To help answer a question that several people are already asking, I decided to post the answer to explain further than 140 characters on Twitter will allow.
We now have a Tyndale Blog Network badge! You can copy the code to add the badge to your blog. Once you log in to the TBN, you will see the badge under the "home" tab. It will look like this:
When you click on the "Click here," you'll notice that nothing happens. I was wondering about this too when our web team made it for us. Basically when you hit "click here," the code is automatically copied to your clipboard but it will look like nothing changes. If you paste (control + v) into any kind of place where you can write text (Word, email, etc.) the code will paste there. So after you click on "click here," simply paste the code into your blog html. Hopefully that helps all you confused TBN members out there!
On another note,The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book by Chuck Norris himself is releasing next week! Follow @chuckfactbook on Twitter for the chance to win a copy of the book (we'll be giving away several copies) and to get behind-the-scenes looks at Chuck's media tour in November. Let's get Chuck Norris trending all over Twitter!
Actor and martial-arts icon Chuck Norris will be signing his new book, The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book: 101 of Chuck’s Favorite Facts and Stories (November 2009; Tyndale House Publishers), at Scripture Haven Bookstore in College Station, TX, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2. Chuck Norris Facts is a quirky, but extremely popular, Internet phenomenon that has entertained millions of fans from all over the globe. Now, for the first time ever, The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book gives fans not only Chuck’s favorite Facts but also stories behind the Facts and the code by which he lives his life.
Book signing information is as follows:
Monday, November 2, 2009 Scripture Haven Bookstore 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Post Oak Mall - 1500 Harvey Road College Station, TX 77840-3769 (979) 764-1069
In addition to his acting career, Chuck Norris is also a martial-arts icon and a best-selling author of numerous books, including Black Belt Patriotism and the autobiographical Against All Odds: My Story. Norris’s nationally syndicated column appears in Human Events, Townhall, and WorldNetDaily, among other outlets. Chuck and his wife, Gena, continue to be involved in many charitable, Christian, and civic endeavors, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has served as spokesperson for the U.S. Veterans Administration and is a Veteran Foundation’s Veteran of the Year Award recipient. In 2007, he was made an honorary member of the United States Marine Corps in recognition of his visits to troops in Iraq. Chuck and Gena Norris are also advocates for an elective Bible education course now offered in 475 public school districts in 38 states.
Arguably Chuck Norris’s greatest mission, however, is to raise the value and standards of young people through his Texas-based KICKSTART organization, founded in 1990. KICKSTART (www.kick-start.org) is a character-building, life-skills program whose fundamental purpose is to give our nation’s at-risk middle school students the tools to strengthen their self esteem. In addition to martial-arts training, KICKSTART provides young people with the core values and philosophies associated with leading a productive and healthy life. Mr. Norris hopes to expand the program nationwide. For more information on Chuck Norris and the KICKSTART program, go to www.chucknorris.com.
Some of you have been wondering what our PR team decided last week about the new FTC Blogger Guidelines. We saw an article today from Publishers Weeklywhich actually clarifies the guidelines quite a bit. The guidelines are just that--guidelines. They're not laws or regulations that can lead to civil penalties if violated.
So fear not, dear bloggers! The FTC is not going to come after you for not disclosing that you received a free product in exchange for a review. However, at the end of the PW article, Pam Coughlan, a blogger, says the blogging community wants "to know how to do things correctly and with transparency."
Here at Tyndale, we agree that transparency is important. That is why we are including the following statement on all ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) and with all review copies of books we send out:
To comply with new guidelines introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book or ARC.
Many of you already thank Tyndale for sending you a complimentary copy of a book for review in your blog postings, so thank you for doing that! For those of you who don't already mention that you received a review copy of the book from Tyndale for review purposes, we simply ask that you please do mention that in your blog reviews from now on. It only seems right to be transparent in disclosing that information, and it shouldn't take up too much of your time to add a simple statement to your blog entry. If you want to see examples of how others have done this, visit some of the blogs listed below:
Jeanette Windle Joining Author Signing Event in Hagerstown
Jeanette Windle, author of Veiled Freedom, will join award-winning and best-selling Christian authors at the Hagerstown Holiday Book Festival. She will be signing books, along with other authors, at this event.
