Disclosures/Policies/RULES for

DISCLOSURES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES - ALSO RULES FOR ENTERING GIVEAWAYS, CONTESTS, BLOG HOPS, ETC


This page PUBLICLY states all disclosures, policies and procedures that I follow and applies to this/my "BOOK BLOG":

"Laurie Here - Contemporary Fiction and MORE - Book Reviews".

If you would like to learn more details about "Me", please click on that TAB up above called "About Me". Thanks!

WANT ME TO REVIEW A BOOK FOR YOU? SCROLL DOWN AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ "GENRES I REVIEW"!
There is also a section under that which states the GENRES I DO NOT REVIEW. Please, please, please read those, too!
Reading both of those will save YOU AND MYSELF time! We ALL want MORE time, right? I do! So you can read what's next, or not, but PLEASE READ "GENRES I REVIEW!"

This page covers:
Book Reviews I will do, Posting of the Book Reviews, FTC Regulations Law, File Formats I accept and do not accept, Disclosure that Monies are NEVER Accepted, WHY I write Book Reviews, Entering and RULES for ALL Contests, Giveaways, Blog Hop Rules, and/or any other offer for BOOKS on my Blog, How to Enter ANY of the aforementioned, and my Reservation of Rights to change my policies at any time.

This is a "generic" statement/policy which I follow, and am posting this as guidelines to you, but it does not cover everything and it also covers too MUCH! (For instance, the ONLY compensation I receive from ANYONE to do ONLY BOOK REVIEWS, are the actual 'books or reading material itself', as I cannot read your book unless I have it!
This general statement may state I might receive other compensation, but I do NOT AND CANNOT due to the fact that I have a very 'rare' neurological muscle disease called Stiff Person Syndrome, and am physically UNABLE to 'work'. I am Totally and Permanently Disabled and I do NOT accept ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION some of these other 'generic general' suggestions that it states, or that 'other people do accept'. I will correct those areas to the best of my ability.

I have a very rare neurological muscle disease that causes severe and debilitating muscle spasms. I am TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED, meaning I am completely UNABLE TO WORK ANY TYPE OF JOB. THIS BLOG IS "NOT" A JOB. I DO IT "COMPLETELY FOR 'MY' PERSONAL PLEASURE", ENJOYMENT FOR MYSELF AND MYSELF ONLY. 

This Book Blog is a hobby that I joke around about being obsessed with books, but I am truly serious about that in a way as well! I truly AM "Book Obsessed"! I LOVE TO READ! It is a WONDERFUL escape from life! If I did NOT have a Book Blog, I would NOT have access to ALL the books that I do, and I flat out LOVE being able to get books to read and write reviews on. If I did not have this Book Blog, I would NEVER have access to ALL these AMAZING books that I do. I LOVE IT! 

Every person on this earth needs some type of outlet for personal enjoyment, and since physically I am SO limited, if not at most everything, I "should" be able to do something I truly enjoy! 


DISCLOSURE POLICY  written to the best of my ability, along with the help of DisclosurePolicy.org:


This policy is valid from 10 March 2010

This blog is a personal blog written of my opinions, and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  Laurie at laurieisreading at gmail dot com.

This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topics. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, (products being books only (one time was a puzzle coaster) - written materials and ZERO monies ever) in return for a written review ONLY. I am NOT paid ANY MONIES WHATSOEVER to review books, a short story, novella's, poems, or whatever it is that may have been written.


The compensation received (reading materials ONLY, NEVER MONIES) will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network you see on my blog is through Google. 


I am an Amazon Associate which does give me extra privileges on their website, meaning I may get information ahead of the public, and it also means if people click through a link to Amazon and purchases a book/product, I do receive a VERY SMALL percentage of the sale. To date, I have ONLY EVER received a $9.99 Gift Card to claim for books ONLY via Amazon ONLY, in the entire lifetime of this blog. (March 10, 2010) Being an Amazon Associate NEVER means I am PAID MONIES WHATSOEVER, NOR am I on their payroll. I am unable to work, and being an Amazon Associate does NOT mean I am an employee of theirs. (I am usually required by all requesting review parties to post my reviews I write at Amazon, so it DOES HELP to be an Associate there when posting reviews as we can post a link for the authors books for a sale for them.)


