The Title:  The Hunt (The Hunt #1) by Andrew Fukuda




Next up:
June 8:    Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
June 15:    XVI (XVI #1) by Julia Karr
June 22:    Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger
June 29:    Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows #1) by Kim Harrison

If you wanna check out all the titles scheduled so far, look in the footer of my blog, on my Google Calendar, they're all written up there.
Since there were some titles I didn't get to last year, I thought I'd re-do them starting now. New titles will be added to help motivate me into keeping up my reading schedule and keep track of authors and series I love. It's so easy to get caught up in the new releases, and I find I'm lagging behind on the ones I've been reading.
So for now, we'll do a sort of catch up RAWBL, lol :D

The How To:
- Join the RAWBL of the week anytime from Saturday 3 PM [GMT] to next Saturday at the same time.
- Read any sort of copy you have of  the title  (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, ARC/review copy if you have it and didn't get around to it...), we're all reading it at the same time! This is not a competition, so take your time and enjoy it.
- Tweet once during your #RAWBL reading using the hashgtag #RAWBL  if you want to make it official, it can be whatever you wanna tweet except a spoiler, lol, we just want to know you're there with us
- Posting a review of the read? Let me know and we'll do a RAWBL Review link-up! Or just post your review's link in the comments section of mine or the weekly post announcing that title :D

So, today's topic is (again)

Virtual Book Tours

This is part II of my (ridiculously large!) insider's guide to virtual book tours. Today we're talking about types of content that can show up on book tours and I'll give you my take on each.

I like to think of the content in categories, it makes it easier to focus on each so we can talk about them. Book tour stops can be:
- reviews (your review of that book that's on tour)
- guest posts ( author guest post, character interview {author asks the character Q's}, character guest post {written in the voice of that character}, character profile, top ten list, playlist, etc - either related to the book directly or to writing by large)
- interviews (the blogger has come up with a list of questions the author{or a book character} answers to)
- excerpts (an excerpt from the book that's on tour, or maybe from the first in the series or such)
- spotlights (a short presentation containing all the relevant book data - cover, blurb, publication details like date, publisher, etc, maybe author bios or links, sometimes trailers)
These are my definitions on each, but often you'll find the same content labeled the same way. I'm not that special, lol.

Some categories of content will be the same at every stop, like spotlights or excerpts (though not always). It's okay, in my opinion, to run a spotlight or an excerpt that someone else will be running too. The spotlight mainly consists of the basic info of the book, that's always going to be the same all over the world and all the time. Generally speaking, the number and length of excerpts is limited. Is it preferable to have some other excerpt from the other hosts? Yes. Are there limitations and copyright/contract terms that limit how much the author can share as excerpt? Again, yes. So I'm not absurd.
I tend to think of other stops as spotlights plus other stuff. By spotlight I understand the basic info of that book: blurb, cover, publisher and publishing date, series info. It's part of every book-post anyway. To that you can add other book-presentation materials, trailers, whatever like that and it's still a spotlight in my opinion. I think of them as spotlights if you add an excerpt, too. Still basic info, pretty much. These two types of stops are the most likely to produce lookalike posts around the blogosphere, so I'd suggest not making them your basic option unless you're okay with content that way.

If you've signed up for a review on the tour, you'll be provided with a review copy. It's really no different then getting the ARC through say NetGalley or a review copy from an author/publicist. You read it, see what you think, write your review for the date. If you liked or loved it, hurrah! Each time someone loves a book a new star is born. {this is not scientifically verified info, lol!}
But what if you don't? Well, some tour organizers have a policy in effect for that. Most of the time, they'll ask you to please not post your review if it's below 3 stars as part of the tour - post it sometime after the tour. I'm okay with that request and don't find it too aggravating. True, if it wasn't part of the tour I would post the review whenever I'd feel like. But I'm okay giving it say a couple weeks time and posting it then.
I won't speak my mind any differently though just because I've gotten the review copy as part of a tour. Authors should be very aware of that. When they pay for a tour, they are or should be aware they're getting some attention, not praise (unless someone does love their title, regardless of how they came to read it!).
If you're iffy on granting this compromise on postponing your review a bit, then you can decide to never post a review and ask for some different content - but do so as soon as possible, don't wait until the night before your stop to point that out. Or you can not offer to do review for tours at all. Find what works best for you and stay true. :)

