Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is where Tara @ 25 Hour Books and I shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else we’ve found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books we plan on reading in the coming week.
On a Book Bender Recap
- Review: Just One Day by Gayle Forman (9) — Gayle Forman is an auto-buy author.
- Top Off Tuesday — So much comment fun here, ladies.
- Review: The Haunting Season by Michelle Muto (7) — The Haunting Season: scary, sexy, fun.
- Under the Ever Night Read-Along — Cassie and I are putting together a read-along. Join us!
- Can too many choices cause a reading slump? — The post that had me loving the book community EVEN MORE and spawned this tweet.
Amanda Around the Blogosphere
- FBNLT–Amanda and Kelly review: Wesley and the Sex Zombies (*shudders*)
- FBNLT–Amanda reviews: Two Cowboys and One Girl — My other Doin’ It Dirty read!
- You may have noticed our lack of a second GLA this week. Kelly and I decided to knock it back to once a week.
Meanwhile, in Amanda’s World
I was very productive this week. I started setting a specific time to wake up and a specific time to “be open.” (I’m generally on Skype during my business hours. That’s how I track my hours.) I also made a push to be more disciplined about working without distractions. The result?
I finished another product.
It’s called Blog Smarter. I’ve had one person beta test it thus far (and gotten very positive feedback, YAY!), but I am always in need of other beta testers. So if you are just starting blogging or need a good kick in the pants, TALK TO ME.
I’ve also decided that April will be social media month on my business blog. I have three post slots, so I’ll tackle negativity in social media, Twitter, and Facebook. The negativity one is HUGE because I’ve been seeing it a lot lately. And not just straight up negativity, but negativity DISGUISED as happy and positive things. Because HOW you say things matter, too. I’ll call it the “back door insult”. A back door insult is when you compliment or celebrate one thing, but you do so in a way that insults something else. (Example: ”I love books that have kick ass heroines. THAT is how you write a quality main character.” This implies that any heroine who ISN’T kick ass is somehow deficient and lacking quality. This is a relatively minor example, but there you go.)
If you have any social media questions, I’d be happy to address them in my posts. You just have to EMAIL ME.
I’m ALSO planning on starting a Facebook group about grammar. It’s still in early planning stages, but I’d like to use it as a space where you can ask me questions about grammar and we can share resources. If this is something you’d be interested in, EMAIL ME. Once I get the group set up, you’ll be one of the first people I add.
And… a comment on my Friday discussion post got me thinking about the value of adding another reviewer to On a Book Bender. I’m kind of liking the idea. I will have to explore it more.
On 25 Hour Books
- Tattoo Tuesday {75} — a room without books
- Dragon Warrior {mini review} *** – perfect start to the #doinitdirty read-a-thon
- Fit Friday {1} — Tara starts a new feature to spotlight one of her “beneficial addictions.”
- {2nd Time Around} The Renfield Syndrome — wait a minute…what just happened?!
Around the Book Blogging Community
- WLP talks about vaginas. (And that yours isn’t special.) Read this if you’re a romance fan.
- Jamie (Perpetual Page Turner) talks about how to rekindle the flame with blogging.
- The Vampire Book Club Love Letters are going strong, and Kelly has hers up this week. Iron Druid fans, represent!
- Renae (Respiring Thoughts) talks about how reviewing can affect our mindset while reading.
- Kelly (Reading the Paranormal) takes on negativity and WINS with her post about things that make her happy (part 2).
Search Terms
who am i stalking on facebook 2013 — These terms always baffle me. Shouldn’t you KNOW who YOU are stalking? You’re the one stalking, my friend.
what does dingleberry mean to hassan and colin — *cackles* Read the book and find out.
triptych by karin slaughter ending — NO. Searching for spoilers is not allowed.
body beder fucking girl.xxx — o.O
what is archer in firelight — A character. HE IS A CHARACTER.
Goodreads Stats
Read in 2013 (21)
- Spark & Hustle: Launch and Grow Your Small Business Now by Tory Johnson (9)
- A business read, but I’ll be reviewing it complete with what I learned and how it can be applied to blogging.
- Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines (7)
- Review later in March!
- The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
- I’m slowly–ever so slowly–working my way through this book. I will finish it yet.
