About a month ago, thanks to Kav over at Best Reads, I discovered the most wonderful blog for readers, writers, and bloggers alike: FictionAddictionFix.blogspot.com.
This blog provides a wonderful service of advertising blog book giveaways. It’s run by two fellow writers, Kathy Maher and Debbie Lynne Costello, who graciously agreed to visit today.
Q: Hi Kathy and Debbie Lynne! Thanks for stopping by today! I’m excited to get to know you better and to tell others about your wonderful blog. Please introduce yourselves.
Kathleen L. Maher
A: We are Kathleen L. Maher and Debbie Lynne Costello, critique partners and marketing co-conspirators.
Q: Kathy and Debbie Lynne, you have a very unique and generous concept for your blog, FictionAddictionFix.blogspot.com. Could you describe it? How did you come up with the idea?
A: Our concept for fiction addiction fix is simple. We want to get great CBA books in the hands of readers and spread the word for bloggers who want to do the same. We hope that creating a site where all of the giveaways are catalogued and advertised in one place will make it more convenient and accessible.
Debbie Lynne Costello
Our motto is “Help readers find free books, bloggers advertise giveaways, and authors gain new readers.”
Q: In my estimation, you’re succeeding. When I first opened my blog I hosted a giveaway with a Laura Frantz novel, Love’s Reckoning. I had a phenomenal response from readers, with much of the traffic coming from your blog. When I host another giveaway, I know exactly where I’m going.
Have you received feedback from other bloggers whose giveaways you’ve advertised?
A: We have, Brenda. In fact, we’ve had some wonderful feedback from terrific writers like Nancy Kimball and Julie Lessman who both gave us shout-outs on the uber-blog Seekerville:
https://seekerville.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-free-wont-build-following-with.html
and
https://seekerville.blogspot.com/2012/06/with-little-help-from-my-friends-or.html
Carrie Fancett Pagels is one of our regulars, as is Nora St. Laurent. Both of these gals have terrific blogs and we are honored to serve them, and both have indicated that advertising their giveaways with us noticeably drives up traffic for them.
Q: That’s some very nice press, and well-deserved too. For those who haven’t used the Fiction Addiction Fix service, could you describe how it works?
A: Gladly! What we ask is that a blogger send the following information to our email addy: twobellesandabook@yahoo.com
- Title and author of book to be given away
- Beginning and ending dates of the giveaway
- A live link to the host blog’s giveaway post
- A live link to the book’s cover image
And for readers looking for our giveaways, the best way to connect is to sign up to receive a daily email through feedburner on our page https://www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/
Q: Love how super-easy it is to post a giveaway and to sign up for e-mail! Thank you.
I understand you are both authors. What do you write? Where are you in your author journey?
A: Kathy here. I have a passion for the American Civil War. I’ve written two historical romances and plotted two more, with at least one book set in my hometown in upstate New York. I tend to write unlikely heroes who find their strength and courage later in their growth arc. I fear it drives my dear critique partner crazy, who definitely loves alpha heroes. I am not published, but I have finaled in this year’s Genesis, as well as a couple of RWA contests. Still searching for an agent.
A: This is Debbie Lynne. I write southern historical romance. Mostly set South Carolina, but have one set in Georgia. My time period is late 1870’s -1880’s. I am represented by the wonderful Tamela Hancock Murray and sometimes still have to pinch myself that she is my agent! I’ve finished 4 manuscripts and am working on my fifth now. Right now I’m doing a lot of praying that this latest proposal will find a home for my manuscript.
Q: Sounds like you’re both on the right road to publication. Now, when you’re not writing, what do you like to do: your hobbies, favorite music, favorite food, family, etc.
A: Kathy here again. I am a history and reading nerd, with special interests in horses, dogs, painting, drawing, gardening, and antiques. I adore listening to Third Day—Mac Powell is on my imaginary mountain serenading my hubby and I while I occasionally harmonize badly. I am passionate about advocating for my son who has Asperger’s Syndrome, and learning all I can about how fearfully and wonderfully God made our diverse minds. I cannot go a day without my Folger’s gourmet select chocolate truffle coffee. It has spoiled me for everyday living, to hijack one of my favorite Anne Shirley lines.
A: Debbie Lynne – I’m a wife and a mother of four children. I raise shelties aka Shetland Sheepdogs. I have an Arabian horse and a miniature donkey. Half my house is decorated with antiques and the other half looks like antiques. And as a friend put it, “your house looks like a western museum.” I don’t write western but I love the look. Good thing my husband is so easy to get along with! What I like to do in my spare time is smock, oil paint, knit, sew, make jewelry, do crafts and spend time with my 22 month old grandbaby. My favorite thing to do is get away with my husband to a quiet place near Charleston and camp in our fifth wheel. I am an avid lipton tea drinker and live on a never ending diet. ;o) Our life’s goal is to own a small hobby farm when hubby retires. He’ll work the farm and I’ll write from under the apple tree.
