Tag: Tricia Drammeh

July 24, 2014 Books, Reviews, The Read Path 12 Comments

THE READ PATH with Tricia Drammeh

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The Read Path – Tricia Drammeh

In this series, guest bloggers spill all about their roles as gatekeepers between authors and readers. They review books on blogs, websites, podcasts or booksellers’ webpages, influence buyers and connect with authors. My guest today, for the second time this week, is Tricia Drammeh, this time with her fabulous review site Authors to Watch.

Let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Tricia’s.

 

1. Why did you start a book review site?

​My review site, Authors to Watch, evolved from my desire to help other authors. I started by doing interviews on my personal blog, and eventually bought a separate domain for Authors to Watch. Word spread, and I began getting requests for promotional features on a daily basis. When authors began asking me to review their books, I decided to do reviews as well as interviews.

 

2. What’s the best aspect of owning a book review site?

The best aspect is connecting with readers and authors. I’ve met so many fantastic people through Authors to Watch and have discovered books I wouldn’t have discovered if it wasn’t for the blog.

 

3. What’s the worst aspect?

One of the most difficult aspects of having a promotional blog is trying to balance my obligations. I work outside the home, have a husband and kids, have my own writing, and yet I still need to make sure I post interviews and reviews in a timely manner. I have run into some problems with authors who are extremely demanding. A few have emailed me multiple times throughout the day to tell me to shuffle the order of questions, to add a link they forgot, or to mention an award they won.

One author asked very detailed questions about how many blog views I got each day and wanted to know exactly what I planned to do to promote his interview. He treated his request to appear on my blog like a job interview, which would be understandable if he were paying me to promote him, but since I was basically working for him for free, I found his interrogation rather annoying. Most authors do understand that book bloggers aren’t getting paid for the work they do and are helping writers in their spare time, but occasionally an author will come along who acts like a diva.

 

4. Why should readers check out your website?

​If you don’t check out Authors to Watch, you might run the risk of missing out on some seriously amazing books. I’ve been known to fall so deeply in love with a book I’ve read, I will actually track down the author and beg them to do an interview. So, it isn’t all about blog tours on Authors to Watch. You’ll meet authors you won’t see anywhere else.

 

5. Out of all the books you’ve read, which two are your top must-read recommendations?

Only two? Oh, boy. I would definitely recommend The Green Woman series by Jane Dougherty. She’s published the first two books in the main trilogy, but has also published short stories and other supplements to the series. Jane’s blog is an absolute gem. She does author interviews, publishes incredible poetry, and regularly includes short stories that are related to her series.

The other series I’m absolutely in love with is the Amaranthine series by Joleene Naylor. If you’re looking for extremely well written vampire fiction, Joleene’s books are a must. She’s published six full-length novels and several short stories. Like Jane, Joleene has an incredible website with excerpts, artwork, character profiles, and much more.

Though these two series I mention are in completely different genres, there is something special that sets them apart, and that is the fact that the authors have created more than a book series—they’ve created an entire world the reader can get lost in. While I am definitely a fan of standalone novels, I do enjoy a good series. Both the Green Woman and the Amaranthine series are self-published, and I think this has given the authors the flexibility to take their books to a new level. In this day and age where self-published novels are being released in droves, readers are looking for something that sets these books apart. I think Jane and Joleene have really achieved that “something special” quality and their blogs/websites are a huge part of that.

Links:
Website: www.triciadrammeh.com
Authors to Watch: www.authorstowatch.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaDrammeh
Twitter: twitter.com/TriciaDrammeh

To buy Tricia’s book, click here: Amazon.com: Better than Perfect eBook: Tricia Drammeh: Kindle Store

July 21, 2014 The Write Path 6 Comments

THE WRITE PATH with Tricia Drammeh

THe Write Path

Tricia Drammeh

Welcome to Tricia Drammeh Week. A few months ago, I stumbled over this neat blog written by someone with plenty of good sense, featuring a variety of topics, presented in a fabulously entertaining way. Then I noticed the website’s owner is an author and a reader/reviewer — two of my favorite people rolled into one. I’m thrilled to welcome as a guest, not once but twice this week, Tricia Drammeh.

Tricia is the author of Better Than Perfect, a heart-warming book about how change can be good. Check it out — it’s received some glowing reviews.

So let me hand over my mic. The next voice you’ll hear will be Tricia’s.

Tricia Drammeh
1. What made you want to be a writer?

I decided to be a writer because I love reading so much. I love to escape into a fantasy world, and since I’ve been making up stories in my head for as long as I could remember, it seemed like a good idea to finally write them down.

2. What is the toughest part about writing?

The toughest part about the art of writing is sitting down and doing it. My greatest weakness is my tendency to procrastinate, especially when the words aren’t flowing the way I’d like them to.

3. Have you experienced an aha moment, a piece of advice or a moment where something fell into place?

Well, my aha moment goes back to my previous answer. I sometimes went for weeks without writing a single word and blamed my lack of productivity on writer’s block. The resulting guilt and self-loathing made it even harder to get back to the keyboard. Though I’ve read advice from other authors who tell writers to write no matter what, I never believed it was possible. How can I write if I’m not in the zone? A few weeks ago, I was discussing the cycle of writer’s guilt with a friend of mine, and we came up with the idea of a 200-word-per-day writing challenge. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’ve found that once I complete my requisite 200 words, I’m usually in the mood to keep writing. I have a sense of accomplishment each and every day, and don’t have to struggle with guilt.

4. Whose style do you admire, or is there a line you wish you’d come up with?

I admire so many authors, but Anne Rice and JK Rowling come to mind first. They have very different styles, but are both masters in the genres they’re known for.

5. Describe your ideal reader.

This is a really tough question. Since I tend to skip from genre to genre, it’s hard to choose a specific type of reader. I can say that in most of my books, I rely heavily on humor, though I wouldn’t consider myself a comedic author. So, I guess my ideal reader would have to have a good sense of humor.

Author Bio:
Tricia Drammeh is a wife, a mother of four children, and an author. She lives in New Hampshire with her family. When she isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, chasing cats, and consuming vast amounts of coffee.

Links:
Website: www.triciadrammeh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaDrammeh
Twitter: twitter.com/TriciaDrammeh
Amazon: Amazon.com: Better than Perfect eBook: Tricia Drammeh: Kindle Store