The owner of this blog, myself, Laurie Carlson, is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites or various other topics. I ONLY provide opinions on books and am NOT compensated with monies for doing so.) The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or 'appear' to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement and does NOT mean I accept ANY payment from or for discussing it. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. At times if I speak about a product, it is ONLY that. Talking about something. I am NOT RECEIVING ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION TO DO SO.


This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest (not that there would be any). We 'might' blog about people to whom we are related. The most interesting such people are:  my entire crazy, dysfunctional family! (which does not mean me! LOL!).


Anything written on this blog regarding the authors of the reading material I receive is strictly related ONLY to the reading material provided. Nothing is personal, nor should it be taken as personal. This blog gives 'opinions' related to reading material ONLY. Not personal attacks.


This policy is valid from 10 August 2010 and NEVER ENDING.


***WANT ME TO REVIEW A BOOK FOR YOU?
I would LOVE to!!!  

As long as your book fits these Genres of interest I love to read and write reviews about, I'm GAME! Please keep reading, and in the next paragraph, you will see "GENRES I REVIEW".  You will also see the list of Genres I do NOT review, too. 
Please see below for the type of book formats I will and will not review, please.



GENRES I "DO" review are:
Literature/Fiction: New Adult and Adult Contemporary, Women's,  Popular, Chick-Lit, Amish, Christian, Historical, Historical Christian, and one of my MOST FAVORITE is Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thrillers! (I don't get into Horror.) Every now and then, maybe some 'VERY' light  Paranormal, usually as it pertains to Christmas or romance stories, and ANY AND ALL CHRISTMAS BOOKS, or as long as the topic interests me.  I like all of these genres, and not necessarily in the order listed.  

Send a personal email to me at laurieisreading at gmail dot com, leave your info and as it pertains to the book(s), and I'll get back to you as SOON as I can!

GENRES I DO NOT REVIEW ARE:
Memoirs/AutoBiographies/Biographies/Adult, New, or Young Adult that contains Vampires/Witches/ Ghosts/Werewolves/Supernatural/Paranormal/or other 'strange, way out there' stuff and the likes of it, except as stated above.) Black Magic/Fantasy/Urban Fantasy/Futuristic/Apocalyptic/Science Fiction/Graphic Novels and Absolutely NO EROTICA "OR" other sexually explicit materials - NONE! 

HOW TO REQUEST A REVIEW FROM ME :

Please email me at:

laurieisreading at gmail dot com

Depending on the number of requests I have at the time you place a request with me, will determine if I am able to review your book for you, or "when and in what time frame" I would be able to do the review for you. There ARE times when I am or have been requested to review reading materials and just cannot fit your request in at that particular time, but in that event, I WILL let you know, or even ask you 'when' you would expect a review to be done by, or you may not care 'when' the review is done, just as long as I do it for you.

If I am unable to review your book, WAIT! There ARE other avenues we can take! We can do a "Book Spotlight", "Guest Post", "Cover Reveal", "Author Interview" OR you might want to provide copies of your book as prizes (to be seen by thousands!) for the MANY BLOG HOPS GIVEAWAYS I participate in! So, let's talk! You can see ALL the Blog Hop Giveaways I participate in in the RIGHT SIDE COLUMN. Usually, I try my best, to post ALL of the UPCOMING Blog Hops that are coming. If there are not any listed, or only '1', then I have not yet had the opportunity to UPDATE them YET. 

I review books for large Publishers, Independent Authors, Publicists, and more. I 'FULLY'  SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AUTHORS who self-publish their books! You are VERY important people to me, and, you never know what GEMS can be found with them, and I have been SO grateful for those hidden gems in the pile! Thank you, Indie authors!

When you contact me, PLEASE let me know the GENRE the reading material is about, and a short synopsis of the book you would like me to review!  Perhaps you might have a link to Amazon, Goodreads, or Smashwords. That would be GREAT! As long as the book/story sounds interesting to me, I'm game! The genres I review ARE LISTED ABOVE.

BOOKS/BOOK REVIEWS/POSTING REVIEWS/COMPENSATION - "FTC GUIDELINES"


The following are the disclosures/rules that I include at the end of all my book reviews.  I am providing this to you, the requester, and for my Followers of my Blog, here at: http://www.lauriehere.blogspot.com under the "Disclosures/Policies" Tab so ALL may know publicly why and how books/reading materials are obtained, why and how my reviews are written, and that there are NO forms of "ANY" TYPE OF COMPENSATION IN THE FORM OF MONIES EXCHANGED WHATSOEVER. ALL I am PROVIDED WITH ARE THE READING MATERIALS SO THE COST DOES 'NOT' COME OUT OF MY POCKET, AND THAT THE BOOK REVIEW IS WRITTEN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FTC COMPLIANCE REGULATIONS LAW, which follows.

