Hardcover Lover Confessions (13)

Hardcover Lover Confessions is one of two regularly posted discussion post features on The Hardcover Lover.

In the Hardcover Lover Confession posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing the issue with everyone else. It's a really fun way to get some bookish confessions off your chest.

There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Sometimes, an issue just eats away at me until I finally decide to write a post. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. There could even be a month when I don't post a Hardcover Lovers Confessions at all. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (12)

Hardcover Lover Confessions (or HCL Confessions) is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In the posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing that comment with one another.

There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (11)

Hardcover Lover Confessions (or HCL Confessions) is a discussion post feature on The Hardcover Lover. In the posts, I confess bookish habits, thoughts, or other random things with my readers, and then I encourage everyone to start discussing that comment with one another.

There really isn't an order as to when I post my Confessions - I kind of come up with them when an issue arises or a thought pops into my head. Ergo, there could be one a month or there could be a few a month. It just all depends on what's going on in the book community or how I feel.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (10)

Hello there, Hardcover Lover readers! By now, HCL Confessions are a pretty important part of my blog, and I'm sure many of you have now become a little more acquainted with the discussion feature.

In case you're not familiar with it, I'll briefly explain what it is. Basically, every few weeks or so (or whenever an issue arises), I take a bookish subject and write about it. I'll confess my thoughts or worries, ergo Hardcover Lover Confessions.

I'm encouraging all of my followers, and even non-followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Seriously... we'd all love to hear what you have to say because everyone has an opinion! It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (9)

Hello there, Hardcover Lovers! I'm sure many of you have now become a little more acquainted with my discussion feature, HCL Confessions. In case you're not familiar with it, I'll briefly explain it. Basically, every few weeks or so, I take a bookish subject and write about it. I'll confess my thoughts or worries, ergo Hardcover Lover Confessions.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Seriously... we'd all love to hear what you have to say because everyone has an opinion! It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on Assigned School Reading

I'm sure you all had a feeling this this one was coming when you consider the fact that I'm an English teacher. Right? Okay, okay. Even if you didn't know this post was coming, it's here.

We've all been there... even though we love reading for fun, sometimes the thought of reading a book for school can be daunting or drive you crazy. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't like everything that I read in English classes. Sometimes the books are good and keep you interested, but other times... not so much.

Today, I'm here to share some of my favorite and least favorite assigned readings.

Least Favorite School Reads:

• Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt - This was a book that was assigned to me in eighth grade, and I just remember dreading class when we were reading it. I felt like it was boring back then. 
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - GASP! I guess I should tell you that eighth grade was a bad year for me, and it really affected who I was as a student. I didn't enjoy reading this one either. I do plan on revisiting this book in the future because I don't understand how I didn't like it.

Favorite School Reads:

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - I loved reading this book during my junior year of high school, even though we had to rush it. It's just one of those books that I'll treasure forever because I loved the setting, plot, and the characters. It was magical the first time around, and then years later, in college, it was even more magical.
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - I didn't think I'd like this book when it was assigned during my junior year of high school, but I loved it for showing me that all people have flaws, and that it's okay. The story had me on the edge of my seat, and I'd love to teach this book in the future.
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Umm, can you say best assigned reading ever!? There's just so much symbolism in this one, and it's beautiful and comical. I loved reading it, and I am currently loving re-reading and teaching it.
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Okay, technically this one is a play, but it's probably my favorite thing I ever read while I was in school. (It's also another book from my junior year.) It's also my favorite work that I've taught in my short teaching experience. I'd love to have a chance to teach this if I ever get a full time job because there is just so much to do with this stunning play.
• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - During my senior year, we had a new teacher, and while we didn't read the whole thing (we read bits and pieces), I remember loving this book. I am definitely going to make sure that I reread this one before I die.
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare - I don't know why, but this was my favorite Shakespeare play back in high school. It was just fun to read, and I remember reading ahead of everyone because I was just loving it.
• The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare - This was a play that I read during my Shakespeare class in college, and I loved it. It's my all-time favorite Shakespeare play because it's just realistically hilarious, and I recommend this one to everyone!

Your Confessions

Now I want to hear from you! The school year is almost over, so I'm sure many of you who are in school probably have a lot to say about what you read this year. And for those of you who are no longer in school, I'm sure some titles from your teenage years stick out as being great reads or ones that made you want to skip school.

