt Drabble

Book Synopsis:

Tommy, Dixon, McEwen, PJ, and Alison were always a close knit group until Tommy’s 12^th birthday party. Tragedy strikes when a magic trick goes horribly wrong and a woman lays dead.

A local magician Albert Trotter is railroaded during a rigged trial and locked away. Forever protesting his innocence and after a vicious assault in prison, he is eventually sent to a mental institution in a catatonic state.

Now Tommy is 36 and heading home for the first time in over two decades, but he’s not alone. Someone is slaughtering the residents of Denver Mills with magic trick themed murders and holding those involved with the Trotter trial in a steely grip of fear.

Tommy will have to find the strength to bring his old friends together as secrets and lies are exposed throughout the small town of Denver Mills.

Something evil is coming home, and they’re bringing a whole new bag of tricks.

Book Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8M_LH-bubU

Author Info (Matt Drabble)

Matt broke into Amazon's top 100 Horror Writers in July 2013 at #99, albeit only for an afternoon, as the chart is updated hourly and he leapfrogged Clive Barker for a short while which seemed, to Matt, both bizarre and fun.

2013 has been a breakthrough year for Matt so far as he has been self-publishing for a little over a year now and has started making a living this year with book sales of well over 11,000 so far. Which seems pretty huge for someone with no literary educational background and in a worldwide self-publishing market which is so massive and competitive.

Twitter: MattDrabble01

Facebook: mattdrabble.3

Website: www.mattdrabble.com



Feature and Follow - Handling books you don't like

I read Parajunkee's response before I wrote mine. I agree with her 100%. There are too many books and so little time. If a book is not catching my interest I have no problem laying it aside, either temporarily (if I think it's just the mood I'm in) or permanently (not my interest, style, etc.)

Agree? Disagree?