Late last year, we moved the AWW challenge from a blog on WordPress.com to a self-hosted site. Along with the new look and a new form for linking reviews, our aim is to have a searchable database for reviews linked to the challenge.
At the moment, that database is only visible to members of the AWW team – which means that we’ll be able to start doing our regular roundups again in February.
Before long, we hope to have a page visible to the public, but it’s not quite ready yet. There’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes and bugs to iron out. But when it comes, I think – hope – it’s going to be something special.
In the meantime, if you want to see what has been reviewed for the challenge, watch out for our roundups – and follow this blog by email. We’ll make an announcement when the database is ready.
As for what’s happening this Australia Day long weekend, have you checked out Shelleyrae’s Australia Day book giveaway blog hop? There are lots of excellent books by Aussie women writers to be won. You can find a list of participating blogs here.
We’re running our own giveaway of Anna Romer’s Lyrebird Hill and Ellie. O’Neill’s Reluctantly Charmed. Details here.
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Thanks to Louise at Strong Belief in Wicker blog for the prompt to write this post.
I would like to ask if there is a list where Australian authors are allowed to put their books up for review? As I am not a well known author my books may never be found, although they are for sale in the usual places. 🙁
Diana
Hi Diana, Commiserations! This is one of the very reasons why the challenge was established. With the new website, it may be that some time in the future we’ll have the capacity to develop such a list, though the admin of keeping it up to date for a group of time-pressed volunteers may prove a challenge in itself. For the moment, you could do what other authors have done in the past: get involved, write your own reviews and link them to the challenge, join in the conversation about books using the #aww2015 hashtag on Twitter or via the Australian Women Writers Facebook page. Follow the AWW blog to read the roundups, and see which book bloggers are reviewing books in your genre. And, as our FAQ states: “If you would like a specific blogger to review your book, you should find out about their review policy on their personal website.” Annabel Smith, who is an AWW volunteer – and who has conducted numerous author interviews for the AWW blog – was one of the highest reviewed authors for 2014 with her self-published experimental novel, The Ark. It’s an effort, but it can work.
Thank you for your advice Lizzy and yes, I am going to do just that. I did a few reviews here and there but got caught up in finishing my latest novel which came out mid November. Just starting on the next one, but I will definitely get involved now I know how to get to AWW on Twitter. For some reason I get paralysed when I have to do social networks. I am so worried about stuffing things up and I do it with style when it happens!
A week or so ago, I followed a girl called Rebecca on Twitter (you know how the suggestions are sent to you every so often?) without thinking. I didn’t realise that she is a hard core porn writer (if they do things like write lol) Anyway because my Twitter page is linked to my FB page, I received some very outlandish images on my FB page! One of my close friends rang me, screaming “For God’s sake go to FB. Something terrible has turned up on your page!” I looked it up while I was talking to her and almost dropped dead on the spot. Two EXTREMELY explicit images were confronting in all their dubious glory!
I deleted them, not knowing how they’d gotten there and apologised profusely to one and all (especially the mice, rabbits, gerbil, rats, cat, and their human parents who make up my following) I thought I’d gotten away safely but then another friend emailed me – “They’re still on your Timeline!” OMG.
I finally realised what I’d done when I went to my Twitter account, unfollowed Rebecca (more appologies, it wasn’t her fault after all) That taught me a lesson that you can’t be too careful and now I can laugh (weakly) about it lol But at the time it was motifying!
So, the upshot of all that is – yes, I shall follow your suggestions right now 🙂
Thank you for your patience,
Diana
What an awful thing to happen! No wonder you’re wary. Facebook settings can be changed so no one can post on your timeline without your permission. Glad you’re finding your way on social media and congratulations on the book. I look forward to seeing your contributions to the challenge.
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain the changes Elizabeth. I know we’ll all be looking forward to the new look review listings page-it sounds great, it will be a great advantage for it to be searchable- there’s so much great reading and blogging of Australian Women Writers it’s hard to keep up.
You’re very welcome, Louise. Let’s hope it’s ready soon! You’re right, there are so many fantastic books and reviews. It’s very hard to keep up.
Since this is my first year posting reviews, I wasn’t sure how it all worked or what to look out for. So thank you both for clearing things up.
I will look forward to first round-up posts.
Good luck with the behind the scenes admin stuff, in the meantime 🙂
Thank you Lizzy. I will be into them asap and looking forward to the listings as well. There is a list of Aussie writers on Amazon, but I have to confess that I forget to look it up. Many of the books are too expensive though, so I have to get the library to order them in.