Let me know about your favorite and least favorite assigned readings in the comments. We can even keep track of how many times people respond with the same books!

Oh, and happy summer vacation!

Hardcover Lover Confessions (8)

Welcome back to Hardcover Lover Confessions, everyone! I know, I know... it's been a while since my last HCL Confessions post, but remember I said I'd only post them when the occasion felt right? Well, that's kind of how this post came to be - I felt like I needed to address this issue.

I'm sure you're all familiar with how these confessionals/discussion posts work. I get an idea. I write a post with my thoughts or confessions, and then you (like everybody and anybody) can join in and discuss your thoughts with me and the other commenters and bloggers.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to before! Don't be afraid to leave a comment at all, even if you've never commented on any of my posts before. I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing, and that you might even make a new friend after commenting.

HCL Confession on Beta Reading

This post has been brewing for a while now, and it's just now coming to fruition for me. So please forgive me if this post is a little rough. You might know by now that when I get fired up, I get really fired up. I'm just passionate about things, and I guess this is one of those things.

A few weeks ago, I saw something online about readers charging authors for beta reading services. The lovely people of the book blogging community voiced their concerns, and it looked like it was dying off. I think I even retweeted a few of the Tweets about it, me taking the side of not charging. But then I started noticing links being posted everywhere on Twitter and on blogs about the very same thing. Uh oh...

So I guess that I charging authors for beta reading services has become a thing. Um, no! Like hell no! That is just wrong!  I can't even believe that this is happening. I'm very against this idea of amateur bloggers charging authors to read a draft. Beta readers should not be paid because they aren't typically professionals. In my opinion (and a quick internet search shows that a lot of people agree with me on this one), beta reading should be a free service provided to an author by peers and/or friends. Up until recently, I really thought that the established definition of beta reading was free service done by peers. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that.)

Simply put: Beta readers are "typically unpaid" for their services.

Why, Erin? Well... because it's the right thing to do! Would you charge your friend to read over a draft of their final paper? No. You would read it and give suggestions and feedback for free because you know that your friend would most likely do the same thing for you. (Hello... that's why you often see blurbs on book covers from other authors - peer reading. ) Keep in mind, most beta readers are not professional editors who have gone to school and studied the ins and outs of grammar and publishing. A beta is getting a first look at a rough to slightly edited and revised piece of literature and is giving feedback based on what's been written.

Have you beta read, Erin? The answer to that is yes, but I don't do it often. When I first started blogging, a college friend of mine sent me an ARC of one of his books. I read it, and reviewed it. A few months later, he contacted me again to beta read a short story that he will be publishing in the future. Even though I had never beta read anything before, I knew that my reading of something could help my friend in the long run. I kindly read his story and gave him feedback as to what I liked and didn't like and how I felt it matched up with the book it would be a companion to. That's it. End of story. Short and sweet.

So do I think it's wrong that bloggers and reviewers are charging for beta reading services? Yes. A million times yes, especially if you aren't a professional editor. It's not often that I think I should tell people what to do, but in this case, I just can't even deal with the fact that I'm seeing bloggers and reviewers trying to charge authors to beta read. Leave it to the pros. If you're interested in beta reading, please do it the right way; don't charge.

What Do You Think?

I want to hear from you! Did  you know about beta reading and beta readers before reading this post? Have you ever beta read something? Do you agree with me that beta reading is a free service or have you charged an author to beta read their work?

Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions with me and everyone else, but please be courteous to everyone. Any and all rude or harassing comments will be deleted.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (7)

Welcome back to Hardcover Lover Confessions, everyone!

By now, I'm hoping that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions. These posts are kind of like discussion posts, wherein I share a little bookish secret or two of mine. Every few weeks (or whenever I find something I want to share), I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to before! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing, and that you might even make a new friend after commenting.

HCL Confession on Dog-Eared Books

Here's something that people might not know about me - I hate seeing when people dog-ear books! Gasp! I just find it cringe-worthy to see someone purposefully deface a book. Strangely, I didn't always feel that way...