I received this book for “FREE” from ____________________, through their Book Reviewers Program in exchange to read the book and write a review about the it.  It is NOT required for the review to be either positive or negative, but, “of my own opinion.”  I was provided with “NO MONIES” to read and write a review for this book, except for the pure enjoyment of reading it.  I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.htm Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.


The only time I do not use this endorsement are for books I have chosen to read for my own personal enjoyment.  I do write reviews on those books as well, but do not have to follow the FTC Guidelines as I was not provided the reading materials for free. These reading materials were obtained using my 'own' monies. I have chosen these materials and purchased them on my own and will state this in my review.

When POSTING BOOK REVIEWS: ALL Book Reviews ARE posted here on my Blog: http://www.lauriehere.blogspot.com  Just ask me for the link, or, most of the time I will email you with the link. I also post ALL my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I try to post them on LibraryThing.com if time permits, but I have fallen way behind on that website. Plus, I don't see the purpose in 'double' posting between Goodreads and LibraryThing, as it makes a LOT more work for me. I spend a LOT of time on Goodreads! I LOVE that site! You can reach me on Goodreads at this link: http://www.goodreads.com/lauriehere
If you would like your review to be posted anywhere else, in addition to the places I have listed above, please advise me.

File Formats I accept for review: 
I MUCH prefer ebooks for review in the MOBI version for the Kindle.
There are times when I might request physical hard copies of books, i.e., Hard Cover, Paperback.
I REFUSE to read PDF OR WORD File Formats on the computer, as I have a vision problems. I have 2 sets of double vision with shadowing and a permanent black spot in my left eye in the field of vision which is not good. My eyes do NOT make tears, either. I have to use Restasis to try and help my eyes produce tears, and even with this medication, it does not help a lot at all. I CANNOT read on the computer because of these physical ailments. It is IMPOSSIBLE.
I have a neurological disease called Stiff Person Syndrome, which, according to my Opthamologist, when a person has a neurological disease, it is VERY common to experience double vision and other eye disorders. Science does NOT know why, but they do think it has something to do with the spinal cord and the brain - the Central Nervous System.
Therefore, because of this severe problem, this is why I will NOT accept PDF files NOR Word File Formats, either, for the reasons stated above. Besides, reading 'should be' an enjoyable experience, and if it is not, it could show in the review, not intentionally, but I think anyone can understand how and why.

The FIRST AND FOREMOST DISCLOSURE REGARDING PAYMENT OF MONIES:
  
There are NONE! NO MONIES! NO ONE PAYS ME MONEY TO READ AND WRITE REVIEWS ON BOOKS you see reviews done on my blog! No Book Reviewers/Book Blogger are even allowed to earn/make ANY money of ANY kind when a book is given to me/them to read and write a review for whoever may ask.
Why? There is an FTC Law, listed above under the heading of Books/Book Reviews/Posting Reviews/Compensation/FTC GUIDELINES, that prohibits this legally. I have the LINK to that law posted above. NO monies are paid to ANY PERSON, NOR CAN ANY PERSON ACCEPT PAYMENT for reviewing books without breaking the FTC Law.
Therefore, due to this, I am NOT paid money to read ANY book OR to write a review, OR to make ANY Post I Publish. I am NOT paid money to READ POSTS, NOR AM I PAID MONEY TO POST POSTS.  I am NOT paid money to read books. I am NOT paid money to write reviews on the books I have written reviews about.  I am NOT paid money to do anything on this Blog, whatsoever.  I HAVE "NO SPONSORS SPONSORING THIS BLOG".  This is "MY" Blog that "I" have "CHOSEN" to do AS A "HOBBY".  This "HOBBY" I HAVE IS FOR "MY LOVE OF READING BOOKS AND WRITING REVIEWS TO SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHAT THE BOOKS I HAVE READ ARE ABOUT, TO SHARE WHAT "MY OPINION" OF WHAT i THINK ABOUT THE BOOKS I HAVE READ IS AS WELL.
I also LOVE the socializing with other people who LOVE what I LOVE!  "EVERYTHING" ON THIS BLOG "I" HAVE DONE, "I" HAVE WRITTEN, "I" HAVE PUT HERE and/or PUBLISHED HAS BEEN ON MY OWN."