I like guest posts as tour stops the most. Original content is do or die, whatever the type of guest post we're doing. I can't actually Google the text of each of them, but I do by random pick. If I find out it's not original content, I make the point and turn it down. Personal policy? If I have to tell someone the same thing twice, they get on my black list meaning I don't give them the guest post option in the future. Hey, it's not that harsh! I do have clear Policies written up that say ALL you need to know on the topic. If you ignore my policies, I don't think you should be featured on my blog.
There are different types of guest posts, and I always find them fun. They don't need to be long or incredibly complicated. Also, as a personal note, when you're sent guest post materials? Make sure it's content you're allowed to use. Especially when it comes to images, that people have the tendency to forget fall under copyright just like anything else does. Does the post you're gonna host contain images of anything? Lyrics? Ask if the author has the rights to use these the way they are, or if they have permission. If they don't, don't post those images/materials unless you're uber-sure they're public domain.
Copyright infringement is the same in all manners of content: ugly. Don't do it.

Interviews are fun, I like them. I only do them after I've read the title, or some other title by the same author. Mostly, the title we're promoting. Generic questions as the only questions in an interview make it boring for me. I like interviews on the topic of the title being promoted. You can most often tell when that blogger read the title because the questions are interesting and the author gives almost always fun answers. But you don't have to limit the interview's topic to that title. Do whatever topic you feel like, it can be random and super fun all the same.
Some do pre-made interviews - I don't like the concept of that and don't do them. If it's pre-made then it's a guest post, and it should look like one. If it's an interview, I'm asking the questions, lame and few as they may be. But this is my preference, you do whatever works for you of course. :)


The (maybe) weekly rants of glory will be suspended next week since I'm gonna do Armchair BEA. Join on it starting May 28!
Tune in June 6, when we'll talk about what virtual book tours have to offer for you as a host and why I love them myself. Next up, June 20, we'll talk Virtual Book Tour Manners, because I like the idea of good practices on all sides of any activity. Again, these posts are based on my subjective experience and opinions, so take them with a pinch of salt.
And, unless questions pop up in the meantime, that will be the last post on the book tours topic. What are we going to talk about next? I dunno, but I will know by next time :)

Have a fab Friday!

Dark Flight (The Shadow Slayers #3)

By Cassi Carver

Editions: ebook

Published: May 21st 2013 by Samhain Publishing

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

In a world of shadows, a pure heart can be the most dangerous weapon of all.

Kara has been training for months to help take down Brakken—the merciless black-wing who is making life hell for the Demiáre. But when Julian discovers a scout has been tracking Kara, he wants her out of the fight—even if it means breaking her heart in the process.

Gavin isn’t much better. He’s already lost so much to Brakken and has no intention of allowing the woman he loves to be the next sacrifice. He and Julian have their hands full trying to fight Brakken’s army and keep Kara safe, especially after her recent visit to the mythical white-wings. Since her return, she’s been acting decidedly…strange.

With a terrible battle looming, Kara doesn’t have time to think about her conflicted feelings for Gavin and Julian—or the fact that she’s developed an unnatural taste for Gavin’s blood. But if she thought it was complicated evading mysterious scouts and fending off vicious black-wings, she’s learning that’s nothing compared to loving two strong-willed men.
Product Warnings:
This book contains angels that aren’t what they seem, a heroine with mad midwifery skills, and a metamorphosis that will change life as we knew it.

~ Bewitching BT

Minus One (The Drew Smith Series)

By Norwood Holland

Editions: ebook, paperback

Published: February 1st 2013 by Windmill Books2

Genre: Adult Mystery

Minus One the Drew Smith Series prequel takes us back when the attorney launches his legal career. Before the ink is dry on his license to practice law Drew Smith finds himself at the center of a murder mystery. The recent law school graduate works as a hotel concierge and befriends two bellmen an Arab and a Latino, Medhat and Julio. Like the three musketeers they bond in a fraternal friendship put to the test when Medhat is kidnapped after running up a drug tab he can't pay. Rescued by Drew and Julio, Medhat then becomes the prime suspect in a string of murders. Driven by their romantic entanglements the attorney is captivated with a pretty Latina whose father objects to her dating a Black man. Julio and his Filipina love find themselves expecting, and Medhat’s passion for blondes gets him snared in a femme fatale's net. Minus One captures Drew Smith's evolution from youthful indiscretion to a professional burdened with seriousness of purpose.

