ireadsomewherethat

As we emerge from Covid, so do book conferences start to blossom! Here are four that you need to know about!

What a time. We emerged from Covid - well, not entirely - to find a Russian maniac has declared war on an innocent nation. So what do you do, in a time like this, about promoting your book? Or even writing – all creative endeavours seem so puny compared with those losing their lives. I found this post by Kate McKean to be really helpful and please know this - I want to hear about your books and your writing. As Kate says, the one thing does not negate the other - and let's not let the Russian maniac destroy everything good in this world. 

Fabulous insights into Christopher Walken's unique delivery and tone! This may be a game-changer when it comes to writing prose! 

Also, E.E. Cummings and a poem that brings joy to my heart every single time.

You simply can't go wrong with words of wisdom from Margaret Atwood on how to succeed as an author!

"Feeling lousy? Depressed? Like a failure? As if what you’re doing at the moment is futile?" 

This post will inspire writers the world over - we've got this! Let's be fabulous, slightly nuts and live life our way! 

Featuring Patricia Highsmith. 

Are you struggling to read during this time of Covid? Are you struggling to finish reading a book you've picked up? And, if you're a writer, are you struggling to write? This post will help lift you out of the doldrums! 

Welcome to the Christmas Edition of I Read Somewhere That! Filled with fascinating facts about books and Christmas, lots of recommends and a tribute to Luciana Ricciutelli, always in our hearts. 

This week I give a shout out to authors Nate Hendley (The Beatle Bandit, Dundurn), Terri Favro (The Sisters Sputnik, ECW). Plus: do you suffer from abibliophobia, what’s the world’s smallest book, how much did the world’s most expensive book cost, how many books can you get from one tree, how Mills and Boon paved a crazy highway to romance, how long does it take to write a novel, which are the three most read books in the world, which is the most banned book as well as how many books are there in the world. Plus: I shine a spotlight on two fabulous artists, Fish Jones and John Bladen Bentley and I reveal ambitious plans for December!

Much ado about reviews and reviewers in this podcast! Question for reviewers: hard copy or PDF okay? The Twitterverse casts its vote! Goodreads are reviewing their reviewers - yay and it's about time! A great newsletter you should sign up for, a motivational quote, is life the spinning wheel of death and top tips from Instagram on how to write great horror! Don't miss out!

What do the readers love? I bring you some of the most popular book genres in 2021. But does writing in popular genres actually matters that much? Should you follow trends? Should you write children’s books, romance, horror or inspirational books? Plus, how to be a successful, popular author and are people sick of reading about death? Should we all be trying to write the next Ted Lasso? Do you have emotional maturity? Do you have radical empathy? Can therapy and meditation help you become a better writer?

Lots of great info this week! How to grow your writerly pumpkin patch this fall! Plus, an exclusive chat with wonderful author Linwood Barclay, as well as can you plot your book using an online template? I'll share the skinny about an amazing writer, D.J. McIntosh, who did just that! Plus, a crucial tip from a top agent about what to focus on in the book world!

Why did you buy the last book you did? And how can you use that knowledge to sell your own book (or buy your next book!). Plus, I chat about a fabulous writing collective, The Mesdames of Mayhem. Plus, what are The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful People and The Five Rules of Book Reviewing? I look at the good, the bad and ugly - all shall be revealed! Also, are we heading for a paper shortage and how will this impact the book publishing industry? Lots of great news in this episode!

Speaking of podcasts, are you watching "Only Murders in The Building", with Steven Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez? I'm Martin Short for sure, and I tell you why in the podcast! I look at the new language of the youth movement, empowerment, money and books, unleashing creativity with Osho, and I've added a new element to the podcast - sharing is caring - so there are two reviews! Plus there's breaking news about a law the French government is trying to pass, to stop Amazon's wild rampage.

Do you learn best by reading, writing or touching the fire? How you manage the social media minefield where you’re expected to know, understand and manage so many platforms? Do you find self promoting excruciating? And what’s worse, judgement or silence? Are there real guidelines on how to promote your book? What’s BookTok? Don’t forget to invest in yourself! How many times a day should you tweet without annoying people? How can you find out what works for you? Plus, a motivating quote and also, words from The Miramichi Reader/Weekly Ferocity and I’m pretty sure I pronounce Mirror-Ma-Chee incorrectly but maybe kind James Fisher will send me a cheat-sheet for next time!

Welcome back! What was Amazon going to be called before they settled on the moniker that changed our lives forever? And, what was their original product? Plus, have Amazon changed their (already dubious) review processes? I chat about a controversial tweet about books needing a timeout, Canada's non-fiction crisis, whether in fact you write a memoir or not and finally, should you write every day? I also share my one tried and tested secret to having ten published books!

Writers are dangerous people! I explain why. Also, there are snakes in the water but jump in anyway! Plus, fabulous writing prompts and who's the new Oprah when it comes to your ideal book reader? There's so much in this episode!

Do you love or hate Goodreads? And, if you're an author, does Goodreads love or hate you? How can you get reviews these days? Do you even want to? A bad review can be like someone sitting on a beautiful cake you've just baked! How so? Listen in!

Book launches strike fear into the hearts of the most hardened authors! Why? Listen in! Also, what are book blurbs and why do they matter? Maybe they don't but ask yourself this, are you a member of the 'blurboisie'?

On the importance of first lines (according to literary agents), author bios, passages that make us think, criteria for publishing non-fiction and how many books to CEO's really read a week? 

Welcome to six and a half minutes of buzzy snippets about reading, writing and publishing books. Amazon, friend or foe? Better to write twaddle than not? How much time does a writer really spend writing? Why write at all? Is there money to be made from writing? And so much more! I hope you'll join me for the start of a great adventure!