Sunday, December 31, 2017

Comfy Cozy Reading Weather Giveaway Hop


Happy New Year and welcome to the Comfy Cozy Weather Giveaway Hop!
I am featuring one of my favorite reads of 2017, the book I just finished, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, and giving away a $10 gift card to the book store of your choice. Thank you to Val and Jess at Stuck In Books for hosting this giveaway!

From Goodreads: In The Golem and the Jinni, a chance meeting between mythical beings takes readers on a dazzling journey through cultures in turn-of-the-century New York.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic whose master dies at sea on the voyage from Poland. Chava is left unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire born in the ancient Syrian desert, trapped in an old copper flask and released in New York City, though still not entirely free.

Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends and soul mates with a mystical connection. Marvelous and compulsively readable, Helene Wecker's debut novel The Golem and the Jinni weaves strands of Yiddish and Middle Eastern literature, historical fiction and magical fable, into a wondrously inventive and unforgettable tale.

My short review: I haven't had a chance to write a full review yet, but I absolutely loved this book. It's not the most beautifully written novel, but the prose is well-written and moves the story along quickly. While technically a fantasy, I suppose, it really reads more like historical fiction with a large dose of magical realism. At its heart it's a story of immigrants in New York at the very end of the nineteenth century. And while the protagonists are in fact magical beings, their humanity is so much greater than the human monster that seeks to control them. A second novel is due to be published in late 2018.

What are you reading at the beginning of this New Year?

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive, and use a book store Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW
a Rafflecopter giveaway




Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop

Welcome to The Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop!


Thank you to BookHounds for hosting this hop and make sure to stop by each blog and read the rules for each giveaway.

I am giving away a $15 Gift card to the book store of your choice. My gift to you! I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday week.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive, and use a book store Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW
a Rafflecopter giveaway




Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Bronze Kindle Edition

Just a quick post to announce that Bronze (The Glister Journals, #1) is finally available on Amazon Kindle. It's a big book for only $1.99! Get the ebook for .99 when you purchase a print copy. Nook and other formats will be available soon. Buying a copy now will help boost Bronze's visibility across Amazon during this busy holiday time. Your help and support is very appreciated!


Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Just In the Nick of Time

Hosted by I Am A Reader

$250 Christmas Cash Giveaway

December 5th to 22nd

Wouldn't you like an extra $250 this Christmas season?

The winner of this giveaway will receive their choice of $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com Gift Card.

 

Sponsor List

Thank you to this great group of authors and bloggers for making this giveaway happen!
I Am A Reader
Nicole Tone
Coupons and Freebies Mom
Claudia Burgoa
Lori's Reading Corner
Helen Smith
Simple Wyrdings
Author Inger Iversen
The Books You Read
Erin Richards
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
Rockin' Book Reviews
Glistering: B's Blog
Jennifer Youngblood
Every Free Chance Books
BookHounds
My Life. One Story at a Time.
Author Laurie Treacy
Author D.E. Haggerty
Confessions of a Frugal Mind
Maureen's Musings
Camryn Daytona

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 12/22/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Holiday Cash Giveaway


$300 Holiday Cash Giveaway

December 1st to 21st

 

Here is your chance to win an extra $300 this holiday season!

The winner of this giveaway will receive $300 in Paypal Cash or a $300 Amazon.com Gift Card.

 

Sponsor List

Thank you to this wonderful group of authors and bloggers for making this giveaway happen, and to I Am A Reader for hosting!

