Clare O'Beara Author Interview in Dublin, Ireland

Q and A Interview for the New Book Review

When in Dublin recently, I had a chance to meet up with author Clare O’Beara and her IT husband. Due to her busy schedule, I was just lucky enough to catch her between being the official film recorder for science-fiction World Con and Hugo Awards problem solver, as well as the start of the fall college class startup. Of course, she also is a busy tree surgeon. To my delight, she had a few hours to talk. We initially met on Goodreads as she answers readers’ comments and questions, and this was our first in-person talk.



When did you start writing?

I have been writing for most of my life. Now, I write mysteries, science fiction, young adult, and romance books. I have won several awards for short stories and am an Amazon bestseller. I also review books and am considered a top reviewer with Net Gallery, Fresh Fiction, Goodreads, and Amazon. I review excellent, accessible facilities for people with disabilities As an example, this is a link to her short film about accessible places in London.

Why are you taking college classes when you are already a successful writer?

As a multimedia journalism student, I am learning more about improving my writing, making publicity marketing materials, producing videos, and networking with people interested in this area. I help run events where this knowledge is helpful. At the science-fiction World Con, it was helpful to know about multimedia journalism as I was an official film recorder and Hugo Awards problem solver. I learned more about creating book trailers. I am already using the degree although the classes are not even finished.

This degree seems to be made for O’Beara! I’m sure it helps with her blog, website, and YouTube channel.

I see you are a national showjumping champion. How did you become interested in horses?

At the age of four, I wanted to be an architect. Then, my parents put me on a pony to go for a ride, and that was it. I have been a horse person ever since. Several of my books involve horses in the plot, especially Silks and Sins, Murder at Kildare Mensa, and Rodeo Finn.

I also asked O’Beara if she had ever dressed up especially for a race as described in Silks and Sins, and she said she did a few times.

Cats are important in your books. Do you own cats?

The answer was she has four cats. I wasn’t surprised as they are part of the stories and even included when friends visit. One cat, boots, was ignored by an owner which figures into the mystery. I think I didn’t have to ask if one of her cats had white paws and was named Boots. I just think probably so!

Did you try traditional publishing prior to self-publishing?

Yes, in the 1990’s when manuscripts were sent through the post with SASE (self-addressed stamped envelopes for their return). It was a very slow process. She tried this a few times. Then she started to realize books like Wool by Hugh Howey did well although self-published. As a best-selling Amazon author, she is not at all sorry she tried this route. She evens shares what she has learned about independent publishing at the page on her website.

O’Beara said she bought ten ISBNs and used seven in her first year. She had five books ready to publish at that time. She used five the next year.
Why do you review books for sites such as Fresh Fiction?

Participating in book awards and reviewing books written by others is always educational and I learn so much from these activities. This is where I first noticed the increase in independent publishing which inspired me, for instance.

Self-publishing involves much technical work. How do you accomplish all this?

My husband, Allan, is my IT support. I take the photos, and he creates the book covers. He is the website maintenance and troubleshooter. It takes time to do the writing much less the technical aspects of this kind of writing. I appreciate the support.

*Note: Read her advice for people who want to self-publish at this link.

What are your writing plans for the future?

I plan to write a book a year although I’m taking the multimedia journalism degree and working and volunteering with my other interests.

I hear the science fiction World Con will be held in New Zealand next year. Will you attend?

Well, that is a long way off and a long distance. This year we were lucky as we said Ireland should have a turn, and it was here. The volunteers do get their entry tickets paid, but the travel and accommodations are not covered. We will just have to see. She added:

“I've just spent a week and a half helping to staff Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention. This was held in Dublin for the first time and all hands were needed. My husband Allan also attended and gave me great assistance. The Hugo Awards were carefully administered, and duly awarded in a stunning ceremony.”

Climate change is a constant theme in your books. What would you like people to know about this topic?

I recommend the movie Mimicking Africa to learn about sustainable animal agriculture. I also help moderate the Green Group on Goodreads where we discuss this topic. I am a fan of the Fota Wildlife Animal Sanctuary and share information about it, as well.

You are very active on Goodreads. That is where I met you. I was so pleased when you answered. Do you like comments from readers on that platform?
Yes, and I do answer and converse with readers on Goodreads. I welcome comments.

Thank you so much for meeting with me today!

Previously on The New Book Review, I have reviewed some of Clare O'Beara's books.

Dining Out Around the Solar System (Book 1)

Dining Out with the Gas Giants (Book 2)

Dining Out with the Gas Giants (Book 3)

Dining Out on Planet Mercury (Book 4)

I also have reviewed other books by O’Beara on Amazon, such as this one for Murder at the Dublin Mensa. 

Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm, Wise Owl Factory

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Tiny House Living Through the Eyes of a Child Picture Book, Sissy Goes Tiny

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tiny House Living Through the Eyes of a Child Picture Book, Sissy Goes Tiny

Last summer, two graduates of Brainerd High School in Minnesota had a stroke of inspiration when catching up over coffee. B. A. Norrgard had been living the tiny life for six years when the idea struck that how would downsizing and going tiny might look through the eyes of a child.

B.A. Norrgard’s personal lifestyle and career within the tiny house community gave her insight about the nationwide movement. She teaches others and leads by example.

Becky Flansburg is an award-winning writer and wondered if “going tiny” might be scary for a child. Rebecca is the long-time project manager of Multicultural Children’s Book Day and Head Elf for Audrey Press. She is a member of Brainerd Writers Alliance and readers can also find her at BeckyFlansburg.com or on Instagram.

They both used their imaginations and talents as they discussed a possible story, and the idea for this innovative book began. They wanted children to know living life unconventionally is full of big possibilities.

You have probably seen some of the popular TV and Netflix shows about living in less space, downsizing, and repurposing. Norrgard says when preparing for such a lifestyle, keep only items that serve a purpose, meet a need or bring joy.

Norrgard’s Tiny House is named Sisu to help remember her mother. Sisu is a Finnish word and means having grit, determination, and perseverance. She needs plenty of that to live in her hand-built 78 square foot home. She has traveled over 14,000 miles with her house and writes about her minimalist, vegan life on her website, banorrgard.com.

Sisu sort of sounds like the name, Sissy. So, the main character of the book is Sissy. She is eight years old. During the story, she learns stuff is just stuff. Somehow illustrator Penny Weber knew just what she looked like, and was perfect for the project. Don’t you agree?

Often our lessons in elementary school (yes, I’m saying it again) for children end at recycling. Downsizing, repurposing, and tiny living are not usually mentioned. This book is unique. It was brilliant of Norrgard and Flansburg to come up with the idea and see it through to completion.

Would you be able to decided what to take with and what to leave?

·  Title: Sissy Goes Tiny by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard

·  Publisher: Audrey Press (CEO Valarie Budayr)

·  ISBN: 978-1-936426-22-5

·  This project was supported by Five Wings Arts Council with funds from the McKnight Foundation.

·  This diverse picture book can be purchased at AudreyPress.com  IndieBound, and Amazon

Thank you for reading, Carolyn from Wise Owl Factory

Franky the Flamingo Must Find Water in Florida's Environment

Title: Franky The Thirsty Flamingo
Author: Wanda Luthman
Illustrator: Mara Reitsma
Available on Amazon
Genre: Fiction: Children's/Biology/Environment


The environment! A passion of mine. How could I not love this story of a young flamingo who must learn the ways of the world, including what to drink. This slender book tells about his difficulty in finding proper water to drink. Encouraging and positive, his story is told in perfectly metered rhyme that will appeal to any child. It would make a wonderful addition to the gift shops at libraries and national monuments and parks where flamingoes abound.

I also appreciate how the illustrator let her topic influence her color choices. She helps make the book sing Florida and Sunshine.


More About the Author

Wanda Luthman has her Masters of Arts in both dental Health Counseling and Guidance Counseling from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. She is an award-winning author who with five books to her credit and a member of Florida's Writers' Association.

More About this Blog

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Stories of Your Life by Ted Chang and Arrival the Movie Discussion Questions

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Stories of Your Life and Other Stories by Ted Chiang 
and Arrival the Movie Discussion Questions

Stories of Your Life and Other Stories was written by Ted Chiang. Arrival, the movie, is based on a single chapter entitled (not surprisingly) "Stories of your Life." After watching the movie, I was inspired to read the book thinking it was based on a novel. So, I had to make do with the one chapter that really didn't explain that much more about the movie. The movie does leave a person wondering. However, the book is still worthy because of all the other stories. Ted Chiang's book, Exhalation, was on a summer reading list by former President Obama.

If a book club has read the book or watched the movie, these questions are on a PDF instant download available at the next link. Click for your own copy.

Free PDF download with the questions for the book and movie

Now for the book questions. Ah, Chiang seems to be somewhat of a technical writer and we must use our inferring reading and thinking skills to figure out what he means. This makes for a great book club discussion, while not an easy one. He offers us some thinking challenges.

My questions probably do not do the book justice as it is quite deep. A book club might take the discussion deeper, after beginning with the handout. 

