Tag: Goodreads

Tutorial – Using Goodreads Listopia to Your Advantage

This week’s Tuesday Tutorial is written by our own Melissa Pearl. Thank you, Melissa!

For those of you who haven’t spent much time on Goodreads, it is an amazing site. I love it. There are some fantastic features that benefit both authors and readers.

From a reading point of view, adding books to my “TO READ” list, totally rocks. It’s such an easy way to keep track of all those books I want to read.

Goodreads EXPLORE!Another feature that is really beneficial to both the reader and writer is LISTOPIA. You can find this by looking at the top of any page (if you’re logged in). You will see EXPLORE with a drop down menu. Listopia is first on the list.

This then takes you to a page where you can search for specific lists or see which ones are recommended based on your personal preferences (the types of books you’ve rated highly). Here is a direct link to the most popular lists.

Most people glance at the Top 10 – 20. This no doubt sparks reading ideas and multiple books are added to people’s “TO READ” lists.

This is where Listopia is completely brilliant for authors. Getting on one of these lists is simple. You can either Create Your Own List or you can find a list that suits your book and ask someone to add your book to it. Continue reading “Tutorial – Using Goodreads Listopia to Your Advantage”

Indies Unlimited Selected as Finalist in IBBA

Indies Unlimited has been named as a finalist in the Independent Book Blogger Awards. This competition was conducted under the aegis of Goodreads and the Association of American Publishers.

The announcement reads, “Goodreads and the Association of American Publishers are pleased to announce the winners of the first-ever Independent Book Blogger Awards. Designed to showcase the incredible talent working in the book blogging community today, this year’s award winners are standouts in their field.”

Goodreads reports that in this inaugural IBBA, 804 blogs were entered and nearly 10,000 members voted. Blogs could be entered in four categories: Adult Fiction; Adult Nonfiction; Young Adult & Children’s; and Publishing Industry. Indies Unlimited entered in the Publishing Industry category and  was named with 13 other blogs as a finalist in the category.

The winner in the Publishing Industry category Is Writer Beware, a well-known, respected, and valuable resource in the indie community. We are proud to have trod the same stage with them and extend our heartfelt congratulations and appreciation for all the team at Writer Beware does for the benefit of writers.

I founded Indies Unlimited October 6, 2011. I find it remarkable that a blog still less than a year old can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best. The credit for this lies with the outstanding team of writers here at Indies Unlimited and my co-administrator, Kat Brooks.

Thanks to all our readers, excellent guest contributors, and everyone who voted for us. We appreciate your support.

Goodreads Giveaway Tutorial

Author Laurie Boris
Author Laurie Boris

Last year, I attended a workshop given by a local published author on how to promote your book on social media. “Goodreads?” she sneered, in response to an audience member’s question about the site. “I don’t know anyone who’s on Goodreads.”

Uh…well, there are LOTS of people on Goodreads. And they love books. I mean, seriously love books. Some members of this community read hundreds of books a year. They talk about them. Review and rate them. Many blog about them.

Yeah, Goodreads can be buggy, like so many other social media sites, and isn’t the most intuitive place out there. But its many features outweigh the occasional glitch. For one, you can maintain a “bookshelf” of books you’re reading, have read, and plan to read, so you can make friends based on common interests and favorite books or authors. You can join a multitude of groups and grow into the community. Participate in a book club, and read and comment on the selection of the month. You can become “fans” of your favorite authors and follow their reviews and blogs. Continue reading “Goodreads Giveaway Tutorial”

Meet the Author: Krista Tibbs

Author Photo - Krista Tibbs
Author Krista Tibbs

Krista Tibbs grew up in northern Maine and migrated south to Tennessee. Her former career in the Boston biotechnology industry and stint at the Executive Office of the President in Washington, DC provided the basis for her first novel, The Neurology of Angels.

She has studied people and the fun side of life while playing piano for theater groups, swing dancing, tutoring, and debating politics with family, and enjoys taking up odd projects that make her father sigh and shake his head. She is currently working with an artist on an illustrated book of animal stories for grown-ups, to be released by summer 2012. It will include an ode to sheep. Continue reading “Meet the Author: Krista Tibbs”