Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Colorful Book Covers

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

So excited to participate in this week's Top Ten Tuesday. Let's get right into some colorful book covers.

When the Butterflies Came was my second favorite book by this author. 

I still want to read The Mothers. 

This is a great book if you're looking to self-publish.

This book wasn't for me, but this is a great cover.

The Unhoneymooners is another book I want to read. 

Doesn't this sound like a fabulous collection? 

What do you think of these colorful covers? Looking forward to seeing what colorful covers you share.

Book Review: Christian Authors Self-Publishing Secrets to What Bestselling Authors Use to Sell More Books by Yeral Ogando

As a Christian author and former virtual book tour coordinator, I know a thing or two about the challenges of promoting a Christian book. When I see books that come out about the topics of marketing and promotion, I like to take a look and see what they are all about and what new information I can glean.

Christian Authors Self-Publishing Secrets to What Bestselling Authors Use to Sell More Books by Yeral Ogando discusses a variety of topics from the expense of hiring a publishing house, the steps to follow in self-publishing, how to get book reviews, and other tips and strategies.

I have two challenges with this book:

1. Taking advice from someone whose book--and even the title itself--isn't edited properly.
2. When an author hides an advertisement for his services inside a book.

While there are some helpful tips, in so few pages an author can't hope to cover any topic in depth, so the reader is left with more questions--which Ogando will gladly answer if you email him. He talks about the ways in which a Christian author can get ripped off and overpay for services, but if you reach out to him and his partners, they can save you money on a variety of services a Christian author needs.

What really made my blood boil is when the author stated through his site you can get "real reviews from real readers" for as low as $75. Not once does Ogando mention the FREE way to get reviews, like through virtual book tours. In my ten years as an author, I have never paid for a review. He says you can even order weekly or monthly reviews. If this is the way bestselling authors get reviews, good for them. I still need to sleep at night and meet my Maker with a clear conscience. 

I can usually find something positive to say about a book, but any helpful advice in Christian Authors Self-Publishing Secrets to What Bestselling Authors Use to Sell More Books is buried underneath mountains of self-promotion. Thank goodness I didn't pay for this book or I would be screaming for my money back.

Every author is out to sell books. That's understandable. However, I've read other books on self-publishing and promotion that simply share advice, which is what I am looking for if I choose that type of book. If you sell me on your knowledge, then I will be interested enough to buy more of your books in the future. 

I'm truly disappointed, because I wanted to be able to share my praise for a book that would be helpful to Christian authors. I simply didn't find it here.

File Size : 4459 KB
Publication Date : March 7, 2020
Word Wise : Enabled
Print Length : 53 pages
Enhanced Typesetting : Enabled
ASIN : B085N626W6

I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 24

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

The second to the last Monday in August has come so quickly. The Lil' Diva is taking a semester off of college since they are going remote, but the Lil' Princess heads back to our local private school next Monday. I guess the extended summer break had to come to an end sometime.

I am reading a few books right now, but still have a bunch to get through.

My review of this book appeared on Friday.

Read the review here.

I also read this new release for my children's book blog. Very cute and funny. My review will appear this week. 

I am almost done with this book. My review will appear on August 28.

My review of this next one will appear August 27.

My review of this one will appear on September 9. I like the unique style of telling a person's story via poetry and prose. 

I read this from my Kindle Unlimited selections. I'm not thinking of starting a new YouTube channel, but I like to read up on timely topics.

Next up are these.

Then I want to catch up on some books I've bought but haven't read yet. I also added this to my Kindle Unlimited collection based upon the author's panel at the NAR Leadership Summit. 

Have you bought or borrowed a book from the library based upon an author's talk? Are you usually happy with your book choice? Have you ever been disappointed?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 17

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. I hope you had a great week. In addition to writing a chapter or so in the women's novel I'm working on with my sister, I picked up a new editing job. So, not a lot of reading happened.

I started this one.

I plan to start this one over the weekend.

Next up are these.

I would like to read these to review at my children's book blog.

Then I am free to read whatever I want as long as I don't sign up for any more blog tours. Let's see if I can control myself. :) 

What are you reading this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 10

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Well, August sure came in like a lion. Tropical Storm Isaias visited us Tuesday. Some residents just got power back this weekend. We still have downed trees around town, but clean up is ongoing. Other than no power and no internet, the only bad thing that happened is our arbor fell into the garden and pulled up my grape vine and squashed the tomato plants. I blogged about feeling like Charles Ingalls when he lost his wheat crop. You can read that here.

I am trying to stay caught up on reading since I have three more book reviews for August.


I finished this book yesterday. Look for my review on August 21.

These two are being reviewed the last week of August.

These three reviews are coming in September.

I would like to read these to review at my children's book blog.

After that, I am hoping to take a break from review books and focus on these.

By that time, I should really be ready for some seasonal reading material--which I never seem to get to. 

What are you reading right now? What is a book you have been wanting to read for a while, but never seem to get to it?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 3

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome to August. Hard to believe we are starting the last full month of summer. Our girls go back to school at the end of the month. Not quite to the fanfare of usual starts to the year, but virtual events to welcome the kids back and a hybrid of in-person and online learning.

As far as reading goes, I am reading these two. I am almost done with the first one.

These two will be reviewed this month.

I signed up to review this book in September.

I would like to read these to review at my children's book blog.

I am also keeping this on the list, because it's the one I want to read as soon as I am done with books for review. 

What are you looking forward to reading this month?