I Am A Reader
JeanBookNerd
Author Crystal Marcos
MagicalCoolCatMysteries
Simple Wyrdings
Cynthia Luhrs Author
The Lovely Books
Author Laurie Treacy
Julie Coulter Bellon
Author S.T. Bende
Geybie’s Book Blog
Everly Frost, YA Author
Author Dorothy Dreyer
Helen Smith
Auggie @ AuggieTalk
My Life. One Story at a Time.
Author Al Stone
Krysten Lindsay Hager Author
Glistering: B's Blog
Rockin' Book Reviews
Bookworm Lisa
Lori's Reading Corner
Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Donna Amis Davis
Coupons and Freebies Mom

 

Giveaway Details

$300 in Paypal Cash or a $300 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 12/21/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Gratitude Giveaway

Welcome to the 2017 Gratitude Giveaway!
Thank you for following! One follower will win a $10 gift card to the book store of their choice.
This giveaway is hosted by BookHounds
November 15 to 30

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thankful for Cash Giveaway

Welcome to the Thankful for Cash $250 Giveaway

November 15th to December 15th

Sponsored by I Am A Reader

The winner of this giveaway will receive $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Thanks to this amazing group of authors, bloggers and publisher for making this giveaway possible!

Sponsor List
I Am A Reader
Auggie @ AuggieTalk
Cynthia Luhrs Author
Author Laurie Treacy
Helen Smith
Author S.T. Bende
The Lovely Books
Donna, My Life. One Story at a Time.
Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Simple Wyrdings
Author Melissa Wright
Bookworm Lisa
Rockin' Book Reviews
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
Glistering: B's Blog
Geybie's Book Blog
Lori's Reading Corner
Author Al Stone
D.S. Venetta
Book Reviews and Giveaways
JeanBookNerd
Coupons and Freebies Mom
Taylor Dean Books
Author Crystal Marcos
Readers Realm
Dorine White- Author
Literary Winner
Liana Gardner
Dawn Malone, author
Pretty Little Reader
Author Tia Souders

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 12/15/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Books I'm Grateful I Read Giveaway Hop


I'm so happy to be a part of this hop. Thanks to Stuck In Books for hosting it!

I am featuring The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson and giving away a new hardbacked copy. You can't have mine!

From Goodreads: With empathy, grace, humor, and piercing insight, the author of Gods in Alabama pens a powerful, emotionally resonant novel of the South that confronts the truth about privilege, family, and the distinctions between perception and reality - the stories we tell ourselves about our origins and who we really are.

Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs' weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman.

It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She's having a baby boy - an unexpected but not unhappy development in the thirty-eight year-old's life. But before Leia can break the news of her impending single-motherhood (including the fact that her baby is biracial) to her conventional, Southern family, her step-sister Rachel's marriage implodes. Worse, she learns her beloved ninety-year-old grandmother, Birchie, is losing her mind, and she's been hiding her dementia with the help of Wattie, her best friend since girlhood.

Leia returns to Alabama to put her grandmother's affairs in order, clean out the big Victorian that has been in the Birch family for generations, and tell her family that she's pregnant. Yet just when Leia thinks she's got it all under control, she learns that illness is not the only thing Birchie's been hiding. Tucked in the attic is a dangerous secret with roots that reach all the way back to the Civil War. Its exposure threatens the family's freedom and future, and it will change everything about how Leia sees herself and her sister, her son and his missing father, and the world she thinks she knows.

I LOVED this book. I'm pretty nerdy myself so really liked the main character, Leia, but all the characters were great. The main character is a comic (graphic novel) artist, and I have several comic artist friends, so that connection was even stronger. There are plenty of nerdy pop culture references too, which was fun and made me connect to the characters even more. This is a keeper and I will loan it out to friends and read it again.

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW
a Rafflecopter giveaway




Bronze can be ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or order now at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Fall Into Cash Giveaway

Fall into Cash $250 Giveaway

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Everyone can use a little extra cash around the holidays. Here's your chance to win!
The winner of this giveaway will receive $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Ends 11/15/17
Thanks to these fabulous authors and bloggers for making this giveaway possible!

