Instagram for Book Lovers - Tips for Authors

Instagram is a haven for book lovers. Whether you’re a reader, collector, interior designer, or writer, you need to check out these amazing pictures. I love seeing all the creative ways people arrange their books. These are hashtags that you can type into the search bar to see a book lovers’ paradise.

#Bookstagram - This is a popular hashtag on the social media site. You’ll see thousands of books in beautiful settings. I am amazed at all the creative vignettes, colors, and designs. Many #Bookstagrammers are also book reviewers. Check out and follow ones you like. You can also follow the hashtag to see what’s being posted.

There are also variants of the hashtag by country, region, or preference. Type in #Bookstagram in search and scroll through the list for more options.

#Bookstack - This hashtag features stacks in any place you can imagine. Some are arranged by color, others by theme. I love looking at the photos to see if I can spot friends’ books.

#Bookshelf - This has so many great ideas for arranging shelves. Again, I am always looking to see if I can see friends’ books in the photos. My books (throughout the house) are grouped on shelves by genre. I have started theming some of the shelves (e.g. mystery, Wizard of Oz, etc.).

#Shelfie - This started out as photos with books and bookshelves, but you’ll see all kinds of designs that are tagged with this hashtag.

Other hashtags to check out on Instagram:

• AmReading

• Author

• AuthorsOfInstagram

• BookAholic

• BookCommunity

• BookFollow

• Bookish

• BookishAesthetic

• BookishFeatures

• BookLover

• BookNerd

• BookRecsByMe

• Books

• BooksAndWine

• BooksOfInstagram

• BookShivers

• BookstaPeeps

• Bookworm

• CozyReading

• CurrentRead

• IGReads

• ReaderProblems

• ReadersOfInstagram

• ThrillerStack

• TimeToRead

View, like, and comment. I think it’s important for authors to be active on Instagram. It’s a great way to meet readers, reviewers, fans, librarians, book store staff, and other writers.

I’d like to thank Sonica Soares (The Reading Beauty) for the great presentation she gave to our Sisters in Crime chapter about #Bookstagram. Many thanks for all the great advice and ideas!

Required Reading - Tips for Authors

I was the kid who got her first library card at four, and a trip to the library or bookstore was always magical. I was also over the moon every time the teacher said read quietly at your desk.

Good writers need to be good readers. Read everything you can get your hands on and make sure to read books in your genre.

I use the annual GoodReads reading challenge as a way to track what I’ve read throughout the year.

Here are some ideas of things to look for as you read:

The Industry

• Read author acknowledgment pages. See who the agents and editors are. Keep a list of those who specialize in what you write. You will be at the querying stage, and this will help you target who represents your genre.

• See what groups authors belong to.

• Look at the publishers and editors for the type of books you write.

• Recently at SleuthFest, author Richie Naraez reminded the audience to not only read contemporary books in your genre, but also read the classics. If you’re a mystery writer, you need to understand the history of the mystery (e.g. cozies, hard-boiled, pulp fiction, etc.).

The Craft of Writing

• Pay attention to the dialogue and techniques.

• Watch how authors transition from one scene to another.

• Look at the ways the writer moves the story along. He or she doesn’t give you every mundane detail.

• Look for “rules” or conventions in your genre. Does the murder happen in the first few chapters? Is the sleuth a professional?

• When you like a book, think about what caught and held your attention.

• Watch how the ending is revealed.

The Details

• Look at the character names. In many cases, the name has some meaning or reveals something.

• For series, see how the author sprinkles in details from the past in each book.

• Where is the book set and how does that affect the story?

• Look at the minor characters and how they support the protagonist.

• Pay attention to how the writer uses conflict to move the story along.

Make sure that you have time to read. It’s research. And be kind and leave a review for the books you like. It doesn’t have to be a book report, but reviews do matter to writers.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Marilyn Levinson (Allison Brook)

I’d like to welcome Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday. I am having so much fun reading her Haunted Library series.

A few of your favorite things: my books—read and unread, chocolate bark, mystery series in any format, dining out, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, visiting other countries

Things you need to throw out: Clothing I haven't worn in three years, linens I no longer use, kitchen utensils I no longer use

Things you need for your writing sessions: My computer, of course; my movable bumpy footrest, good lighting, silence

Things that hamper your writing: The zing of an incoming email, noise.

Things you love about writing: Typing away when it flows; finishing the book; getting emails and messages that someone's just read one of my books and loved it, communicating with my fellow writers and with readers.

