Introducing you to October Frights... Prepare for a Frightful Adventure.

Tomorrow kicks off one of my most anticipated times of the author year - it's the October Frights Blog Hop.

I love this blog hop for many reasons.
1) It marks the beginning of Halloween season for me.
2) I get to travel around the blogosphere and check out some really cool blogs that I might otherwise not get to discover.
3) I get to check in with old friends - many of whom I have known on social media for many years.
4) And this is probably the most important, I get to discover a whole host of new reading material for the winter months.

When it comes to books, I behave a little like a bear about to hibernate. Almost all of my reading gets done in two different periods of the year. The summer, when it's a time of holidays, beaches and hanging out in the park whilst the kids play - and then the winter, when the nights have drawn in, the fire is lit and the red wine is flowing.

I stock up on my summer reading mostly at UTOPiA, supporting my fellow authors and friends by purchasing their books, and in the winter, it's all about the darker side of things - of catching up with the releases my awesome horror folk have written over the year, and making my stockpile.

I thought it would be good if today, I shared the link to my fellow authors Blogs in the blogshop widget below, and it would give you a chance to take a little stroll around this world before the big event kicks off tomorrow.

October Frights is 5 days of celebrating everything we do as horror / paranormal writers - it's a chance to engage with new readers, share our work, and have good fun. Most authors are running some kind of giveaway over the course of the 5 days - but it's mostly about having fun and getting to know each other.

Please drop comments on the various blog posts - even if it's just a greeting sentence, and click on those beautiful little social media sharing icons that you'll find at the bottom of most blog posts.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see a lot more of you over the coming 5 days - I've got some really lovely, fun posts, quizzes, and conversation starters as well as a cute giveaway package.

An InLinkz Link-up

Bloggers and Authors: War & Peace.

This Friday I sent out some Twitter #FF love to some of my favourite Book Bloggers, spreading the love between this author and some amazingly supportive people who have helped me on my journey to selling thousands of copies of my book and helping me to personally connect with my readership.

I've read with some incredulity that there is (or certainly seems to be) a certain tension between Authors and Bloggers. I just don't understand this -  *head-desk*.  It's not an overt thing but every now and then there are mutterings on the old Twitter stream or in various posts; usually when some author/blogger drama is erupting.

There was one last week (purposely keeping out of that one) and out the old tension came, [sic] "Bloggers are evil" v "Writers are precious and precocious". To be fair there have been those spectacular circus-moments of social networking when some poor misguided author (I always assume to be intoxicated because they wouldn't surely commit such kamakaze self destruction otherwise) responds to a Blog Post about their book. These attacks are rare but excite a lot of valid criticism, but rare or not - they give a lasting impression. As we all know, it only takes one rotten apple to spoil the taste of the rest.

As a writer I've been involved in the on-line book community for over two years and I have to say I have had nothing but positive experiences. I've also been the beneficiary of some incredible generosity. That DOES NOT mean that I have never received a bad review or a cutting blog post about my work. Fortunately they have been few and far between (enough not for me to  knock my confidence or belief in my work). I always read all blogposts and reviews of my work; always with the humility before opening it that if they liked and loved it, then I am relieved and happy and if they didn't that is entirely their right.

Bloggers are people and it would be foolish and arrogant to assume that everybody you met in your day to day life fell in love with you - why is it any different for a blogger and your work?

Book blogging is a big commitment, it requires dedication, inspiration and effort. It has many rewards and is a great way of sharing and connecting with people, but every blog is the personal domain of the blogger and their opinions and critiques should not be censored because they are 'afraid' of booklash. (I meant to write backlash but I kind of like the pun)

There is no denying that a negative review, especially on a very successful and 'influencial' blog can be damaging to a writer's potential sales and it is incredibly galling if the reviewer has clearly misunderstood your work or clearly rushed / scanned the reading of it. Sometimes their review is biased by outside influences ie/ they don't like the genre

So whether a newbie (or intoxicated) may I offer this very-simple-never-to-be-broken rule: NEVER respond to a negative review or blog - never, not even to "inform of inaccuracies."

IF YOU MUST respond then do it positively: Find links to three of your most glowing reviews and Tweet and FB them. That way you can rest peaceful that you have regained control of the situation.

Finally but importantly THANK YOU to all those wonderful bloggers who have helped me on my journey and become good friends.