When I was a senior in high school, my English class was reading Tuesdays with Morrie. As usual, everybody got a copy of the book to take to and from class. One day, we were reading silently because our teacher needed to grade some of our stuff. When the bell rang, I gathered up my things. I was the last person to leave class, and of course, I was busted folding the page. My teacher wasn't mad, but she wasn't happy. She handed me a bookmark and told me that I was only ruining the book if I dog-eared it. I haven't folded down a page on a book since that day.

Before that moment, I'd never really given dog-eared pages much thought. I didn't have an extensive book collection then, and if I didn't have a bookmark, I'd just fold down the page. Now I'm pretty anal about trying to keep my books in pristine condition, but I LOVE finding used books with dog-eared pages. Weird? Yeah... I'd say so. But... I'm kind of a freak.

What Do You Think?

Now I want to hear your thoughts on dog-eared pages. Are you okay with folding down a page to mark your place or when you find a quote or passage that you really enjoy? Does seeing a dog-eared page make you cringe like me? What do you think of my weird habit of finding dog-eared books? Do you prefer to fold a page or a bookmark?

Feel free to leave a comment to let me know, and be sure to interact with everyone else who comments. I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who have some of the same habits as you, so don't be shy - say hi!

Hardcover Lover Confessions (6)

Hey there, Hardcover Lovers! If you've been around for a while, you probably know that I started a discussion post feature not too long ago, and that it's called Hardcover Lover Confessions (HCL Confessions for short).

If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts. I know some of the topics that I'll be discussing have been discussed before, but I haven't really had a chance to talk about bookish things on my blog.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. Seriously... we'd love to hear what you have to say because everyone has an opinion! It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on Book Hauls

Back before I started blogging, I would go book shopping every few months and pick a few new titles. This was pretty manageable for me. If I finished those new books, I'd usually just go to a thrift store or Half Price Books to look for more books to read.

When I started blogging, I became completely immersed in the world of buying books. My first book haul wasn't so bad, but then I started buying books like they were going out of style. It was bad. I'd end up with a Book Outlet coupon and buy boxes full of books. Sometimes I'd even make two or three Book Outlet orders in a week. I'd go to my local Half Price Books and fill multiple baskets. I even went to a Half Price Books across town to look for books that mine didn't have. Why? Because everyone else was buying books and sharing them with their readers, and I wanted to do that too. I wanted to share my new books with my readers.

It's ridiculous to see the shelves and piles of unread books that I have now because I wanted to be in with the "in-crowd" in the Book Blogosphere. I'm not saying that I don't think people shouldn't post their book hauls, but I do think we've become a culture that is too obsessed with having the latest and greatest of everything. But seriously... when am I going to find time to read those books, especially when I have some ARCs to read? The truth is, that I probably won't, and I'll sadly end up parting with a few before I get to read them. I still buy books (and pre-order upcoming titles), but not as many, and I try to read about ten books before I buy any more.

Looking back, I was being wasteful. I spent money like I was rich, which I'm not, and if I could turn back time, I would go back and stop myself from buying all those books. I'd find a way to make myself more frugal.

I'm sure you've also noticed that I stopped posting "Stacking the Shelves" posts around Christmastime. I did this for personal reasons. I felt like I was showing off in those posts, and despite being a Leo, I don't like to be a showoff (but sometimes it's gets the better of me and I am a showoff). I also realized that I was feeling envious when I saw all the books that other bloggers and readers were buying or getting as gifts because I wanted to buy more and more. I didn't want to make anyone feel that way about me. I don't think "Stacking the Shelves" or book haul memes are a bad thing, but they aren't for me. To be honest, I rarely even read them.

Your Confessions

I know this HCL Confession was very personal and I realize that not everyone will agree with me, but I want to hear your thoughts on this matter. Have you ever felt caught up and bought more books than you should have? Are you a person who buys dozens of books at a time? Are you a person who only buys books as you can read them? Do you load up on eBooks because they are cheaper? What are your book buying habits?

Feel free to leave a comment, and take the floor and discuss your book buying habits (good or bad). Your opinion can be opposite of mine or others, but please be courteous with your comments.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (5)

Hey there, everyone! By now, I hope that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions. This is my fifth HCL Confessions post, and I've found that people seem to be enjoying them.