I Am A Reader
Lori's Reading Corner
The Lovely Books
Author Mary Ting
Author Melissa Wright
Kindle and Me
Coupons and Freebies Mom
Geybie's Book Blog
Helen Smith
S.T. Bende
Caroline Clemmons
Simple Wyrdings
My Life. One Story at a Time.
Kasey’s Book Reviews and Giveaways
Author Inger Iversen
Liana Gardner
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
Cynthia Luhrs Author
Bound 4 Escape
Glistering: B's Blog
Danielle Thorne Author of Classic Romance
BloominThyme Organic Gardening & Fresh Recipes
Author Felicia Starr
Christy's Cozy Corners
Rebecca Talley
The Book Referees
Author Rae Lori
Taylor Dean Books
Rachelle J. Christensen
Wendi Sotis, Author
Cool Cat Mysteries
B. Kristin McMichael
Confessions of a Frugal Mind
Hooked To Books
Rolling with the Moments
JeanBookNerd
Maureen's Musings
Author Laurie Treacy
Diana's Book Reviews
The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
AuggieTalk

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Bronze can be pre-ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!
Be sure to stop by each blog and enter to win! Each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. A big Thank You to BookHounds for hosting this great hop!

I am offering two opportunities to win: one $15 gift card to the bookstore of your choice and one paperback copy of my novel Bronze.

You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. Gift card giveaway open only to those who can legally enter, receive, and use a book store gift code. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Bronze can be pre-ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Fall Into Books Cash Giveaway


Fall Into Books

Hosted by I Am A Reader

$250 Giveaway

September 23rd to October 15th

The winner of this giveaway has the option of receiving a $250 Amazon Gift Card or $250 in Paypal Cash.

Sponsor List – Thanks to this wonderful group of bloggers and authors for sponsoring this giveaway!
I Am A Reader
Lori's Reading Corner
Helen Smith
B. Kristin McMichael
Kasey's Book Reviews
Simple Wyrdings
Dorine White- author
Author Dorothy Dreyer
Author Inger Iversen
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
Author Crystal Marcos
JeanBookNerd
AuggieTalk
Stacy Claflin, Author
Charissa Stastny Books
Caroline Clemmons
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE
BookHounds
Laurie Treacy
Geybie's Book Blog
The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
Every Free Chance Books
Jennifer Faye ~ Romance Author
Diana's Book Reviews
Laurisa White Reyes, Author
Author Candy Atkins and The Lost Knight
Dawn Malone, Author
Bound 4 Escape
The Readers Realm
Spirit Filled eBooks
Glistering: B's Blog
S.T. Bende

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 10/15/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Bronze can be pre-ordered through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.
Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop


Banned Book Week Giveaway Hop

September 15 - 30

Welcome to the Banned Book Week Giveaway hosted by BookHounds! I'm giving away one $15 gift card to one winner. More information about banned books week can be found on bannedbooksweek.org and a list of banned books is on the American Library Association's website. Most of the banned books I've read are classics, but there are quite a few more contemporary books I haven't gotten to yet. Some I just can't imagine why they are/were banned. Which books on the list have you read? Which ones would you recommend?

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze
Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or purchase now at Barnes and Noble.

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Review & Giveaway: Reading People by Anne Bogel

From the book site:
"Discover How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything

Backed by extensive research and illustrated with engaging stories, Reading People explains what makes you uniquely you, what makes the people in your life uniquely them, and why it all matters. Popular blogger Anne Bogel makes it easy. In this fascinating book, she collects, explores, and explains the most popular personality frameworks, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsFinder, Enneagram, and others. She shares the life-changing insights that can be gained from each, along with practical applications across all facets of life, including love and marriage, productivity, parenting, the workplace, and spiritual life.

Want to revolutionize the way you live, love, work, and pray? Understanding personality is the first step!"

I've been intrigued by people since I was a teen. My dad and I talked by the hour trying to figure the universe out well into my twenties and thirties, and a major topic was always people - how they think and why they do what they do. Since I began seriously writing a little over ten years ago, I've been even more fascinated. I've had gaping holes in my understanding of other people all my life. It's only relatively recently that I've been diagnosed as autistic and now realize that my dad was too. The holes are still there, but Anne's book is going to be an important resource for me for many reasons.

