Author Guest Post: J. Johanis + Giveaway

M/M Reading Life Hacks

My journey into reading m/m started with Anne Rice, but now that I’ve discovered the massive body of m/m books available, I naturally want to read them all. Of course there are limitations to reading everything, both in terms of time and money. Since I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s run into such roadblocks, I’ve decided to share some life hacks that can help you read more with fewer constraints.

First of all, with respect to time, eBooks have opened up plenty of opportunities, but there are two big time savers that are quite significant. One is audio books, which are limited and costly, and the other is text-to-speech, which works with almost every book. Both allow readers to digest more books without having to dedicate exclusive time to sitting down to read the old fashion way. Personally, I listen to books while I do housework, while driving, and while shopping. I’ve met others who work on crafts and art projects while listening to their favorite authors. I’m not sure about other devices, but Amazon has a text-to-speech option on all Kindle Fires, and the only way it won’t work is if an author has opted out. If you’re not sure how to turn on text-to-speech on your device, the best thing is to call Amazon and they are really good about helping you locate it.

Now that you’ve discovered a few tricks to having time to read, here are some ways to have unlimited m/m without severely damaging your pocket book. First of all there are many freebies available online. You just need to know where to find them. A good place to start is Goodreads. The M/M Romance Group has writing events and publishes large volumes of m/m novellas and stories that are absolutely free. There is so much to read that I haven’t even made a dent in it. Additionally, there are lists on Goodreads that have unpublished books along with the links to the download. Another great way to find freebies is to set up an alert on eReader IQ. This tool notifies you about price drops on Amazon for authors and books you are looking for.

If you’re like me and you’ve identified some favorite authors, you might want to read everything new they put out. The good news is that there are several ways to read new releases without investing a fortune. The first thing you should do is see if your favorite authors use Kindle Unlimited (KU). If there are enough KU books out there that you want to read, you might consider signing up for Kindle Unlimited for a month or so and have a reading marathon. Another thing that is good to know is that many authors send out Advanced Reading Copies (ARC) to their street teams prior to releasing a new book. If you love an author’s work, it wouldn’t hurt to contact her to inquire about joining her street team.

Additionally, authors love reviews, so most share ARCs with a number of m/m blogs. I’ve identified over two hundred m/m blogs so far, but I’m sure there are plenty more. Most blogs have more books to review than they can possibly manage and would be happy to have additional reviewers. Finding the right blog might be a little homework on your part, but after finding one that is best for you, ask them if they have room for another reviewer in their ranks. Additionally there are reviewing opportunities on Goodreads groups like the Don’t Buy Me Love program on the M/M Romance group and through the Indigo Street Team. If you take the reviewer route, you will have more to read than you’ll know what to do with. Again, back to the time saving hack, check out text-to-speech, and you’ll double or triple what you can read right now.

I hope my article was helpful and you’ve learned some new tricks that you hadn’t thought of before. Every one of these methods will benefit you as well as the authors you are reading. If you’re not familiar with my work, I write m/m dark erotica, and yes, I have my own freebies. If you’re interested in reading something dark and edgy, feel free to sample my work. Thanks for reading.

About the Book:

Dream God (S-Gods #2)
Release date: November 30, 2015

For the first time in three years, Aya is finally free, but with his freedom comes the pain of all he’s lost. Seeing Akad and Marduk together makes him realize how badly he has messed up. By betraying Marduk, he ruined his chance with the one god he desires more than anything. 

Aya needs time to heal and put his world back together, but the trial against the Order looms over him. As the trial begins, Akad, Marduk, and Aya are ensnared in a web of jealousy, backstabbing, and cut-throat politics. Were they crazy to think they could stand up to the Order? If the gods of the Order can still rip their lives apart, their chances of receiving justice may be next to impossible. But if they fail to bring the Order down, Aya may never truly be free. 

Advisory: Contains graphic violence, dub-con, & abuse.

About the Author:

J. Johanis writes m/m dark erotica and enjoys plots that are historical or myth-based.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://jjohanis.com/
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Giveaway:

J. Johanis is offering a giveaway! To enter, complete the Rafflecopter giveaway:
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This giveaway is sponsored by the author. Contest rules and entry information is provided on the Rafflecopter form. Open to participants who are legally allowed to participate in such a contest as allowed by their local laws. All federal, state, local, and municipal laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. By participating in the contest, participants agree to be bound by the decisions of the contest sponsor. Prize will be delivered by the contest sponsor. This blog, its reviewers, and the owner are not responsible for items lost in the mail. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to abide by these terms.