~ Write Now Literary Virtual BT

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)

By Katie McGarry

Editions: ebook, hardcover, paperback

Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Genre: New Adult Contemporary / Romance

Source: NetGalley

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: Effing brilliant!!

Portrait of a Crossroads

By Kelly Rand

Editions: ebook

Expected publication: May 20th 2013 by Riptide Publishing

Genre: New Adult FxF Contemporary / Romance

Source: NetGalley

Since finding her father’s body at the bottom of the basement stairs, Annette’s been drifting through her days, watching cars pass down the rural Ontario crossroads beside her house. Her brothers have no great ambitions, but Annette remembers a time when she did. She just can’t remember what they are.

Then she meets her neighbour, Sadie, a tattooed, world-weary, newly single portrait artist. Something about Sadie awakens something in Annette—the essence she captures in her subjects, perhaps, or the way the old familiar crossroads seem so fresh and promising from the view out Sadie’s window.

Annette begins to help Sadie, cleaning brushes and filing invoices between long lazy afternoons of conversations and shared silences. Soon, though, Annette wants more from her enigmatic neighbor, and their slowly heating friendship melts into passionate nights. Somewhere along the way, Annette discovers that her lover has illuminated for her, as with the people Sadie paints, not just her essence but her own endless worlds of possibilities.

~ Riptide

Bomy's Flutter: gripping and touching

Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10)

By J.R. Ward

Editions: audioook, ebook, hardcover, paperback

Published: March 27th 2012 by NAL

Genre: Adult Paranormal / Romance

Source: own copy

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance, unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld—Tohr turns to the angel Lassiter to save his former mate. The only way to rescue her is for Tohr to love another. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vie for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past and a hot, passion-filled future. But can his heart let go and set all of them free?

~ Goodreads

Bomy's Flutter: touching & awesome

The Title:  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green



Next up:

May 25:    The Hunt (The Hunt #1) by Andrew Fukuda
June 8:    Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
June 15:    XVI (XVI #1) by Julia Karr
June 22:    Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger

If you wanna check out all the titles scheduled so far, look in the footer of my blog, on my Google Calendar, they're all written up there.
Since there were some titles I didn't get to last year, I thought I'd re-do them starting now. New titles will be added to help motivate me into keeping up my reading schedule and keep track of authors and series I love. It's so easy to get caught up in the new releases, and I find I'm lagging behind on the ones I've been reading.
So for now, we'll do a sort of catch up RAWBL, lol :D

The How To:
- Join the RAWBL of the week anytime from Saturday 3 PM [GMT] to next Saturday at the same time.
- Read any sort of copy you have of  the title  (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, ARC/review copy if you have it and didn't get around to it...), we're all reading it at the same time! This is not a competition, so take your time and enjoy it.
- Tweet once during your #RAWBL reading using the hashgtag #RAWBL  if you want to make it official, it can be whatever you wanna tweet except a spoiler, lol, we just want to know you're there with us
- Posting a review of the read? Let me know and we'll do a RAWBL Review link-up! Or just post your review's link in the comments section of mine or the weekly post announcing that title :D

Q: School is out! What is your favorite Summer Reading book??

Hmm... I don't like summer. It gets super hot here, like unbearable heat, air feels hot as you breathe. I hate summer, I really do. Spring and fall are my thing. But anyway, due to my hate of summer, I tend to read winter stories or stories that include cool climate. Seriously, don't laugh! I don't mean winter holidays stories (that I rarely if ever read anyway), but just winter/cold climate stories. Those are my summer favs :D




What about you guys? Lemme know in the comments or link me to your #FF. And don't forget to hop around and show some love to the bloggers xD

While stalking visiting blogs through the #FF last week, Angela and myself ran into each other. To make a long story short, after some chatting on the topic, she suggested I should write something like a guide on book tours.
I thought about it and realized while some of us have made up our minds about things, some of our bloggy friends might not find enough info on things that easily. And without really knowing what's up with something, it's really difficult and unwise to make up your mind about it, I think.

