Sabrina Sumsion

I don't actually like fine print so I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

1. To enter just fill out your contact information.  I can't tell you that you won unless I know who you are.  :)  I won't sell your contact information and I will not spam you.

2. The winner is chosen at random.  You can gain extra entries if someone enters your name in the "Who told you about this contest?" box.  You can also gain additional entries if you post a link to my web site on twitter, facebook or any other site.  Send me an email with links to see your post and you get more entries!

3. These are actual paper and glue books for the most part.  Because of the cost of postage, only US or Canadian entries will be honored.  If the award includes eBooks, outside US/Canadian entrants are welcome.

4. The books are selected at random.  There will be at least 5 books in each contest.  They could be picked from any number of genres but nothing will be overtly offensive.  (I don't review those books.  They are placed in file 13.)  Requests for certain genres/reader ratings etc cannot be honored. 

5. Some books are Advance Reader books. this means the final copy sent to bookstores could differ slightly.  Usually Advance Readers have more grammatical errors than the final copy.  These books are fine to pass on but do not sell them.  That is illegal.

6. The books are pre-read.  There may be folded pages, creases on the spine and occasionally a mark or two.  I will not send books in poor condition but do not expect pristine either.

Whew, I can put away my serious face now.  I have hundreds of books from reviews and they need to have new eyes to enjoy them.  Good luck and I hope I get to send you the next prize!

Are you curious why you see Google Ads on so many websites and how they work?  Keep reading for a short explanation.

First, why are they there?

Mainly, to help fund the website.  I pay for a web host and the domain so the small amount I receive from Google Ads helps me keep the website running.  Other website owners supplement their income or live off advertising earnings.

How does Google decide how much to pay the web host?

Google uses an algorithm based upon the number of people who see the ads as well as how many people who click on the ads.  Basically, the more visitors to a site, the more times the ads are shown.  I figure I am paid about a penny for every hundred visitors to the site. 

Clicks are much more powerful.  Depending on the ads shown, web owners can make $1, $5, $20 or more per click.  It all depends on how much advertisers are willing to pay per click. The website owners receive a small percentage of the cost per click.

How does Google make their money?

Google shows ads created by advertisers.  They take the keywords advertisers set up on the ads and match those words to the websites they are displayed on.  Advertisers set how much they are willing to pay each time their ad is clicked on and they receive a visitor to their web page.  In markets with little competition, advertisers can pay as little as $0.25 per click.  In markets with high returns like real estate, the advertisers might pay as high as $5 to $20 dollars per click.  The more an advertiser is willing to pay, the more likely Google is to show the ad in a top placement spot.

Yes, this is a short explanation but these basics give you the essence of why you see Google ads all over the Internet and how they work.  Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Would you like to submit a sample for Sample Saturdays?  Simply send an email with this information:

Subject: Sample Saturday Submission -title of the book

Body of the email:

Title and author name

Book Genre(s)

Links to where the readers can find you (Website/Blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Link to the book on Amazon.com

Excerpt for submission pasted into email -no attachments please!

Thanks so much!

Today's blog post has its roots in a movement online to bring awareness to the problem of bullying.  I found out about this movement from author K.C. Neal on her blog.  Have you been bullied?  Have you been a bully?  What impact does bullying have on people?  Well, I'm not an expert but I can give anecdotal evidence . . .