You will see a COPYRIGHT NOTICE in the LEFT SIDE-COLUMN.
I have written everything that is posted on this blog in my book reviews, and I would hope ANYONE WILL RESPECT THIS AND 'NOT' USE WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN AS THEIRS.

This is a FREE Blog website available for ANYONE to do on ANY subject through BLOGGER, which is a part of GOOGLE.
I am posting this because I DO NOT want anyone to think I am being paid OR that I am employed by anyone to do this blog. I am NOT. It is done on my own free time, when I am ABLE TO for my OWN ENJOYMENT. Also, it IS against the law, and punishable TO ACCEPT MONEY TO WRITE BOOK REVIEWS. This Blog is meant for MY OWN FUN AND ENJOYMENT "ONLY". I AM NOT PAID, AS IS DISCLOSED.
Besides, who needs money to do this? Not me! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! Read a book and write a review and share it with other people!! What could be ANY more fun?! LOVE IT!!!   

Why Do I Book Blog?
Why do I do this Book Blog? As a hobby! I LOVE to read books/materials and write about them so other people can read what MY OPINION of what I have read are and to share it with other people for when they go to make a decision to purchase a book to read. This way they can see what other people think of the books they are considering to purchase. I LOVE to share MY OPINION! I do this at MY pace, and MY pace only. At times there may be dates as to when Giveaways are scheduled for, or when books/reading materials need to be read by, but know that I ONLY AGREE "IF" I KNOW I AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASK WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT IS WISHED UPON BY THE REQUESTER.
As I have posted up above, I have a neurological disease that has me Totally and Permanently Disabled. I can ONLY do what I can, when I can. This is NOT full-time for me as it is impossible for me to do it full-time. I do it when I can.  You can learn more about me under the TAB "About Me".

If you would like to me to help you, or to help me, run a Blog Hop/Contest/Giveaway or anything else pertaining to a BOOK or BOOKS, I AM available via email at laurieisreading at gmail dot com.  I would "LOVE" TO PROVIDE OR GET ANY HELP to do so, if I am able to!! I would love to give my time and/or possibly get some help to run some of these fun things, or even to help to provide some materials for contests/giveaways 'if I am able to', or get some books in exchange!!!  It IS MORE than welcomed!! I LOVE helping my Fellow and Buddy Bloggers! You are my FRIENDS! This is, after all, what we are all here for! For the LOVE OF READING, AND SHARING IT! To help and support one another!  I look forward to it!!!


****RULES FOR ENTERING:
CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS/CHALLENGES and more!****
I reserve the right to change these policies at any time.



I will ONLY ship books to the US and Canada in ALL my Giveaways. For other countries, when I do give a book away, I do use Book Depository. It is UP TO YOU to make sure YOU CAN receive books from them with FREE SHIPPING. Since I do NOT MAKE MONEY from this blog, I cannot afford the postage to mail books to other countries.
I LOVE my friends from the UK! Hi there!
SOMETIMES I 'DO' RUN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAYS!  These are 'all' run at my discretion, or possibly an Author's, as well, if they want me to host their book in a Giveaway! It is up to that Author if they are willing to ship a book to the UK. Most of the time these books are in the ebook format.
If I see something I am interested in, I will often enter into a Blog Tour or Hop, run a contest on my site sometimes at my own cost, or possibly an author will provide me with extra copies of books at their expense for my blog contests/giveaways/challenges, etc., or in other ways, shapes or forms, such as possibly an ebook or even an audiobook.
Again, I am NOT paid any monies WHATSOEVER, nor am I persuaded in any form to run a contest/giveaway/challenge.  Again, it is at my own discretion.
I will often run a contest/giveaway/challenge that runs along the SAME time-frame that a Publisher or Author is running a Virtual Book Tour, Virtual Blog Tour, etc., or if I have read and reviewed a book that coincides with a specific contest someone is running, I will join them and use that book for that particular contest.

IF YOU HAVE WON A BOOK AND DID NOT RECEIVE IT, PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL!
There is one book I have currently that I LOST the name and address of the person who won this book. I am HOPING she will notice this post, and contact me! I am SO sorry I did this. It was right after Thanksgiving, during the holiday season, and when the family was decorating, things were moved, and one of those things was the printed paper/mailing slip. To that person out there, PLEASE EMAIL ME!!! Thanks!


