Some background …
I started my book review blog, Iola’s Christian Reads, in September 2011, after winning an ebook in an online giveaway. I’d just bought a Kobo (Kindles weren’t yet available here in New Zealand), and was keen to build my electronic library.
The book was delivered via NetGalley, and I found that I could get free ebooks from many of my favourite authors and publishers if I promised to write a review on a blog, and on sites such as Amazon. Paperbacks cost around $30 each in New Zealand at the time, so this seemed like a good deal.
Iola’s Christian Reads was born.
Back then, most book blogs were just that: book blogs. Posting book reviews. But the world has changed, and blogging has changed to keep pace.
It’s no longer enough to have a basic Blogger blog with just book reviews. Readers want to get to know authors, and a low-risk way of trying books from new-to-them authors. They want author interviews and giveaways.
I have reached a milestone at my original Blogger blog, Iola’s Christian Reads. I’ve posted my 1,000th post. And it will be my last (I think. I do reserve the right to change my mind if that’s where I think God leads).
Instead, I’m going to focus more on developing this website, getting into a regular blogging schedule and having more of what readers want. In fact, I asked my email newsletter subscribers what they wanted, and the overwhelming response was author interviews. (Gulp.)
So here is my proposed schedule for the rest of 2017:
- Monday: Bookish Question
- Tuesday: Review of a new Christian fiction release
- Wednesday: Author interview or general blog post
- Thursday: Repost of a review of an older Christian novel
- Friday: #FirstLineFriday
Note that these are New Zealand time … which is a day ahead of most of the US! (I think we’re 23 hours ahead of Hawaii. When we visited last year, we arrived 17 hours before we left after a 12-hour flight. Go figure).
I’ve been posting my #BookishQuestions since April.
Each week I post a question, and give my answer. I also post the question on Instagram, and find I get more interaction there than her on my website (click here to follow me on Instagram).
Book reviews—well, you know what book reviews are.
First Line Friday? I’ll tell you more about #FirstLineFriday next week.
Today I want to ask you about author interviews.
Although my preference would be to interview contemporary Christian romance authors, I’m open to interviewing any Christian author. If you write Christian fiction and would like to be interviewed (say, to promote a new book), drop me a line via the contact form on the About page.
If you’re a reader, which authors would you like me to interview? What do you want to know about your favourite authors? Do you want to ask about their book, their writing process, their reading habits, or more personal questions like whether they like cats or dogs better?
Tell me your ideas!
As a thank you, one commenter will win a Kindle copy of one of the four RITA finalists pictured here (winner’s choice):