Reading Anne's book is just like listening to her. Her tone is welcoming and confiding as she shares personal life stories and revelations from her research. I especially love her many references to authors and literary characters and their personality traits and probable types.

Personality typing might be how I discovered Anne Bogel's blog Modern Mrs. Darcy years ago. Or I might have discovered her blog through my love of books and then stumbled over one of her posts on personality. Or I might have just come across the title of her blog and been compelled (yes, compelled) to visit it, as any self-respecting Janeite would. You'd have to investigate a blog with such a title. Whichever way, Anne has certainly enriched my reading life and now is contributing to my growing understanding of what makes people tick. As an autistic writer of character-driven fiction, this is huge! I knew about extroverts and introverts, of course. But that's like Personality 101. I'd never heard of the Myers-Brigg assessment before frequenting her blog, and I find that fascinating. I'm quite sure I'm INTJ but I'd like to take the full test one day.

More recently (last summer) I joined Anne's book club (which I LOVE) and first heard about her soon-to-be-released book, Reading People. You may know her through her weekly podcast, What Should I Read Next, which I also highly recommend whether you need the advice or not! Anne's manner is calm and warm and humorous and gracious. I'm glad she's narrating her own audiobook and you can get a free copy! More of that below. First, the book.


As I said, everybody knows about introverts and extroverts, and I'd already discovered the Myers-Briggs typing through Anne's blog, but it's much more in-depth than I realized. If I'm serious about knowing my own or anyone else's type, it's going to require a little more time than a simple online test. I knew about the ancient four "humors," but I'd never heard of Keirsey's Temperaments. I am a Rational and, though I didn't pay for the advanced report, since I'm quite sure I'm INTJ, that makes me a Rational Mastermind. (Sounds diabolical. Hehe) The other big one I'm not familiar with is the Enneagram, though I've heard a lot about it. This one seems a little overwhelming and it'll take some time for me to work through it. I relate to too many of the types! I'll need to spend more time with the Clifton StrengthsFinder for the same reason.

The Love Languages I've known for a while (mine is quality time) and also about Highly Sensitive Persons (I definitely am one). I personally think the latter is largely neurological and not necessarily personality, but I can readily believe that being an HSP can shape one's personality.

Although I read a free ARC, I've already pre-ordered a copy and plan on buying copies for my daughters and my son, as we all struggle with similar issues. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand themselves or who deals with other people in any way. In other words, everyone!

For writers: A valuable resource for checking character traits against motivations. I've read too many books where characters suddenly act out of character purely to further plot or cover up plot holes. Sometimes it's just lazy writing - not bothering to come up with clear cut characters in the first place. Understanding your characters, at least the ones that have significant page presence, will go far to keeping your characters on track and believable.

For parents: I'm very fortunate to have had children that got along most of the time. They're very close to this day (the youngest is thirty this year!) Conflict resolution wasn't a big factor in their upbringing. But I know that's not the norm for a lot of parents. Understanding your children's personalities and the dynamics in their interactions will help with problem solving and conflict resolution.

For teachers: The reasons are similar to parents on a grander scale: understanding your students, finding better communication methods for individuals, and avoiding and resolving conflict.

For employers: Knowing the strengths and personalities of your employees can help them be more successful in their work and work relationships. Win for everybody!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading People website. Pre-order the book to claim your free audiobook and Reading Personality class!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
IndieBound


Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for Bronze
Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller (ISBN 9780982893678) or pre-order now at Barnes and Noble.

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Farewell to Summer Cash Giveaway


Farewell to Summer

$250 Cash Giveaway

September 1st to 22nd

Enter for your chance to win $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon Gift Card.


