I joined the Book
Connectors Facebook Group last year, when I spotted the hashtag #BookConnectors
on Twitter, and investigated further. I discovered a Facebook
Group, founded by Anne Cater, where authors and book bloggers exchange
information about new releases, book reviews, latest blog posts; and they
discuss issues relating to books and reviews, such as star ratings and where bloggers post their reviews. This Facebook Group has a warm, friendly feel to it, and members also use the #BookConnectors hashtag on Twitter, a great place to stay up-to-date with the latest reviews and posts from book bloggers.
I invited Anne to be a guest on this blog because I'm interested to know how this special group came about, and I think it deserves to
get lots of attention. Anne kindly agreed to
be interviewed, and I sent her questions relating to Book Connectors and more
general ones so that she could take her pick. She answered them all, and since Anne's answers are so interesting, I couldn't leave any of them out. So, here you go, over to
Anne!
Anne
Cater on #BookConnectors:
When did you set up the Book Connectors Facebook
Group, and who is it for?
I set up Book Connectors in the summer of
2015. It is for book bloggers and authors, and is a place where they
can connect, and promote their work
How many members are there?
As of today, 10 January, there are 700 members.
Is it a Closed Group, and who is eligible to join?
Yes, it is Closed Group and membership is only open to
book bloggers and authors.
Are you the only administrator for the group, or do
you have help?
We have a fabulous team of four administrators on Book
Connectors; myself and three other bloggers.
Are there any rules on what to post, is book promo
allowed?
I’m a bit of a non-conformist, I figure that there are
enough rules in our everyday life without creating more in places that should
be fun, so I’ve always said that there are ‘no rules, just be nice to each
other’, so far, that has worked really well. There has been the
occasional post that’s probably not in keeping with the ethos of Book
Connectors, but a quiet, polite word with the person who posted them has proved
to be the best way to deal with this. Yes, book promotion is allowed
and encouraged – that is the whole point of the group.
Has this group helped authors and book bloggers get to
know each other better?
I’d say yes, there have been some great connections
made so far. Authors have arranged blog tours through the group and bloggers
have hosted Guest Posts, Interviews and Reviews on their blogs. These
authors and bloggers would probably never have been able to make that
connection so easily without the group.
It’s clear that the Book Connectors Facebook Group is
a supportive and happy place to be, and everyone is nice to each other-is this
something you encourage?
Yes, yes, yes. Supporting each other and
being happy is exactly what I wanted to see. I also like to see
healthy debate in Book Connectors, it’s not a place where everyone is expected
to ‘toe the line’, or have the same views. I love to hear lots of
opinions on lots of things and I think that we do that very well in the
group. I feel that people feel comfortable enough to express their
honest opinion without the fear of getting shouted down by more vocal members
of the group.
More about Anne and her love of books:
How long have you been reviewing books for, and when
did you launch your fabulous Random Things Through My Letterbox
blog?
I’ve been reviewing books for around eight years
now. I started as a reviewer for the Waterstone’s Reader’s Review
Panel and then became a reviewer for New Books Magazine. I’ve always
posted my reviews to Amazon and GoodReads too. Random ThingsThrough My Letterbox was born on 2 March 2011.
Is there a genre that you like to read and review the
most?
This is a difficult question. When I look through my
Top Books of the Year lists from the past few years, I see that they contain
lots of different genres. I enjoy contemporary
fiction, and have a soft spot for a great psychological thriller too.
Do you have a favourite author?
No. I have so many favourite authors, I’d hate to have
to pick out just one.
Do you have a favourite book?
Again, a very difficult question and it really depends
on my mood. I have shelves of special books that mean something to
me, but I really hate even trying to choose just one.
Which book are you currently reading?
At the moment (10 January 2016), I’m almost three
quarters of the way through Night Blind by Ragnar Jonasson, published by Orenda
Books.
What was your favourite book of 2015?
I always do a Top Books of the Year post, but I never
rate them in order. 2015 had fifteen books on the list. I have a very special
place in my heart for A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale though.
Is there a book due out in 2016 which you can’t wait
to read?
I’m lucky in that I do get to read books well before
they are published and I’ve already read the one that I was most excited about;
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, it is published 28 January
by Borough Press and it is going to be huge. There are three other
books, by favourite authors that are out in 2016 that I am hugely excited
about, and can’t wait to get my hands on; This Must Be The Place by
Maggie O Farrell, published by Tinder Press on 17 May; At the Edge of the
Orchard by Tracy Chevalier, published by Borough Press on 8 March and The
Wonder by Emma Donoghue, published by Picador in September.
Thank you so much Anne for being a guest on my blog,
and see you in the Book Connectors Facebook Group! Find out more about Anne in
her bio below:
Anne Cater's Bio
I am forty-nine years old and live in Gainsborough, a
small market town in Lincolnshire with my husband Martin and our two cats;
Costa and Nero. I grew up in a small North Nottinghamshire village,
just across the River Trent, my parents still live there. I can’t remember
not being able to read. My Mum encouraged my love of reading when I was small.
We didn’t have spare money, so new books were a huge treat, but the mobile
library came to our village every fortnight. It came during
school hours and my Mum would go along and fill a shopping bag full of books
for me to read.
I always have a book on the go, and read every single
day without fail. The only period of time during my life when I have
not read was when I was very ill in intensive care. The first thing I asked for
when I was transferred to the main ward was my book!
I only read print books. I have absolutely nothing
against e-books, and appreciate how useful an e-reader is to many people, but
for as long as I can physically hold a book and see the print, I will keep to
my paper books.
When I’m not reading, I work full time for a charity
as a Community Development Officer. I’m also the Clerk to our local Parish
Council and helped to set up and still have voluntary input into a young
people’s art project in the town. I love eating out, live music,
theatre and the cinema.
Added 7 November 2016 by Anita: Now you can follow Book Connectors on
Twitter too at @Book_Connectors