If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on ARC Envy:

ARCs - (n.) advance reader/review copies; galley copies of books that are soon to be published that are sent to reviewers and bloggers for review purposes

related terms - eARCs, galley

Recently, people have been asking me a lot of crazy questions about my blog. Most of them are about ARCs and how I get them. Unfortunately, a few people have admitted to me that they are  jealous that certain bloggers are sent physical ARCs. A few people just want to start blogs for the ARCs. I understand feeling jealous sometimes, but I do not understand starting a blog just for free books. It's absurd, and that's not why book bloggers do what they do. We're here because we all share a love for reading.

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the Twitter discussions on ARC Envy because it's literally been a huge issue within the book blogosphere. So what is ARC Envy? Well it's pretty simple. People get jealous of bloggers who have been granted access to digital galleys or sent physical ARCs. Things have been getting out of hand. People are extremely angry that some bloggers are able to obtain ARCs - so mad that they have pretty much thought that just because they also blog, they deserve these books. Here's the thing: ARCs are a privilege, not a right.

I'm sure that many of you already know that you just won't be sent ARCs because you already have a book review blog. Some people unfortunately don't know that. Being sent ARCs is a tricky business, and it all depends on the books and publishers. I won't speak for publishing houses, but all of them have their own preferences. They might send one blogger one ARC but another blogger might not be sent it. Why? They want to make sure that they are sending these ARCs to people who will read and review them, and most of the time, it's to bloggers who they trust.

Trust me. I don't get all of the ARCs that I request. It's all about waiting and doing your time. But the ARC Envy needs to stop. There are ways that you can prevent this:

1. Do not create a blog just for the ARCs - Mostly everyone who has a book blog keeps one because they love reading and sharing their thoughts with others. Many people do not wake up and create a book blog because they know that ARCs will be involved because that's not the case. Book bloggers are here for the community.
2. Only request ARCs that you want to read - When you've reached a certain point (usually around six months of active blogging), you can start to request ARCs. You should only request books that you want to read. If you get an ARC and decide not to read it, you're essentially taking it away from a reviewer who would have read and reviewed it. Advance reviews generate buzz, so it's best to pass on a book if you won't read and review it before it's published.
3. Sign up for an ARC tour - There are certain groups and authors that send out ARCs through snail mail. You don't get to keep the ARC, but you will be allotted a certain time to read it before sending it to another person. 
4. Enter giveaways - Goodreads always has giveaways, and many of these books are ARCs. This is how I got my first few ARCs, and it's nice, especially if you are just starting your blog.
5. Don't ask someone you don't know to send you their ARCs - I've had this happen. It's true that some bloggers (including me) will share their ARCs with other bloggers (if permitted by the publisher), but you can't just ask someone you don't really know to send you one. I'm all for sharing, but I share with the right people. I want to make sure that I get my ARCs back and that someone won't just steal them, so that's why I only share with my blogging friends or with trusted groups.
6. Do not engage in ARC drama - Too many times, I've heard about this happening. If you don't get an ARC, don't badmouth the author or publisher. It only makes you look bad, and it will probably cost you any ARCs in the future because you don't look professional.
7. Do not buy ARCs from other bloggers - This is something new I've noticed on Twitter and Instagram. People are selling their ARCs after they are done with them. This is illegal! They say "NOT FOR SALE" on the cover for a reason. Do not purchase any ARCs from another blogger because they are breaking the law. You should really report them to the publisher of that book. 

Now I want to hear from you! How do you prevent ARC envy? Have you ever had a case of it? What did you do to prevent ARC envy? Do you have any other tips to share with other bloggers?

Feel free to leave comments and share your thoughts, but please be kind, courteous, and professional. I don't want to see anyone naming names or calling out other bloggers.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (4)

Hello, everyone! I hope that you've become a little more acquainted with my new every-once-in-a-while feature, Hardcover Lover Confessions.

If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.

I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships.  Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.

HCL Confession on DNFing Books:

Before I joined the book blogging world, I didn't really think about not finishing a book. If I wasn't enjoying a book, I would leave a bookmark in it, and make a promise to myself that I would one day finish it. After a few weeks, that book, with the bookmark still intact, would just end up on my shelf, never to be touched again.

A few years ago, things started to change. If I knew I would never finish the book, I would stop reading and pretend like I had never started the book. Eventually those books would make their way to Half Price Books or thrift stores. Obviously, I was sad, but I didn't want to waste my time.