You might also enjoy the discussion questions for the books and movies, The Green Book, as well as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm from the Wise Owl Factory


MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Dr. Wesley Britton Pay Attention to Women Who Helped Win WWII

Blogger's Note: Visitors and subscribers to this  #TheNewBookReview and like to celebrate holidays dedicated to women's contributions to history by reading good books will find this review especially useful! #EqualityDay, #WomensDay #50/50Leadership  

A Woman of No Importance: 

Subtitle: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II

Author: Sonia Purnell   

Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Viking (April 9, 2019)

ISBN-10: 073522529X

ISBN-13: 978-0735225299 

Purchase on Amazon     

Reviewed by Dr. Wesley Britton originally for BookPleasures.com

This summer turned out to be my unexpected exploration into female participants in the French resistance during World War II. It began when I read D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose as well as Madame Fourcade's Secret War: The Daring Young Woman Who Led France's Largest Spy Network Against Hitler by Lynne Olson. Now, I've read a long-overdue, in-depth biography of American spy Virginia Hall by Sonia Purnell. I must concur with all the other complimentary reviewers who gave this history five star reviews.

   

I first read a short but very complimentary biography of Virginia Hall in Emily Yellen'sOur Mother's War: American Women at Home and at the Front During World War II (2004). In fact, Hall was the premiere lady spy in Yellen's overview that only glancingly looked at behind-the-lines operatives in France.  Of course, Purnell's tome reaches far beyond the sort of general information Yellen had access to. 

Purnell's years of research is an impressive achievement considering the gaps in available files and the likelihood many of Hall's exploits were never recorded by anyone. Part of this oversight is likely based on the reality Hall's labors were so clandestine there was every reason not to keep files on her work. Equally important is the fact female agents were not the norm and there was a widespread prejudice against women being involved in the war at all except as support staff, code-breakers, ambulance-drivers, the like.

In the case of Hall, her persistence in breaking through the glass ceiling is even more impressive when you realize she was raised and groomed for a life as well-off--and married--woman in high society, not a rough-and-tumble agent living on the lam and in often dire circumstances.    Add to that that the lower half of her left leg had been amputated leaving Hall a woman with a disability that could have dimmed her prospects--if not for that determined, iron will of hers.

Because of that leg and her age, Hall wasn't the most likely covert agent for the Gestapo to hunt.  She was versatile in her use of disguises, using her disability as a way to throw the hounds off her trail.  All she really couldn't do was run. But she could hike across a treacherous mountain trail in the snowy Pyrenees.   And that was just one exploit to admire in Hall's many-faceted career.

Another woman to admire is biographer Sonia Purnell who not only keeps a fast-paced, detailed story going, but she keeps reader interest with her scattered indications of what is to come, especially the consequences of certain events. It becomes very clear Virginia Hall was a stand-out officer during World War II and could have become a valuable asset in the CIA had the agency not been populated by the Father Knows Best  mentality of the Cold War years.

So readers learn much more than the day-to-day operations of Hall's covert actions and I often wondered where Purnell found so many minute details of conversations, movements, relationships, etc.     As with the other books I've read this summer, I ended up feeling a sense of shame that there was a time when women, no matter how talented, creative, motivated or successful, just didn't get their due and rightful recognition.   Until now.

 Suggested Further Reading

My July 1, 2019 review of D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II by Sarah Rose first appeared at BookPleasures.com:

https://waa.ai/XA7U

My July 25th review of Madame Fourcade's Secret War: The Daring Young Woman Who Led France's Largest Spy Network Against Hitler by Lynne Olson first appeared at BookPleasures.com:

https://waa.ai/3uLD

More About the Reviewer

  

Dr. Wesley Britton is the author of The Beta Earth Chronicles and a regular review for 

BookPleasures.com. Learn more about him at:

Explore the Beta Earth Chronicles website:

Follow Wes Britton’s Goodreads blog:

Check out Wes Britton’s Beta Earth Chronicles Facebook page:

Enjoy the videos at Wes Britton’s YouTube Channel:

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

A Travel Journalist Explores the Final Frontier: Death

Title: How to Communicate with the Dead and How Cultures Do It around the World 

Author: Judith Fein

Publisher: Global Adventure

ISBN: 978-0-9884019-9-0
Author Website: www.globaladventure.us
September 4, 2019 Release

Reviewed by Marlan Warren, Reviewer originally for Roadmap Girl’s Book Buzz

 “Communicating with the dead has been a secret 

part of my life for many years.” –Judith Fein

Judith Fein’s fourth deep travel memoir, How to Communicate with the Dead and How Cultures do It around the World, invites us along on her decades of investigations and explorations of the final frontier: Death.