Q: Beyond Fiction Addiction Fix, where can my readers find you?
A: Kathy Maher
- Personal blog: https://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahereenie
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mahereenie
A: Debbie Lynne Costello
- Personal website: https://www.debbielynnecostello.com/
- Blog: https://www.theswordandspirit.blogspot.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbielynnecostello
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebiLynCostello
Thank you both so much for coming by today; I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. I wish you both the best in your writing careers. Maybe we’ll meet at the ACFW Conference …
Comments 20
Great interview, Ladies. For sure I will be visiting. So sorry I didn’t know you were “there”. I do now! Thanks, Bren.
Nicole – Their site is a rare gem in the blogosphere. I’m glad I discovered it too. (Thanks, Kav!)
Hi, Nicole! Thanks for stopping by. I would be thrilled to have you as part of our FAF family. Please do come. Isn’t Brenda wonderful for being such a great hostess and introducing us? 🙂
Thank you so much for having us, Brenda! Your site here is lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed being your guest.
I wish I could say I’ll save a seat for you at the conference gala, but alas, I am not attending this year. Debbie Lynne will be there. In fact, in the unlikely event they call my name for the Genesis historical category, my lovely and charming friend will accept the plaque for me. 😉
Hope you have a wonderful time there in Dallas!
Kathy – Congratulations on your Genesis Final! Woo hoo!
Will you and/or Debbie Lynne be at the ACFW conference next week? I’d love to meet you!
Looks like we posted at the same time. You answered my question in advance. 🙂
you are too kind, Brenda! Thank you. I’m keeping fingers, toes, and eyes crossed until then. Kinda hard to do edits that way. heehee!
I’ll be cheering when you win! 🙂
ha! I’ll have to take your word for it, because if it really happens I will probably faint! I’m hoping to watch the live blog to cheer for all the finalists and winners.
This industry offers a rare camaraderie, though, doesn’t it? I love the support and kindness in the CBA. It’s folks like you Brenda that make it such a wonderful community.
Thanks for all you do to help authors connect with readers! We appreciate your blog and the work you do to help readers, bloggers and authors meet.
Blessings and Happy Reading,
Carrie
Thanks, Carrie. It is so easy to be enthusiastic about what we do with terrific authors like you! Many blessings to you, dear lady. <3
I know Kathy and Debbie from ‘those crazy writer loops’ and was thrilled that they’d come up with this idea. It’s so easy to be part of it, just by joining I get an email when a blog is hosting a book giveaway. If I see something I’d like I can pop over to that blog. Such a great service for readers and writers. Thanks for hosting them Brenda and being part of the process!
Enjoy a lovely day, ladies!
thank you, Debra. You are one of the most thoughtful writers in my personal friend circle. <3
Hi Carrie & Debra – thanks for stopping by today. 🙂
As Kathy said above, we do have a rare community, one that isn’t self-centered, but rather cheers our “competitors” on. Bloggers like Kathy & Debbie Lynne epitomize that selflessness.
Hey Brenda and Kathy and Debby Lynne! I think I may be late to the party but that’s the kind of week it’s been…sigh. Great to get to know you guys a bit better because I’ve been using fiction addiction fix for about a year now — and love it. Brilliant concept and it’s certainly brought more traffic to my review blog as well. Bless you both for that.
And hey Debby Lynne!!!! I’m a sheltie lover!!!!!!!! Have one right now, but been owned by five and hope to share my life with more in the future. How cool is that???????
Congrats to Kathy on being a Genesis finalist. Hope I get to read your work in print soon!
Gotta run and get back to work! Nice to ‘meet’ y’all.
Hi Kav! Thank you for introducing me to Kathy, Debbie Lynne, and Fiction Addiction Fix!! It’s a joy to spread the word about terrific blogs (like yours), isn’t it?
Thanks, Kav! It’s true–you’ve been our most faithful poster. I am so blessed to share the great work that you’re doing on your blog. I always grin when I see your name in the inbox. It’s great to hear that your traffic has gone up through our ads. that is why we do what we do!
One of these days we’ll have to meet up at a conference and have a cup of coffee. 🙂
Enjoyed this interview so much! I knew you were there and some of my books have been on the site, I think, but I didn’t really understand it. I get overwhelmed with all the computer maneuvering sometimes! LOL! Anyway, sending my newest book your way. Thanks and blessings!
Hi, Golden! So good to see you here. Thanks for the kind words. And I know what you mean–so many options, so many links, so many buttons. I am techno-phobic at heart, so I have to make things simple at the blog, and hope that others find it user-friendly. We’d love to see you there, and please give us shout if you ever have a question.
Blessings to you, too!
Hi Golden – I understand what you mean by being overwhelmed with all this computer stuff–and it’s constantly changing too! The minute we learn something new, it’s already out-of-date. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!