Sponsor List – This wonderful group of bloggers and authors has joined with I Am A Reader to sponsor this great giveaway!

I Am A Reader
Julie Coulter Bellon
Lori's Reading Corner
Donna K. Weaver
Helen Smith
Simple Wyrdings
Kasey's Book Reviews
Krysten Lindsay Hager
Geybie's Book Blog
Heather Gray, Writer of Christian Romance
Glistering: B's Blog
S.T. Bende
Heather Boyd, Romance Author
Simply Sherryl
Laurie Treacy, author
Maureen's Musings
Carol Malone
Bound 4 Escape
The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
Christy's Cozy Corners
The Editing Hall
Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
Auggie Talk
The Serious Reader
The Lovely Books
Bookroom Reviews
BloominThyme Organic Gardening

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 9/22/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Bronze New Edition Cover Reveal and Street Team!


I'm so excited about this! I absolutely love it. I think it fits the mood and main character of the book perfectly. The new edition paperback is in production, the on-sale date is set. I'm waiting for the proof copy and can't wait to see it! It took a long time to write the book in the first place and get the first edition finished. It's taken even longer and has been much harder to get to this point, so forgive me if I seem disproportionately excited about a re-release. The thing is, unless the first book reaches a broader audience, the next books in the series will have a hard time too. Going by the media and reader reviews it's already received, I'm sure more people will like it if they have a chance to read it!

That's why I need your help! Self-promotion is really hard for me. I've never been good at selling anything. I once even tried selling Avon but was hopeless! I also find the concepts and mental juggling required (executive function skills) for marketing very confusing, which may be due to my autism. So I'm seeking help from people who have already read Bronze or would like to read it, and that live in the US or Canada. If you'd like to know more about the series, you can read my About The Glister Journals page and take a look around The Glister Journals website. A few excerpts can be read HERE to see if you like my writing style, etc.

What does the street team do? The team's purpose is to get the word out in any way possible. The most important thing is to actually read the book and review it, especially leaving a review on Amazon. Any help is immensely appreciated. Posting your thoughts and reviews to social media is also enormous help, but telling people in real life is too, people you think would enjoy the book, or may know someone who would - your neighbor, your family, your book club, your local librarian! Letting others know about the pre-order is very important too. Books with a healthy pre-order base are more likely to be stocked in bookstores. Even more important, they'll be actively promoted by Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online retailers. The MOST important thing is to post a review on Amazon on or as soon after release day as possible. Posting reviews to other retail and book community sites (such as Goodreads) is extremely helpful, too.

What do you get for being on the team? First of all you get my heartfelt and everlasting gratitude! It's an overwhelming task for one person to accomplish, but your help can make all the difference in the world! More tangibly, you get an advanced reading e-copy of Bronze and each of my books months before anyone else for as long as you're on the team. The second book, Copper, is in revisions and I hope will be ready for ARCs by the end of this year or early next. There will be an exclusive Facebook group where you can ask me questions and share ideas and experiences. There will also be Glister-related swag and gift card giveaways exclusive to the street team, early reveals, and exclusive sneak peeks from upcoming books. I'm very open to other ideas about how I can reward you!

Everyone that pre-orders a print copy of Bronze will also get a free e-book copy. Pre-orders (print OR e-book) will also get you early access to the Bronze soundtrack which will be publicly revealed in a countdown to the release of Copper. I'm open to other ideas about pre-order perks too! (Bronze is available for pre-order on Barnes and Noble right now for over $3 under list price!)

I won't go into details about the team here, but if you'd like to help, please fill out the form in the link below. For legal reasons we can only accept adults over 18 on the team, but if you're under 18, I'd appreciate your help so much! You can find some ideas HERE. Anything you do to get the word out will help and I'd love to know all about it! You can stay in touch with me here on my blog, on Twitter, through Goodreads or through The Glister Journals Facebook page.

The Glister Journals Street Team Application

I look forward to working with you!


Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Back to School Cash Giveaway


Back to School $250 Giveaway

August 17th to September 7th


This fabulous group of bloggers and authors have partnered with I Am A Reader in sponsoring this giveaway!

Enter for your chance to win $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon Gift Card.

Sponsor List

I Am A Reader
Geybie's Book Blog
S.T. Bende
Lori's Reading Corner
Laurisa White Reyes
Every Free Chance Books
The Editing Hall
Simple Wyrdings
Author Al Stone
D.S. Venetta ~ Organic Gardening for Kids!
Anna del C. Dye
My Life. One Story at a Time.
Heather Boyd Regency Romance Author
Author Mary Ting
Author Inger Iversen
Krysten Lindsay Hager author
Kindle and Me
Erin Richards
Glistering: B's Blog
Helen Smith
Donna K. Weaver
Carrie @ Reading Is My SuperPower
Bookhounds
Alexandrea Weis
Caroline Clemmons
Author D.E. Haggerty
Diana's Book Reviews
Bound 4 Escape
More Than a Review
Heather @ Townsend House
Spirit Filled eBooks
The Serious Reader
Author Felicia Starr
The Page Unbound
CoolCatMysteries
Heather Gray, Christian Romance
Mary from YourDesignerDog
Karmack by JC Whyte
Kasey's Book Reviews

Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 9/7/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Clear Your Shelves Giveaway hosted by BookHounds

I'm giving away four hardbound books to four winners. These are not ARCs, but books I bought myself and have read and enjoyed. They are all in perfect condition and I'd like to pass them on. I really do need the shelf space! Due to postage costs, this is US only. Sorry! This giveaway runs from August 15 - 30.

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. US residents only. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

Dreamland Burning

From Goodreads Some bodies won’t stay buried. Some stories need to be told.

When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past, the present, and herself.

One hundred years earlier, a single violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what’s right the night Tulsa burns.


I enjoyed this book very much. My short review can be read here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Forgetting Time

From Goodreads:
Noah wants to go home. A seemingly easy request from most four year olds. But as Noah's single-mother, Janie, knows, nothing with Noah is ever easy. One day the pre-school office calls and says Janie needs to come in to talk about Noah, and no, not later, now - and life as she knows it stops.

For Jerome Anderson, life as he knows it has stopped. A deadly diagnosis has made him realize he is approaching the end of his life. His first thought - I'm not finished yet. Once a shining young star in academia, a graduate of Yale and Harvard, a professor of psychology, he threw it all away because of an obsession. Anderson became the laughing stock of his peers, but he didn't care - something had to be going on beyond what anyone could see or comprehend. He spent his life searching for that something else. And with Noah, he thinks he's found it. More

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Before We Visit The Goddess

From Goodreads:
The daughter of a poor baker in rural Bengal, India, Sabitri yearns to get an education, but her family’s situation means college is an impossible dream. Then an influential woman from Kolkata takes Sabitri under her wing, but her generosity soon proves dangerous after the girl makes a single, unforgivable misstep. Years later, Sabitri’s own daughter, Bela, haunted by her mother’s choices, flees abroad with her political refugee lover—but the America she finds is vastly different from the country she’d imagined. As the marriage crumbles and Bela is forced to forge her own path, she unwittingly imprints her own child, Tara, with indelible lessons about freedom, heartbreak, and loyalty that will take a lifetime to unravel. More


My short review can be read here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Nest


From Goodreads:Every family has its problems. But even among the most troubled, the Plumb family stands out as spectacularly dysfunctional. Years of simmering tensions finally reach a breaking point on an unseasonably cold afternoon in New York City as Melody, Beatrice, and Jack Plumb gather to confront their charismatic and reckless older brother, Leo, freshly released from rehab. Months earlier, an inebriated Leo got behind the wheel of a car with a nineteen-year-old waitress as his passenger. The ensuing accident has endangered the Plumbs joint trust fund, “The Nest,” which they are months away from finally receiving. Meant by their deceased father to be a modest mid-life supplement, the Plumb siblings have watched The Nest’s value soar along with the stock market and have been counting on the money to solve a number of self-inflicted problems. More
a Rafflecopter giveaway




Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Update: Summer 2017, Upcoming Releases, and Your Help

Personal News

This is long overdue. I'm sorry if it seems I'm neglecting the blog, but life's been overwhelming for quite some time. I've been taking professional development (curriculum developing and salary increasing) classes all summer which, along with writing every day, have kept me very busy. I haven't even had the chance to get out of town except for a day trip to Monterey with my youngest daughter (which was fun!). I greatly missed going to visit my son and his family, especially my new granddaughter, but it just wasn't possible this summer. School starts in less than a week so I'm gearing up for that, along with everything else going on right now.

One of the things I am excited about is being on the launch team for Anne Bogel's new book, Reading People.

If you have any interest at all in personality frameworks and understanding other people, this is the book for you! I'm almost finished reading the ARC copy but have preordered the paperback as I prefer to have physical copies of books I'll refer to a lot. And I'm sure I will with this one! And you get a free audio edition with the preorder! I'll be posting my review soon.

Glister Journals News

Work on The Glister Journals is ongoing. At this moment we're finalizing the new cover of Bronze. I really love it! The new edition paperback and e-book should be available for preorder within the next two weeks. I'll have a firm release date soon, but it will probably be October. It will also be available for review through NetGalley by the end of the month.

Bronze received great reader and media reviews when it first came out, but I didn't know how to get the word out far and fast enough, so very few people knew about it. If people don't know about a book, they can't buy it, and if they don't buy it, it pretty much disappears. That is what happened to Bronze. I'm hoping the change in cover will give more of a feel for what the book is really like than the original artwork does. And now that I understand marketing a little better, I'm hoping the book can achieve a wider audience than it has so far.

But I need your help! I'll be building a street team to help get the word out, not just about Bronze, but for each Glister Journals book as it's released. If you live in the United States and have an active social media presence, your help is invaluable! For those of you who don't live in the US (and I know there are a lot of you!), your support, comments, and reviews will always be extremely important. But for now we have to concentrate on US sales to help the book and series really get off the ground. Advanced Reading Copies (e-books) of the new edition of Bronze will be made available through NetGalley. If you've already reviewed Bronze, I thank you so much! There is no need to read the new edition - nothing has changed except a little detail has been left out and the prose cleaned up slightly - but you are certainly welcome to re-read and your help is even more valuable if you're already a fan! New readers will be encouraged to post reviews on or near release day. You'll be the first to receive ARCs of Copper and the remaining books in the series. I will also have exclusive giveaways, freebies, and first peeks at new content for street team members. I will post separately about this with the new cover reveal very soon!

Which brings me to Copper. The first draft is finally finished and I've begun first revisions on the second half. The first half (chapters 1 thru 15) has been written for quite a while and has had several revisions already. It's in good shape and I'll revise the whole book once I've cleaned up the second half (chapters 16 thru 34). Then the hard work of cutting and polishing will start. Unfortunately I can't give a release date, but I hope to have review copies available by the end of the year. I love my full-time job, but sometimes I really wish I could just concentrate on writing!

Also new is a short newsletter, once or twice a month, just to keep you informed of things you may be interested in: current and upcoming giveaways, recent blog posts, Glister Journals news, book reviews, etc. You can sign up for it here on the blog or on The Glister Journals website.

Currently writing: Copper revisions
Listening: The Shins - Heartworms and Passion Pit - Kindred.
Reading: Reading People by Anne Bogle and The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson
Watching: The Bold Type


Visit theglisterjournals.com for news, excerpts, and more about The Glister Journals series.
Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller or purchase now at Amazon.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2017 to B B Shepherd.