So I thought I'd share some of what I've learned through time. Take it as tips or ranting glories - whatever works for you.
For a wealth of knowledge on many things blogging-related, I refer you to Parajunkee's Book Blogging 101. I'm not entirely positive, but she might have covered every topic imaginable and she answers questions. So if you have questions about things, chances are she has a cool post on it already.
But just in case you wanna ask me, please do go ahead, here's the form. I'll do my best to share my knowledge on the topic, give my opinion, etc. This is my weekly rant of glory on book blogging things I'm either told or think would be of interest to other book bloggers or readers. Sometimes it might be just titles that are coming out next week, or rants on things, or the random dots gif... okay, it probably won't be the dots gif.

So, today's topic is

Virtual Book Tours

You've surfed around book blogs, you've seen the posts, maybe you've made your mind up about them. I know I have. I love book tours. But what are they?
A virtual book tour is an online bookish event that usually consists of a number of book blogs hosting some book-related happening on the topic of the book that's being toured. It can have more fun events attached to it, like a Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest party, giveaways etc. If you've seen some content related to the same book on more then one blog on the same day, or on consecutive days - yep, chances are they're part of a tour for that title. But if you're still wondering, there are often pointers to the fact that this post is part of a book tour.

Most often you'll see a tour graphic that shows up in all posts that are part of that tour. It will spell out the duration of this particular book tour, the title it's for, maybe who organized that tour.
Depending on what type of content that blog is hosting, you might see disclaimers stating that this is part of a tour, maybe some labels attached to the post that make it obvious it's a book tour appearance. I consider it a good practice to make it obvious that this post is part of a book tour, and to point out somehow who's organizing it: the tour graphic, a link to the schedule of the while thing, labels to indicate the fact. I do all three, for instance.

I'd say there are two main ways you can become a host on a tour.
1) You've already signed up -or you sign up- as host for one (or more) tour organizers (like Bewitching Book Tours, Parajunkee Book Tours, Bookish Brunette Book Tours, Xpresso Book Tours, Jitterbug PR, etc). Each time they're organizing a tour, or some short event (release day thing, cover reveal, etc) they send out invites to all of their hosts to join this thing they're scheduling now. You reply to that invitation, state the dates you have free in that interval, the kind of content you're willing to host (see some examples of stops below). They pick the hosts they deem fit out of the ones that signed up for this tour/even they're planning, then they get back to you to let you know that you're part of the tour and on this date you'll have this kind of stop - always from the dates and types of content you offered to do.
2) Some author/publicist emails you with the invite to participate in the event they're planning, book tour or some such, and they give you the info you need and the way to sign up for it. Again, you decide what dates and content you're offering to do. They put together the schedule, let you know when and what you're doing, and that's it.
In both cases, I recommend you keep a blog-schedule somewhere (I use Google Calendar) and make a note of that stop on the date you're doing it. These things can be easy to lose track of, and it's bad manners to get forgetful after offering to do something.

It's always, always, always your choice. You offer the dates you're willing to do, the content, the terms.

I've seen some say that book tours look almost spamy, because it's the same content shown over and over again. Most often and regularly it's not. It really depends on you as a host what content you offer to or are willing to host.
Sometimes you're given a boilerplate of the info that you're supposed to put up and that's it, but I for one never do tours like that. I don't call that a tour, it's like a press release of sorts being sprouted out on many blogs ie channels at the same time. It's my blog, if you want to set up an appearance on it, you'll abide by my rules, first of which is original content. I do it, you'll do it if you wanna make an appearance. Frankly, I'd advise you do the same. Is it easy to just copy/paste something and have that date all solved with a cool post? Yeah, I guess. But unless it's the type of content that will always be the same since it's basic info (spotlights, excerpts maybe) then it should always be original.
Guest posts, for instance? It's either original or I'm not posting it on my blog. I can't be sure someone won't use it again in the future, but most people who do these things know that's crap online manners. You're a writer. I trust you to come up with some 500 original words of your own if you wanna do a guest post. It looks bad when you seem to not be able to do that, considering writing is what you do...


This is part I of my (uber-long) insider's guide to book tours. Tune in on May 24 for part II, where we'll talk about what types of tour stops you can do and my take on them. And, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them. This might or might not tun into a weekly ranting glory habit, day to be determined.
We shall see.

Have a fab Thursday!