Hi *waves & shouts Happy Hump Day!* My name is Jamie Ayres and I’m a bookaholic. If you are too, then you’ve come to the right place!
My friend, Amy, shared this with me on FB–too funny!
*Clears throat and adjusts microphone on the podium* One great thing about life is that it’s full of second chances. This is a brand-new day, a whole new beginning, and I’m lucky to be able to call upon friends and family to support me!
I have to confess . . . the release of my debut coming of age novel, 18 Things, did not go as well as a I hoped. So now, eight months later, when my publisher offered to make some amendments to it, including clickable links at the end of several chapters, I was very excited! There are ten quotes they picked out to be featured at the end of some chapters, and you can click on a link in the ebook that posts it directly to either Twitter or Facebook!
The chapters without a quote to share still had a page break between each chapter that looked a bit jarring, so we took some of the Literature Circle Questions from the back of the book and added them to the back of the corresponding chapters. As much as I try to turn it off, I was and still am a teacher first. I know firsthand how hard teachers work to provide the most engaging novels they can find, and I wanted to make their job a bit easier with these questions. Of course, even if you aren’t a teacher or student, I hope these questions provide the perfect bonus material for making your 18 Things journey a thoroughly gratifying, enriching, and most of all, interesting read. If you’ve read 18 Things, you know how much I adore quotes. One of my favorites is by Harper Lee: “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.”
Now that the book has been updated and book #2, 18 Truths, has been written and going through edits, I need blog reviewers for a blog review tour to create some buzz before the sequel is released! If you’ve already read 18 Things, I hope you’ll send me your details so I can have my publisher’s tour organizer hook you up! If not… jump in! I’ll supply you with an e-copy for your Kindle or Nook, and you will go in the running to win autographed paperbacks of both 18 Things and 18 Truths with some cool swag when it releases!
If you don’t have a blog, but you’re reading mine (thank you), would you be willing to post a review on Goodreads if you’re a member or even Amazon or Barnes & Noble?
And finally, if you’ve already reviewed 18 Things and hope to review 18 Truths BEFORE it releases, please let me know that as well 🙂 It won’t release until January 2014, but if you suffer from bookaholism like me, then you also have a MASSIVE pile of books on your TBR list . . . so I’m trying to give you a four month timeframe here. And if you don’t think you can do it by then, well, you’re just sick and you need to get a grip on your TBR problem. Seriously *shakes head in shame*
I’m excited about the release of book #2, but I’m also anxious and afraid. Authors bleed onto the page and live for ‘word of mouth’ stuff. I want my release for book #2 to be bigger and better, so I’m trying to be more organized. Hopefully, I’ve learned a thing or two! Hopefully, you have a tip or two to share with me!! I don’t know everything yet *Hears everyone out in cyberspace yelling one collective “DUH!”*
THANKS ALL, and don’t think I won’t return the favor for any of you . . . just let me know what I can do! After all, that’s why we’re part of the Alex’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group. See ya back here the first Wednesday of November! Don’t forget we have our own Twitter hashtag to keep in touch between now & then: #IWSG. Also, who’s excited about the new IWSG website? I know I am!!!
P.S. For those inquiring about where the “About the Author” section was, it’s also been added to the back of the book in the new amendment. So now when I see random middle schoolers reading my book at the post office and I tell them I’m the author, they won’t run away screaming from me because I can prove I AM the author. Okay, that’s a lie. They’ll probably still run screaming from me . . . I have that kind of effect on people.
Okay, that’s all. But don’t forget to let me know if you want to review 18 Things or 18 Truths *stares expectantly* Don’t worry, I won’t go all Kayne West on you and start a major twitter rant if you don’t volunteer 🙂 Okay, I really must go now. I’m suffering from major book withdrawal . . . happens after I haven’t read a page for an hour *wipes drool off keyboard*
Bye!
Jamie Ayres 
Wow! A lots been happening. Glad to see the expansion around 18 Things – so exciting. I’d be honored to do a review on 18 Truths on my blog. Just let me know if, when, how or whatever.
Thanks for the offer, Tonja! I’ll jot ya down on my list :-0
So, I’ve just suggested 18 Things at the Renaissance site! I intended to review 18 Things on my blog over the summer, and looking back realized I never did…but will do so within the next month or two. If you’d like me to then review 18 Truths, in say December, I’d be so happy to do so. I did write a quickie review on Goodreads already. I will put a review up on Amazon when I review on my blog.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank YOU!!!
I know exactly how you feel – my debut release didn’t go as well as I hoped, and I’m experiencing all kinds of chaos in the run-up to my second (next week!) – so I can definitely identify with anxiety about word-of-mouth and buzz! And I’m excited for the IWSG website, too!
I haven’t read 18 Things yet, but I’d love to review it for the tour! My email’s memzi@live.co.uk if you have mobi copies available. 🙂
Awesome, Emma! I’ll send soon . . . and I’ll look for your book next week!
Congratulations on completing your second book! I’m right there with you on the AR situation. I made a quiz for MYSTIC for some schools but I’m still hoping to get it officially into the AR program. I’m happy to help you. Let me know if you want me to do an interview or review on my blog. My email is Kristarausin@earthlink.net. I’ll look for the IWSG on Twitter and request 18 Things for AR. Krista 🙂
Thanks so much . . . I’ll request your book as well 🙂
Adding those links sounds cool! Just keep at it, Jamie. When the next book comes out, both will do better, The books feed off each other. (Trust me – I’m seeing that happen right now!)
Hope your book makes it into the program. Wish that was an area I had time to explore.
Thanks for the encouragement, Alex . . . I do hope you’re right!
The links sound really cool. Best of luck to you…it will all come together and be great! 🙂
I haven’t heard of anyone else doing links yet . . . so hoping the feedback will be positive!
How cool! I hope the AR thing works out. 😀
Me toooo!!
I submitted your book to the AR peeps. If you’d like to submit The Grave Winner, that would be awesome. 🙂 My blog is wide open for 18 Truths. Hit me up!
Submitting The Grave Winner! Thanks for your continuing support 🙂
YOU ROCK!
The links are such a unique idea! Wishing you lots of success Jamie!
I would be happy to read and review 18 Truths. It sounds interesting, and I like YA and MG. Do you send out copies? email me at mary.aalgaard@yahoo.com. You’re doing great!
Forming an Accelerated Quiz was a great idea. I had Teacher Study Guides for my series although I never did a lot with them.
You’ve been busy. I’m impressed. Good luck with it all, Jamie.
Thanks for visiting, so that I could meet you in blogland.
xoRobyn
That’s awesome that you got an opportunity to improve your book. I am drowning just now or I would offer to help out.
Wow, you sure are busy. All the best with the writing, as I know you are working really hard. Thank you so much for visiting my blog.
I love that the updated version of your book now has bonus features. That’s a great advantage of e-books over print books.
Don’t go all Kanye West on us now. LOL
How cool about the AR requesting. I will see what I can do on that.
I filled out the form-thingy. I hope it helps. I have trouble with these with my reading0voracious son. Not all the books he reads are tied in with those quizzes he has to read to get “credit” for reading books. It’s a pest. Good luck!
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