Own-Must-Read (101)
- Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
- The boyfriend came through for me and GOT ME THIS FOR V-DAY. Points for the boyfriend.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal February 24, 2013 at 12:45 am
Points for the boyfriend. makes me think of Ben Franklin saying “Points to me, I think.” in Maureen Johnson’s tribute to the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
Also, now I have “Are you on A MONEY?” in my head and I’m going to be saying it ALL NIGHT! DANGIT!
Two dollar bill says what?
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 10:24 am
lolololol. You’ve been stuck on that lately. All I can say is that MJ is awesome and I want to be like her when I grow up.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal February 24, 2013 at 11:29 am
*clacks wooden teeth*
Seriously… I can’t get that dang thing out of my head. IT WON’T LEAVE ME ALONE!
Jefferson is on a money. Washington is on a money. I am on the best money.
Unhand me, furniture mouth!
Good gravy! Maureen Johnson is BRILLIANT!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 11:41 am
And her books are good, too!
Leanne Yang @ Escaping With Books February 24, 2013 at 2:10 am
Oh my god, the spam!! Funny and gross at the same time! I like that you’ll be talking about the negativity of social media. There are always two sides to everything, I’ll look forward to that! :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 10:26 am
Yup. And like Kelly said on her blog, a lot of people probably don’t even realize how negative they’re being until it’s pointed out to them or they realize it themselves.
Mary @ BookSwarm February 24, 2013 at 8:28 am
You’ve certainly been a busy girl! Love the love letters (I found someone new to follow now, too! Gotta get out of my comfort zone more…). And high five to the boyfriend. He really gets you.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 10:27 am
I’m usually much happier when I’m busy, so that’s good. :D
Yay for finding someone new to follow!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) February 24, 2013 at 11:22 am
I love having auto-buy authors — they make me happy! I know Gayle’s on my list, as is Neil Gaiman, Sophie Kinsella, and Lauren Oliver. They make bookstore trips extra special!
Good for you, making progress on The Immortal Rules! And I like the idea of adding another reviewer to OABB … could be a fun thing!
Have a good week, Amanda!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 11:41 am
Now I just need to FIND a reviewer. :)
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) February 24, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Throw out the bat signal! I’m sure you’ll find someone. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 25, 2013 at 9:57 am
lol. I’m not sure it’s that easy, but I will certainly try.
Jenny February 24, 2013 at 11:36 am
Can’t wait for your social media posts Amanda! I’ve definitely noticed an increase in negativity as well, so I think that will be an interesting discussion. Also, your search terms make me laugh:) I checked mine a few months back and it said “hairy man nipples”. Um. AWESOME.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 24, 2013 at 11:46 am
I’m glad I’m not the only one seeing negativity. I tend to “see things that aren’t there” (I tend to read beyond the intended meaning to the literal meaning of the words, which are often at odds with the intended meaning), so sometimes I don’t know if it’s just me.
Hairy man nipples is DEFINITELY a win of a search term. I like it!
Smash Attack February 24, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Looking forward to your Blog Smarter product. I can always use a little more of that in my life. And your social media info. You are SO FULL OF INFO.
Also, I changed my Elemental Assassin Read-Along stuff to say Read-Along instead of Read-A-Long. Are you proud? :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 25, 2013 at 9:54 am
Want to beta test my Blog Smarter product? Just email me!
Amy @ bookgoonie February 25, 2013 at 5:44 am
Girl, you are working it hard. I’m so proud of you. Anything related to work or productivity is always pushed to the back burner. You will carve out an awesome virtual empire made of awesome before you know it.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 25, 2013 at 9:54 am
I actually prefer to be busy. It keeps me from getting bored and whiny. And no one wants a whiny Amanda. Just a wine-y Amanda.
Tara SG (25 Hour Books) February 25, 2013 at 9:46 am
Ha! I was just asking you about social media… Looks like I’ll be able to learn more soon!!
Why am I not following FBNLT?!
Yay awesome boyfriend gift!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 25, 2013 at 9:56 am
FBNLT is FUN. You get all the awesome (but slightly horrifying) reviews of questionable erotica!
Nikki Steele February 27, 2013 at 10:38 am
Dingleberries and blog-awesomeness. That’s the actual wrap-up I’m going to give to this post :D
Love that your business is doing so well! Will be in contact about this Blog Smarter.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender February 27, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Dingeberries and blog-awesomeness? I will take that! :D
Thanks, Nikki. :)