Things you hate about writing: When the words don't flow

Hardest thing about being a writer: Your work is never done—there's always another book, more promotion to work on

Easiest thing about being a writer: Your workplace is in your home. Your world involving your Work In Progress; communicating with readers and other writers; your agent and publisher; and information and research are all at your fingertips.

Things you never want to run out of: ideas, books, British mystery shows, book contracts

Things you wish you’d never bought: a George Foreman rotisserie, a very large and complicated Cuisinart Food Processor

Favorite foods: pasta, Indian food, ice cream, honeyed nuts, cheese

Things that make you want to gag: drinking milk

Favorite beverage: white wine

Something that gives you a sour face: lemonade without sugar

Something you’re really good at: knitting, Sudoku, teaching

Something you’re really bad at: using crutches, adding things to my website

Things you always put in your books: relationships, secrets

Things you never put in your books: erotica, death of a child

Favorite places you’ve been: South of France, Machu Picchu, Paris, England

Places you never want to go to again: some small islands in the Caribbean

Favorite books (or genre): mysteries, good literature

Books you wouldn’t buy: erotica,

Things that make you happy: Seeing my grandchildren, getting good reviews, watching a good movie

Things that drive you crazy: parents who let their children run wild in public; unnecessary horn blowing

About Marilyn:

"I was a bookworm from the moment I learned how to read. I devoured Nancy Drews, Judy Boltons, and Trixie Beldons – sometimes two books in one day. Was it any wonder I ended up writing mysteries?

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I dreamed of becoming a ballerina or a writer. I practiced my pirouettes and penned short stories. My family moved to Long Island, where I continued to write stories until I was discouraged by a high school English teacher. Turned off to writing, I continued to read voraciously in college and concentrated on my major, Spanish. I studied in Mexico and Spain, intent on becoming fluent in the language. I taught high school Spanish, married my dentist husband, and we started a family. When our two sons were small, I found myself drawn back to writing fiction.

A writer is a writer forever. We may have more than our share of disappointments, but the rewards are many – knowing you bring joy to readers; sharing the camaraderie and support of your fellow scribes. Writing is a way of life, one I wouldn’t relinquish for anything."

Let’s Be Social:

Website

BookBub

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Help Marilyn celebrate her new book at her Facebook Party on September 10 from 7-10 PM EDT.

#TBRTuesday Lori Rader-Day's THE LUCKY ONE

What I’ve Been Reading…

I finished Lori Rader-Day’s THE LUCKY ONE recently. She is a master of suspense. You need to add this one to your reading list.

I had the pleasure of being on a panel with Lori last year at Malice Domestic, and she is also one of the funniest writers I have met.

THE LUCKY ONE is chocked with lots of twists and turns, and just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist. Rader-Day is a wonderful story teller who weaves seemingly different storylines together for a wonderful novel.

What’s up Next

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s THE LINCOLN CONSPIRACY (The Plot to Kill America’s 16th President - and Why it Failed).

For more book ideas, follow me on Goodreads and BookBub.

What are you reading on #TBRTuesday?

It's Our Book Birthday!

The second book in the Mutt Mysteries series launches today. Check it out at your favorite book retailer.

This is a collection of dog-themed, cozy mysteries by Jayne Ormerod, Rosemary Shomaker, Teresa Inge, and me.

My story is “The Fast and the Furriest.” It’s about a love triangle gone bad at a local race track in Amelia County, VA. Cassidy Green and the her Director of Security, Rottweiler Oliver need to solve the case before it sends her business in a tail spin.

How to Make an Author Smile

Everyone likes a bit of serendipity and a nice surprise — including authors. Here are some ways you can make an author’s day…

• Buy their book. Read it, add it to your collection, or give it as a gift.

• Recommend the book to your friends.

• Add the book to your reading list on Goodreads.

• Leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N. It doesn’t have to be a book report. You can leave one line about what you liked. Online retailers use reviews to determine book placement in ads and promos.

• Recommend the book to your book club.

• Invite the author to visit or Skype with your book club.

• Take a picture of the book when you see it in a store or library and tag the author on social media. It’s neat to see where your book pops up.

• Request that your library order the book.

• Pop in at an author’s book signing.

• Share the author’s posts on social media.

What else would you add to my list?

Lois Winston's Holiday Cozies for #WriterWednesday

I’d like to welcome Lois Winston to the blog for #WriterWednesday. She has a guest post on her holiday cozies. Perfect timing for this season. Check these out and add them to your collection.

