Photo of Gandalf and Keith used in Cheryl's Blog, CMash Reads (Credit: Carolyn Carreiro, 2012).
I was interviewed by Cheryl Masciarelli this week. Cheryl posted this interview on her Wednesday, December 14th weblog site CMash Reads. The link to this interview is listed below:
THE PENITENT: Part I (Immortality Wars Book 1) Guest Author: A. Keith Carreiro
She started CMash Reads in 2009, with the goal of developing it into her own unique book review blog. She soon became a reliable and popular blogger in the literary world, especially within her favorite genre of mystery and thrillers. Publishers and book tour companies sought her advice and read her blogs because she provides authentic and fairly written book reviews of their respectively assigned authors.
Logo for CMash Reads. (Permission and courtesy of Cheryl Masciarelli.)
Her avocation, and passion for literature and for helping connect authors, publishers, reviewers and readers together, quickly became a full time vocation.
It is the quality of her work that distinguishes her in this field of the literary world. This highly esteemed recognition was a direct result of her disciplined and joyous approach to blogging about her favorite authors, as well as up and coming writers, too.
Best selling author Vincent Zandri best summarizes her talent, skills and abilities, “. . . she has her finger on the pulse of what’s new, what’s hot and, on occasion, what’s not. And her blog’s ever growing popularity reflects her talents” (LinkedIn).
The link to her blog follows:
Cheryl Masciarelli (Permission and Courtesy of Cheryl Masciarelli.)
Deepening and broadening her commitment to the literary arts, Cheryl joined Partners in Crime Tours in June of 2011. A little over a year later, she became owner and CEO of the company.
According to the web site < http://www.partnersincrimetours.net/ >, “Partners In Crime Tours represents a network of over 300+ bloggers offering tailor-made ‘virtual’ tours for crime, mystery and thriller writers from around the world. From quick tours of the blogosphere to more bespoke packages including guest spots, author give-aways and other opportunities on popular book review blogs and other author’s personal websites, PICT offers access to a global ‘readership’.
“In addition to the PICT network of blogs, reviewers upload their posts to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Good Reads and other well-known sites, expanding the profile and value of tours immeasurably.”
If you wish to contact her for her services, please email her at the following email address listed below:
Contact Cheryl: CMash@partnersincrimetours.net
Image used on Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours web site. (Permission and courtesy of Cheryl Masciarelli.)
Publisher Lou Aronica, founder of The Story Plant, says this about her, “Cheryl does excellent work with tremendous passion and commitment. She deals with a lot of moving parts and she never loses track of anything. I strongly recommend her” (LinkedIn).
In talking with Cheryl about the genesis of her current work, she shared with me the following statement:
“Lou Aronica, and I go way back. When I first found the Book Blogging Community (2009), he emailed me asking if I would review one of his books on my personal blog. Then some authors encouraged me to do tours. PICT was formed in 2011; however, I realized that my partner didn’t take it as seriously as I did. So we came to an agreement and I bought out my PICT partner in 2011; I started doing a lot of tours for Lou’s mystery/suspense titles. He then encouraged me to start a company for other genres so I could tour some of his other titles, which is how I “met” Steve [Steven H. Manchester, a Somerset, Massachusetts author]. His Ashes tour starts in February.”
In 2012, Providence Book Promotions [PBP], which is a subsidiary of Partners in Crime Tours, was started.
http://www.providencebookpromotions.com/
In the above–listed site’s “About Us” page, it briefly states, “PBP offers virtual book tour services for both well established and best-selling authors, as well as those just starting out with their careers. PBP prides itself on its tailored packages for authors, with a personal touch from the tour coordinators.”
She has a vast knowledge of her field, and even though she started this work in 2009, she has seen how technology is impacting the way key stakeholders conduct business.
“The book world is so much different now than when I started. There are so many books with the indie publishing platform, which is a good thing; however, those writers who are truly authors, sometimes get lost. As I stated, I am passionate about books. I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember and that’s a long time.”
Although I had just had the privilege of meeting her, she has already helped me learn about the use of social media to help publicize and promote my writing.
Thanks to Steve Manchester, who recommended her to me, I am also beginning to learn how much I still need to learn in order to become more effective in contacting people about my own storytelling work . . .
Related Links:
Lou Aronica:
http://thestoryplant.com/
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/29303-story-plant-revamps-model.html
http://authorleannedyck.blogspot.com/2013/12/interview-with-lou-aronica-of.html
Steven H. Manchester:
http://www.stevenmanchester.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Manchester/e/B001K8Y14C
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25159211-the-changing-season
Vincent Zandri:
http://www.vincentzandri.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/278833.Vincent_Zandri
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. As the sole author of the Penitent – Part I, and as the sole proprietor of Copper Beech Press, I have a material connection to this book, as well as to the publishing press, I have mentioned here. Other than my previously mentioned novel,
I have no material connection to the brands, products or services that I have mentioned here.
I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”