You see... before I was a book blogger, I was embarrassed if I didn't finish a book. Now I'm a little more neutral. I still don't like putting a book down permanently, but I understand that it's okay. Plus, I know that there are others out there with the same tastes as me. If I can help them, awesome. If not, that's okay too. Still, I don't want to waste my time reading something I don't like, but there are still some times when I force myself to finish a really bad book. I guess old habits die hard.

These days, I'm more actively reading other book blogs. I've noticed a lot of DNF reviews or blurbs than I did in the past when I would browse a few blogs once a week. If I've DNFed the same book or a book by that author, I actually take the time to read them and fully understand them, especially if I know that another blogger and I have similar taste in books. If I haven't read the books yet, I take a mental note of the DNF reviews I see, especially if the review/blurb is posted by someone who likes the same kinds of books. Those reviews help me decide what books I won't be buying.

Sometimes I feel extremely awkward when I write a DNF review. I feel like people will judge me for not finishing a book. But I understand that there are going to be people out there who love that book, and then there will be people like me who didn't enjoy it. It's okay to share your thoughts with the world on a book you didn't finish as long as it's done respectfully. Other times, I simply just go to Goodreads and leave a DNF review instead of writing one for my blog.

Going along with my last HCL Confession... I would never bash a book simply because I didn't like it or didn't finish it. I take the time to consider the reasons why I didn't finish the book. I then write a professional review. I even include some things from the book that I did enjoy to let my readers know that there were some good parts, but just not enough to keep me interested.

So... What are your thoughts on not finishing a book? Have you ever done it? Have you written DNF reviews or blurbs? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments with me and with other bloggers.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (3)

Hardcover Lover Confessions is a new, every-once-in-a-while feature that I'll be posting on my blog. It's a way for me to express and discuss my thoughts and opinions on news and events I come across in the book blogging world. It's also a way for me to get to know my followers better. Everyone is more than welcome to join the conversations that we start and get talking. We'd love to know what you're thinking, but if I see that you're being abusive, I will delete all of your comments, and you will be asked to never comment on HCL Confessions ever again.

I won't be posting a HCL Confession every week, but I will be posting these little discussion posts when I find that I have something to share with the book blogosphere.

HLC Confession on Author Behavior

It's no surprise that in this day and age, authors are an online presence through social media - Websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Goodreads. All of these websites are wonderful tools that authors can use to reach out to their readers and for readers to reach out to an author. It's like heaven for book publishing. I've met and talked to so many awesome authors through Twitter and Goodreads. It's a wonderful feeling when one of your favorite authors responds to you, and it makes you feel important in such a large world.

There is also the downside to being on social media, and please don't put words in my mouth on this because this is no way any kind of an accusation. Authors, like everyone else, need to be careful of what they put on the Internet. I might seem like a teacher for this, but whatever, I am a teacher. Once you post something on the Internet, it's there forever. Even if something is deleted, you still have to worry about it being cached or someone else re-posting it. That's why it makes me so sad to see when an author does something unprofessional on the Internet. It's one hundred percent avoidable, but when it happens, it can, and it probably will spread like wildfire.

Now I'm not going to name names in this post because I don't want to start anything with any authors, but I'm sure some of you will remember some of the crazy stuff that's happened in the book blogging world lately. Some of them have been pretty bad and illegal, and others have been just downright stupid. The sad thing is that only a few authors are posting upsetting and unprofessional things online. It's not every single author, and many authors are upset when they see their colleagues do something wrong. But those few who get angry and make a post when they are "in the moment" really make online book reviewers feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. I'm in no way saying that an author shouldn't have feelings - they are human - but they definitely need to be careful online.

The fact that authors lose their cool and do something unprofessional is just sad. So many authors are extremely savvy and they realize that online reviewers are a huge part of the publishing process, whether they read an advance copy or not. It's great to see when they support reviewers, and even a few of them reach out to people who didn't like their books to simply see why without accusing them of attacking them or starting dramatics. This is how I think it should be. Being professional will get you so far in life. I'm even more likely to read a book by someone who conducts him or herself professionally online, even if I disliked a book by them before. 