Christmas with Anastasia

By Lois Winston

My amateur sleuth, Anastasia Pollack, makes no bones about her feelings toward me. I suppose her animosity is justified. After all, I write cozy murder mysteries, which means I’m constantly placing her in life-and-death situations.

Most cozy mysteries feature busybody amateur sleuths who make a habit of sticking their noses where they don’t belong. Anastasia is more a reluctant amateur sleuth, forced to investigate because I’m always writing her into situations where I don’t give her any choice.

And much to her dismay, I don’t even let up at Christmas. I tried explaining my reasoning for this to her, that readers love holiday books. Her answer? I should go back to writing romances and leave the solving of murders to the professionals. What fun would that be, though?

And speaking of fun, I had so much fun setting Drop Dead Ornaments, the seventh book in the series, days before Christmas, that I decided the eighth book in the series, Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide, should pick up where Drop Dead Ornaments left off. That means I have two holiday mysteries available this year. And better yet, the ebook version of Drop Dead Ornaments is currently on sale for only .99 cents through Christmas Eve.

Drop Dead Ornaments

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 7

Anastasia Pollack’s son Alex is dating Sophie Lambert, the new kid in town. For their community service project, the high school seniors have chosen to raise money for the county food bank. Anastasia taps her craft industry contacts to donate materials for the students to make Christmas ornaments they’ll sell at the town’s annual Holiday Crafts Fair.

At the fair Anastasia meets Sophie’s father, Shane Lambert, who strikes her as a man with secrets. She also notices a woman eavesdropping on their conversation. Later that evening when the woman turns up dead, Sophie’s father is arrested for her murder.

Alex and Sophie beg Anastasia to find the real killer, but Anastasia has had her fill of dead bodies. She’s also not convinced of Shane’s innocence. Besides, she’s promised younger son Nick she’ll stop risking her life. But how can she say no to Alex?

Buy Links
Paperback https://amzn.to/2s1VYii

Kindle https://amzn.to/350ueJq

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/drop-dead-ornaments

Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/drop-dead-ornaments/id1431548050

Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drop-dead-ornaments-lois-winston/1129345148?ean=2940161937181

Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide

An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 8

Two and a half weeks ago magazine crafts editor Anastasia Pollack arrived home to find Ira Pollack, her half-brother-in-law, had blinged out her home with enough Christmas lights to rival Rockefeller Center. Now he’s crammed her small yard with enormous cavorting inflatable characters. She and photojournalist boyfriend and possible spy Zack Barnes pack up the unwanted lawn decorations to return to Ira. They arrive to find his yard the scene of an over-the-top Christmas extravaganza. His neighbors are not happy with the animatronics, laser light show, and blaring music creating traffic jams on their normally quiet street. One of them expresses his displeasure with his fists before running off.

In the excitement, the deflated lawn ornaments are never returned to Ira. The next morning Anastasia once again heads to his house before work to drop them off. When she arrives, she discovers Ira’s attacker dead in Santa’s sleigh. Ira becomes the prime suspect in the man’s murder and begs Anastasia to help clear his name. But Anastasia has promised her sons she’ll keep her nose out of police business. What’s a reluctant amateur sleuth to do?

Buy Links

Paperback https://amzn.to/2OXfaqu

Kindle https://amzn.to/3594OJC

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handmade-ho-ho-homicide

Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handmade-ho-ho-homicide-lois-winston/1132607263?ean=2940163093748

Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/handmade-ho-ho-homicide/id1473711082

About Lois:

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.loiswinston.com

Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston

Today's My Book Birthday!

Private investigator, Delanie Fitzgerald, and her computer hacker partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in Glitter, Glam and Contraband. In this fast-paced mystery, the Falcon Investigations team is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show. Delanie gets more than she bargains for and a few makeup tips in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious sound in the ceiling of her office vexes Delanie. She uses her sleuthing skills to track down the source and uncover a creepy contraband operation.

 Glitter, Glam, and Contraband features a strong female sleuth with a knack for getting herself in and out of humorous situations like helping sleezy strip club owner, Chaz Smith on his quest to become Richmond’s next mayor, tracking down missing reptiles, and uncovering hidden valuables from a 100-year-old crime with a Poe connection.

Glitter, Glam, and Contraband is available at your favorite book retailer.

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes and Noble

BookBub

Kobo