Event info: Hagerstown Holiday Book Festival Saturday, November 28, 2009 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Virginia Avenue Church of God 17306 Virginia Avenue Hagerstown, MD
Chuck Norris Fact #67: When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
Unfortunately I can't figure out how to embed the video here (I don't have the actual file), so you'll have to watch it on good old YouTube. If you've ever wanted to SEE Chuck Norris push down the Earth, here you go!
Chuck's wife, Gena Norris, gives some background on this video: "We love this video that was done for the boy it was intended for and did bring a big smile to his face during his final days here on earth, before he went to meet Jesus. That is why we made the video. It has also brought some comfort to his family."
The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book by Chuck Norris himself is releasing in November, so be sure to check it out for 101 of Chuck Norris's favorite facts.
Francine Rivers' New Novel, "Her Mother's Hope," Releasing March 16, 2010
Anticipation is rising for the release of Francine Rivers’s Her Mother’s Hope, the first full-length novel the internationally best-selling author has written since 2003. Tyndale House Publishers will introduce the book with a national marketing campaign surrounding a March 16, 2010, “street date” launch.
Her Mother’s Hope is the first of two historical novels in the Marta’s Legacy series, a saga inspired by strong women from Francine Rivers’s own family ancestry. The oft-unspoken, sacrificial love of a mother for her daughter is a crucial component to this story of four generations of women. Francine Rivers drew her inspiration from the biblical Parable of the Sower and the Seed for this series, while exploring how feeling loved and actually being loved can be perceived very differently. Breaking hurtful generational cycles is a foundational theme in the series.
Near the turn of the twentieth century, fiery Marta Schneider leaves Switzerland and a difficult childhood behind, determined to find life on her own terms. She’s driven by her father’s belief that she’ll never amount to anything more than a servant and her mother’s encouragement to chase her dreams. But nothing has prepared her for the journey ahead and the sacrifices she must make as she travels through Europe and Canada, and finally to the dusty Central Valley of California to raise her family.
Marta’s hope is to give her children a better life, but experience has taught her that only the strong survive. Her tough love is often mistaken for disdain, especially by her oldest daughter, Hildemara Rose, who craves her mother’s acceptance. As Hildie pursues her calling as a nurse, she falls in love and starts a family of her own amidst the turmoil of World War II. But when tragedy threatens the independence she’s worked so hard to build, both mother and daughter must face their own shortcomings and the ever-widening chasm that threatens to separate them forever.
With her hallmark touches of brilliant prose and gripping characterizations, Francine Rivers pens a rich, moving epic about faith and dreams, heartache and disappointment, and ultimately the resilience and tenacity of love.
“Francine Rivers has meticulously crafted a compelling story with an important message for every generation of women,” said Babette Rea, Marketing Manager, Tyndale House. “Tyndale House is privileged to publish Her Mother’s Hope, the first book in an inspiring and significant series about reconciliation and the restoration of life’s most important relationships.”
Francine Rivers has published several best-selling novellas and novels, including the Lineage of Grace series, The Mark of the Lion trilogy, and Redeeming Love. She has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her books have been translated into more than 20 different languages. Her novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors, including the RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Gold Medallion, and the Holt Medallion in Honor of Outstanding Literary Talent. In 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame. She and her husband, Rick, live in northern California.
New FTC Rules for Bloggers - How will it affect you?
As many of you know, Tyndale has its own blogger review program like many publishing houses. Through the Tyndale Blog Network, bloggers can sign up and request specific books for review. We send a FREE copy of the book in exchange for a review posted on the member's blog and a consumer site (like Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, ChristianBook.com, etc.).
This week, the FTC announced new rules for bloggers that, if violated, could add up to $11k in fines. Effective December 1, bloggers receiving any kind of compensation (including free product) will have to disclose that information clearly on their blog when posting a review of the product.
Our Tyndale Publicity Team is going to be discussing this in our meeting next week. We'll have a way to remind our blogging friends of this new policy to avoid fines for both parties.
What do you think of this policy? How will it affect the way you blog or read blogs? Do you read reviews on blogs where you know the person received the product for free? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
When you click on the "Click here," you'll notice that nothing happens. I was wondering about this too when our web team made it for us. Basically when you hit "click here," the code is automatically copied to your clipboard but it will look like nothing changes. If you paste (control + v) into any kind of place where you can write text (Word, email, etc.) the code will paste there. So after you click on "click here," simply paste the code into your blog html. Hopefully that helps all you confused TBN members out there!