My question is actually very simple. Why aren't publicists guiding their clients to be more professional online? It's not very hard to shoot someone an email to tell them that they've crossed a line. 

Now... what can you do if you find yourself upset over author behavior? Well there are a few things. 

• Do not retaliate - It's hard not to do this if you feel like you've been victimized, but don't do anything that can damage your reputation as a reviewer. You can try emailing the author or the publisher if you see something damaging about yourself from an author online. If it's something more general and applied to the blogging community, just learn to ignore it or mark the book or author as someone you won't read.
• Don't make fun of an author - It just makes you look bad and very unprofessional.
• Delete the book from your Goodreads shelves or cancel your pre-orders - It's always tough to see an author do something damaging online before his or her book is published. If it offended you enough, you can cancel any pre-orders for those books that you might have placed.
• Try emailing the publisher - Publishers and publicists aren't always policing their clients' online accounts. There just isn't enough time, and there are so many authors. If enough people bring attention to it, something might be said to the author to warrant an apology.
• Submit NetGalley feedback - If you had an eARC and an author has done something upsetting, send feedback on NetGalley. This can be done on the bottom of the feedback page. Keep it professional, but let the publisher know why you won't be reading the title.
• Be careful with Goodreads reviews - When an author knows he or she made a mistake, he/she will be on the lookout for bad reviews on Goodreads. Don't attack the author in your review. Be honest and professional. If you had an ARC but are no longer interested in reading it, say something simple like "I was given an ARC but am no longer interested." It will keep you out of trouble.

So... what are your thoughts on online author behavior? Do you think there should be a way for us to reach out to authors if they've done something offensive without starting a war? Who are some of your favorite authors who conduct themselves in great ways? Have you ever seen an author post something that just makes you shake your head?

PLEASE DO NOT NAME ANY NAMES IN THIS POST. IF YOU DO, YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED. YOU WILL ALSO BE ASKED NOT TO COMMENT ON HCL CONFESSIONS AGAIN.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (2)

Hardcover Lover Confessions is a new, every-once-in-a-while feature that I'll be posting on my blog. It's a way for me to express and discuss my thoughts on things I come across in the book blogging world, but also a way for me to get to know my followers better. Everyone is more than welcome to join the conversations and get talking.

I won't be posting a HCL Confession every week, but I will be posting them when I find that I have something to share with the book blogosphere. They might be about blogging news, or even about a book that I might have disliked even though it's popular. Bottom line - anything and everything can be discussed. I encourage you to join in the conversations, and leave comments. You can even suggest topics for a HCL Confession. All I ask is that you be respectful if you disagree with my opinions.

HCL Confession on Disliking Popular Books:

I'm sure we've all been there because I've seen this topic discussed before. Everyone is talking about the same book, and it seems like just about everyone loves it. The problem? You don't. It's hard not to feel like the black sheep in the book world when you're in this situation.  It seems like it's you against the world. What's a reader to do?

I've been in this situation more than a few times, and let me tell you... it's tough. For the longest time, I was even afraid to talk about my feelings on one particular book because I saw how brutal things got for people who disliked popular books on Goodreads. I still see bloggers saying that people have sent hateful comments because they have a different opinion. Why would I subject myself to that situation over one book? I quietly gave the book a one star rating, and quickly changed my Goodreads profile settings so people who weren't friends with me couldn't comment on the review. 

But why live in fear? We're all entitled to our own opinions, right? Why should I fear that someone might call me out? Eventually, I posted the review for said book on my blog, and I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. And the best part... not one person said anything terrible about me disliking the book!

Have you ever felt like an oddball because you hated a book that everyone else loved? Were you ever afraid of posting a review on your blog or on Goodreads because of it? Feel free to discuss with me or with other bloggers in the comments.

Hardcover Lover Confessions (1)

So today, I'm starting a new feature on my blog, called Hardcover Lover Confessions (HCL Confessions). It was inspired by a feature that I used on my old (non-book) blog.

This is not a meme, but just a way for me to express myself and my views on book blogging. You can think of it as a discussion post because everyone is more than welcome to comment.

I won't be posting a HCL Confession every week, but I will be posting them when I find that I have something to share with the book blogosphere. They might be about blogging news, or even about a book that I might have disliked even though it's popular. Bottom line - anything and everything can be discussed. I encourage you to join in the conversations, and leave comments. You can even suggest topics for a HCL Confession. All I ask is that you be respectful if you disagree with my opinions.

