Helen Quinn's Page

Hey! I noticed you were a member of the group Follow Mine, I'll Follow Yours.

I was hoping we could do a follow swap.I follow your blog and you follow mine.

If you would like to do this, comment on my page and leave your blog link there.

Here's mine: http://thekookybookworm.blogspot.com/

Hi-

I am new here and just wanted to see if you could help me out and follow my book review blog:

http://myaddictionisreading.blogspot.com/

If you follow me, I will return the favor.

Thanks,

Cami

First I think you need to take reviews with a pinch of salt and look very carefully at the reviewer, advise from trusted readers is different, good editorial advice is worth while, so don't let negative reviews get to you, Amazon if full of negative unintelligent reviews on books that are otherwise hugely successfull and critically acclaimed.  Remember a number of now highly successful books were originally repeatedly knocked back. 

The whole vampire thing seems to have appeal to a particular type of reader, I have to admit that in conversations with young adult readers I use the Twilight books to get them to think a bit more critically about what they are reading and how women are portrayed, the kids end up shocked at how negative and poorly written those books actually are.  Vampire fiction is a kind of cultural valium so I wouldn't worry to much about that market.  Post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction has huge appeal with young adults at the moment but they seem to prefer really dark stories, which says a lot about how they see the world, your book may have appeal to these kids but they have a fairly bleak world view and because of the incident driven nature of modern entertainment they seek out strong action driven plot.

I would love to read your book but I couldn't promise to get to it until easter.  Do you have access to a local writers group at all or even a local library where one of the librarians might be able to read your novel and give you some feedback.  Writing is such a hard thing to do, you sweat blood over it and then the last thing you need is unthinking criticism.

I just thought of an Australian blog that has an interest in independent and speculative fiction that might also be interested in your novel, it might be a good idea to see if they would read it and promote it, the link;http://bookishardour.com/

If you would like me to read your novel and don't mind waiting a few weeks for me to get back to you let me know, sorry I have been slow in replying. 

As a fellow aussie I thought I would say hi!  I looked at your web site and while I am interested in your book I would be interested in reading a sample chapter or at least a couple of sample pages, it might be worth your while to make that available on the web site for potential readers, just an idea.   Am I correct in assuming it is a post apocalyptic story with a bit of a positive bent rather than just another dystopia story?  Just had a very quick look while snatching a few free moments, hope I didn't miss anything and have just asked an incredibly stupid question?

Arabella

Hi Helen and welcome!

Have you been receiving many welcome messages lately? Bet you’re overwhelmed! Well, one more won’t hurt, right? We are one lively bunch here at Book Blogs…and now you’re part of it! Hope you enjoy the network as much as I do. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know. Also, when you have the time, please check out my blog at irregulartherapy.blogspot.com and website at www.irregulartherapy.com.

Best!

Ron

Hi! Welcome to Book Blogs—if you are in the oftentimes horrific proposal / query letter process and are hunting for that elusive agent OR… if you have decided to go the ebook way…then join me at The Agent Challenge. After all, the proposal process isn’t just for agents. A proposal is your marketing strategy! Also, I’m giving away the 2012 big book of agents or a book from one of our mentors. Drawing from followers at the end of February!

http://www.theagentchallenge.blogspot.com

Hello and welcome!  It's hard to believe, but I've been on here almost a year, but when I first started I found it immensely comforting and helpful to get a few hellos, so thought I'd share a few.  :)  There's a lot going on around here - some of it confusing, some daunting, but mostly all helpful.  If I can ever help, let me know!

Also, if you have a second, check out my blog (shameless self-promo plug here, sorry, but that's what we authors do right?!) - www.Jill-Elizabeth.com.  I usually have a giveaway or two, book reviews, interviews, thoughts on reading/writing, and occasionally even a few of my own scribbles.  Hope to see you - and am happy to check out your site if you send a link!  

Good luck - 

jill

What a fascinating story. I tried to leave a comment on your website but the technology decided to reject me. I can't wait to read your book, it sounds truly captivating. Very similar to my own in fact... You can find out more about me at:http://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com

Gwynneth White

Hi Helen :) That's wasn't a dumb question. I recently changed my blog and forgot to add an email subscription box. I've just corrected that. You can follow through email or click on the RSS icon. Scroll to the buttom of my blog to find both.