For most of her life, Judith Fein has seen and heard dead people. Not all the time, thank goodness, or it would not leave much time for this prolific journalist to write about her soul-searching globetrotting with her ever-skeptical photojournalist husband, Paul Ross. “Judie and Paul” are the “Nick and Nora” of the travel adventure-supernatural set. She can see a ghostly figure in the middle of nowhere and believe it to be a specter. He can be right next to her, eyes huge, and afterward admit “maybe” it was real. Their yin-yang bonding and love adds to the delightful humor of this Odyssey.

How to Communicate with the Dead  signals a coming out of the woo-woo closet for Fein. The Oxford dictionary defines “woo-woo” as “unconventional beliefs regarded as having little or no scientific basis, especially those relating to spirituality, mysticism, or alternative medicine…” Throughout her illustrious career as a journalist, Fein has occasionally penned articles about seeking healers and rituals in “exotic” locales; although mostly she has flown under the radar as a gifted intuitive herself. This book puts the spotlight on Fein’s spiritual truths as she has lived them, revealing how she has embraced and been embraced by others around the world who perceive those truths without shame.

There is no navel-gazing in these stories that take us from her father’s untimely death (and her first stunned awareness that she could hear him beyond the grave) to her late mother’s skepticism that she and her daughter could communicate after her transition (and how wrong that turned out to be) to various vortexes of cultures and religions that accept death as a fact of life that does not end the soul.

Fein’s passion to communicate with her living readers shines as an honest desire to help others move through their grief and fears to an understanding that death itself is not the final word on existence.

A discussion guide ends the book with such thought-provoking gems as:

“Would you like someone to contact you after you die? Why or why not?”

No matter what the answer, I’m willing to bet it won’t be boring. Fein invites readers to discuss the most taboo topic in America, as if to say:

“Hey, it couldn’t hurt.”

About the Author

Available in e-book and paperback via Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, Global Adventure. Judith Fein is based in Santa Fe and available to speak at venues.

About the Reviewer

Marlan Warren is an L.A. journalist, novelist, playwright, screenwriter, blogger, and publicist with Roadmap Communications [http://bit.ly/2Mak8fJ and Book Publicity by Marlan. She reviews for the Midwest Book Review and her blogs include “Roadmap Girl’s Book Buzz” and “L.A. Now & Then.” She is the author of the fictionalized memoir, “Roadmaps for the Sexually Challenged: All’s Not Fair in Love or War”  and the producer/writer of the acclaimed documentary, “Reunion. Marlan is now in production for the documentary “What Did You Do in the War, Mama?: Kochiyama’s Crusaders” based on her play" “Bits of Paradise.". She is a member of the Nonfiction Authors Association and on the faculty of The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society.

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER, THIS BLOG, AND ITS BENEFITS FOR WRITERS

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everything from Amazon Vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too.

Read Our Lips Reviewer Shares Fave with The New Book Review Readers

Title: Reverb

Author: J. Cafesin
Reverb website: http://reverbnovel.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense; Literary Fiction
ISBN-10: 0615756395
ISBN-13: 978-0615756394
Rating: 5 Stars
Purchase on Amazon. 

Reviewed by Angie originally for Read Our Lips

Listed as Favorite Book!

Sir James Michael Whren goes by James Logan is attending his half brother's funeral in England. He's anxious to get back to his music studio to continue working on his current project. His father, Edward Whren wants to have chat with him about his future which leaves James feeling resentful and sullen to his father's presence. Edward continues the conversation he started five years prior to which James replies let's not go down this road again because he wants nothing to do with Whren Trust or inheriting anything from his father. Edward Whren hatches a plan to keep James in England but he could not foresee what happens next to James. James is arrested at Heathrow Airport on a trumped up charge of dealing drugs and forced into rehab but that is the beginning of his worst nightmare of his life for the next year and half. James manages to escape where he's being held to eventually States to gain access to his money~so he can disappear again. James does that and more. He's hidden on island of Greece called Corfu and eventually meets Elisabeth Whitestone and her son Cameron. James slowly comes out of his shell being around Elisabeth and Cameron. James is completely haunted by his past and can't seem to shake just wanting to die. Elisabeth knows that something awful happened to James eventually gets him to start eating and pick up his musical skills again. Will James let his past continue to haunt him? Will James find his muse again? Will James love both Elisabeth and Cameron? Will Elisabeth admit her feelings for James? Your answers await you in Reverb.

Reverb is gut wrenching emotional rollercoaster from first page to last page. I've found my favorite book and character of the year in this book. I honestly don't have the words to explain or describe how this book affected me. I applaud the author for bolding stepping into this dark path and the courage to follow thru with it. I highly recommend this book. I look forward to next book presented by this author.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.