HCL Confession on Plagiarism:

Today's topic is about plagiarism. I saw this a few days ago on Twitter and on another blog, The Steadfast Reader. I even commented on the blog post because I felt so bad to see how much this had hurt a blogger in our community. Of course, I always have a lot to say, so instead of just leaving an immensely long comment, I thought I'd open this up to more people.

As a teacher, I know all about how students go out of their way to sometimes use something that isn't theirs because they might be in a hurry or because they don't want to do the assignment. I also know about how so many of them unknowingly plagiarize just because they are unaware of how to credit the proper sources. This is what teachers are for; they teach their students how to avoid plagiarism. But still, it's illegal, and we teach our students that plagiarism is punishable by law.

The sad thing is that plagiarism is happening in the book blogosphere.

I've even seen that some bloggers are saying that their entire reviews have been copy and pasted and are being used by other people! That's ridiculous! Do you know how hard some people work to write a review? It's inexcusable to sit behind a computer screen and take someone's work and use it as your own. And for what? So a few publishers might notice you and send you ARCs? Many of us book bloggers are here because we love reading and sharing our own thoughts on the books we read. That's why we blog.

Personally, I've always loved writing. I've been writing my whole life - fiction, nonfiction, pretty much anything that I've wanted to write. Many of my teachers and professors encouraged me to get published. Eventually I turned that love of writing into this book blog.

Now I'd been writing book reviews way before my time as a book blogger. For me, I sometimes put hours into a review. Obviously there is the reading part, but as I'm reading, I take notes on everything in the book - plot, characters, writing style, point of view. After I'm finished with all of that, I turn it into a review that makes sense for my readers.

What people need to understand is that blogging is a form of self-publishing. Bloggers are putting their work out into the world for people to read and enjoy. I can't even imagine what it would feel like to have an entire review stolen from me. I'd be crushed.


If you haven't already guessed, I am one hundred percent against plagiarism. As an English teacher, I know I must tread water carefully to teach students to learn the differences between citing someone and plagiarizing, but as a blogger, I cannot condone it. You know what you're doing when you copy and paste someone's materials into your own post. You know it's not yours and that it's wrong.

How to Avoid Plagiarism:

• Don't copy and paste from another blogger - Seriously... this is like a cardinal sin in the blogging world. Write your own reviews. Come up with your own writing style. Your readers will see your unique voice and take notice. Publishers and authors may even take notice and ask you to review. Dr. Suess had it right when he said, "There is no one alive who is Youer than You," so be yourself and have fun.
• Write - Even if it's not for a review or a blog post, writing every day helps. If you take the time to write, you're strengthening your skills. I'm telling you as a teacher and as a lifelong learner, this works. Even authors will tell you to write every day. Practicing is the only way to improve, and writing each and every day is the best way to create your writing style.
• Ask for advice - There are plenty of veteran and new bloggers out there who are willing to help. They can direct you to tutorials or places where you can find themes for your blog or even offer advice so you can strengthen your own writing style.
• Feature guest bloggers on your blog - If you really enjoy someone's review style, ask them if they'd be interested in posting a guest post on your blog. It's a way to bring new readers to both of your blogs, and everyone gets their rightful credit. Even if the blogger declines, you have let them know that you enjoy their posts, and it lets them know that they are appreciated.
• Credit someone if you borrow anything from them - Bloggers get really annoyed when they see something they've written or said in another post. Leave a link to their blog so people can be directed to them. (Do you see how I credited April at the top of this post? Did you know that you can find the credit for the templates I use for posts in my About Me?) If you use an image (meme logos) that belongs to someone else, make sure that you create a hyperlink within the image that will take readers to their blog.

If you have been plagiarized, April and Allison have some suggestions for you. It is not legal advice, but it may be able to help you deal with content thieves. Please visit April's wonderful post to see how to handle it.

Wow... that was a lot to handle, right? Feel free to discuss plagiarism in the book blogging world in the comments. I'll reply to them. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to another blogger in the comments. Discuss with them. This is all about getting to know more people in the book blogosphere.

If this feature is popular, I'll definitely be doing more HCL Confessions.