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FlaxFlower Reviews is one year old!

30/1/2015

It’s not a huge score as years go, but it’s an achievement worth noting because of its humble origins and what it has accomplished in that time.
Initially, I thought I’d do this for a year as part of my contribution to helping other New Zealand authors. We Kiwis need more exposure in our own country and internationally.
In one year 38 books have been reviewed and brought to the attention of further readers via the FlaxFlower page www.flaxroots.com/flaxflower
In most instances, the coverage has been increased through the reviews being reposted on other sites – within New Zealand and overseas. That’s encouraged, in case you’re wondering.
I couldn’t have achieved this without the generous help of all the reviewers who have offered their help and given their time over the past year. And by other blog-owners who have reposted. Thank you all!
Time to reassess. Requests for reviews are still coming in so, yes, I’ll keep it going for 2015.
If you’d like to help boost New Zealand books, and their authors, please do so by –

• Reading the reviews when they are posted
• Spread the news about the books to people you think will be interested – personally, by tweeting, facebook, etc. This is especially important if you’re an Author who has already used the service, or or hopes to do so in future. Please pay it forward and pay it back.
• If you buy one of the books and enjoy it, do share your thoughts about it so others learn of it too – by talking about it, posting a short review on sites such as Amazon.com or Goodreads.com Authors are so grateful when readers do this.

Wishing you a wealth of good reading throughout 2015.

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January 27th, 2015

27/1/2015

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How to thank an author

17/1/2015

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January. In New Zealand it’s high summer – beach days, picnics, great summer fruit and vegetables.
And, like everywhere else, time to assess the past year and to look forward. What did I do well? What not so well? They’re private lists so I won’t elaborate here.
A big consideration with me is how did I spend my time? Far too much on… Not enough on…
My self-reflection, prompted by a few notes, tells me I spent a fair chunk of time helping other people. That’s good, because it’s usually time well spent. I’m not sharing details, and not looking for kudos, awards, or applause. We all do our bit in different ways.
What’s more important in my self-assessment is who helped me, and how did I thank them? Was it enough? And appropriate? Which got me thinking.
Over the past year I’ve received thanks in the form of a variety of gifts. Flowers (nice), biscuits, chocolates & other treats (nice on the lips not on the hips), wine (um, I’m a teetotaller), and a variety of other material items. In each case I appreciated the thought behind the offering, but was embarrassed when people spent money unnecessarily on things I didn’t need.
I mentioned this to a writer friend. She understood – “Surely people know how to thank an Author!” There’s a very simple answer to that – we both know, and every writer in the world will agree. So here it is.

To thank an Author:
• Buy their book/s and read their work
• If you like it, tell others, and write a good review

Simple. Appropriate. Effective.
   It’s easy to do. It will probably cost you less than one of the other gifts too, especially if you have an e-reader.
   This person has spent their time helping you – doing the same by reading their book is appropriate.
   Give them something else and you’re rewarding someone else. By buying their book, you put your Author friend at the forefront of your action, as they did when they helped you.
   Believe me, it will be appreciated a lot more than any other gift.

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A year of reading

5/1/2015

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I hope 2015 has started well for you, and continues to do so!
Last year at this time (see Reading record #3, 3 January 2014) I wrote that during the previous 12 months I read 93 books.
     My total for 2014 is 75. A few down on the previous year, but I wasn’t trying for a record. As well as reading that many, I also wrote a new novel – but I'm still considering my options for that so more news about it at a later time.
     The 75 read in 2014 cover quite a range – deliberately, as I added some lighter novels than I’d usually read, a few of them because I know the authors and am interested to see their work. On the other hand I also reread some classic works – Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Miguel de Servantes Saavedra.
I keep a list with brief comments and from my records I find I rated 18 very good/excellent. A lot more are good, others okay, a few poor or awful.
     The 2015 list has begun already, with the first title added. I’m looking forward to reading a lot more really good books.
     And that’s my wish for you. May there be plenty of good reading in your year.

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FlaxFlower Reviews is one year old!

January 27th, 2015

How to thank an author

A year of reading

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