Author bio photos often seem to me as stuffy, strangely manicured posturing that is supposed to be a way to connect the reader to the author (and drive sales), but do they work? I'm not sure. However, they are good for displaying humorous captions. Check some out today at Chris Deal's blog. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
I've been awful about posting notices here telling all you lovely people when I have a new blog tour post go live. And today's (yesterday's) failure on my part is especially effed up, as the infamous and aesthetically mysterious xTx has allowed me a day on her blog. See if I ever get invited back. I write about my inherent, and unnecessary, need to turn everything I say into something potentially humorous. Success or no, I'm addicted. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
The wonderfully talented Kristin Fouquet offers some space at her blog today where I write a bit about how dead body clean up has become more and more popular over the last few years. Thanks for Kristin for letting me stop by! Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
Steve Urkel. I need not say more. But I will. Steve Urkel = nerd. Stephan Urquelle = smooth, respected, man. What's the difference? Looks. And what does this have to do with fiction writing? Head over to the Eject! blog to find out. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
I can't believe I failed to notify everyone about this new Blog Tour post that went live on Bradely Sands' site a couple of days ago. I should be killed. I try to be open to hilarity everywhere in life. Sometimes, I don't have to look far. At Bradley Sands' blog today I provide a list of quotes, take verbatim, from a documentary on the Discovery channel called, simply, Sex Robot. Here's a taste: Delosian: “You know that…Snow White, singing about ‘someday my prince will come.’ Well, someday my android will come, damn-it.” Again, these are 100% real. Don't miss out. Click here to read the guest post. Also, don’t forget that if you comment on all guest blog posts, you will get free stuff.
I’m a data nerd. I’m a spreadsheet and chart nerd. Therefore, I could have made this lede a bit shorter and simply said “I’m a nerd.” Recently, I conducted a very unscientific poll on Twitter and Facebook, asking a general group of readers how they decide what to read when choosing a book. While this is an admittedly small poll with a slight slant toward people I know, even if tangentially (they are connected to me via Facebook and Twitter in some way), I feel the findings are still valid, at least as part of a possible larger survey. If anyone has the resources to conduct a larger poll, contact me. I’d love to see the data. Here are the results: Observations: It has long been said that word of mouth is the best advertising for books, so it is slightly surprising to see “Recommendations” appear 3rd on the list.…
[blackbirdpie url="http://twitter.com/#!/calebjross/status/40298146336608256"] What good is Twitter, really? How do authors use it? How should authors use it? How can readers use it? How can readers and authors use it together? How many more questions can I type here that essentially ask the same thing? In this episode I talk about how I, as an author and reader, use Twitter. But most importantly, I address its limitations. Enjoy. Send any writing and publishing related questions to caleb [at] calebjross.com. I will answer them in a future episode. Show Notes and Mentions: Yes, again, Jane Friedman teaches at the University of Cincinnati. Twitter handle: @JaneFriedman Personal examples of professional success using Twitter: Invited to contribute a story to a Rainstorm Press horror anthology Live tweeting at literary events such as the reading at Czar bar in Kansas City and the social media panel at AWP in 2011. Many bloggers and authors have contacted me via Twitter…