***IF I AM RUNNING ANY TYPE OF CONTEST/GIVEAWAY/GIFT CARD OR AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY USING BOOK DEPOSITORY OR ANY OTHER PLACE,- THIS IS RUN AT 'MY COST'.  NO ONE GIVES ME MONEY TO RUN THESE CONTESTS.  IT IS OUT OF "MY POCKET".

***RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS ENTERING MY CONTESTS/GIVEAWAY/OR ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO RECEIVING PRODUCTS:



For ALL Contests/Giveaways on my Blog, the RULES/TERMS are as follows:
***ONLY RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTRIES STATED FOR EACH CONTEST CAN ENTER THE GIVEAWAYS TO WIN, AND "EVERY" CONTEST/GIVEAWAY IS DIFFERENT!!! WATCH "EVERY" ONE TO SEE IF "YOU" QUALIFY TO ENTER!
For the US and Canada on MY Blog - ALL forms of books are available to participants.

FOR INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAYS - PRIZES 'WILL' EITHER BE IN EBOOK FORMAT OR IT WILL CHANGE TO THE "BOOK DEPOSITORY"! "YOU" MUST MAKE SURE THEY SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR FREE. THIS IS 'YOUR' RESPONSIBILITY, OR YOU RISK NOT WINNING. THEY USUALLY SHIP FOR "FREE" TO MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, SO, AS LONG AS THEY DELIVER/SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FREE OF CHARGE TO ME - THE FREE BOOK WILL CHANGE TO A BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE FROM THE BOOK DEPOSITORY. REMEMBER - IT IS UP TO "YOU" TO MAKE SURE THEY SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR FREE!
***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER GIVEAWAY/CONTEST/ETC.!!
***ALL ENTRANTS AND/OR WINNERS MUST BE  AGE 13 OR OVER, per the FTC, LEGALLY!!!
I WILL STATE THE MINIMUM AGE FOR EACH GIVEAWAY I HOST ON MY BLOG ACCORDING TO THE CONTENT IN THE BOOK. The FTC Guideline law is you must be at least "13 OR OVER" IN ORDER TO ENTER - HOWEVER, I DO USE MY OWN DISCRETION ABOUT THE BOOK. IF I FEEL A BOOK SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN TO A PERSON AT THE AGE OF 16, OR 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, I WILL DO SO. WHEN I CONTACT YOU, I WILL ASK FOR THE YEAR OF YOUR BIRTH TO VERIFY IF YOU QUALIFY TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. A LETTER FROM YOUR PARENT MAY BE REQUIRED. Sometimes the books I read ARE 'adult themed', being that they are Women's Fiction, Best Sellers, or Adult Themed. Adult Themed does NOT mean erotica, NOR content with sexual matter, or anything in that regard,  EVER. This Blog is a "CLEAN" Blog, but sometimes the subject matter DOES end up being Adult-themed. It WILL state that in each event.
TO ENTER THE CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS/ETC.
Just ENTER the ENTIRE FORM on the Giveaways page for that particular Giveaway/Contest/Blog Hop, or whatever it is!! That's it! All the questions there NEED to be filled out and it varies from Event to Event.

You can leave a comment if you would like, too! Not required! Optional!! But I LOVE COMMENTS!!!  COMMENTS DO ‘NOT’ COUNT FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES!!!  Thank you!!!

Again, Contests/Giveaways/Etc., are OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADIAN Residents ONLY, UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE AS BEING "INTERNATIONAL".

I appreciate your compliance to these RULES!  The 'main' purpose of these rules are so I may contact you if you win.  I had one contest where I could NOT contact some of the people who won. "I" learned the hard way! This is for "YOUR" benefit!  

Thanks SO much!
Laurie


***I reserve the right to change these policies at any time.

All in all, I want this to be FUN!!! These are just the nitty-gritty rules that do need to be published to cover myself, as well as any and all legal guidelines according to the FTC, etcetera. My goal: FUN, FUN, FUN!!!! I LOVE reading and writing reviews! I LOVE running the Giveaways/Contests as I get to meet new people as they Follow Me and I get to visit their Blogs and become a Followers! I absolutely LOVE this! That is why I do this, otherwise, I would not.

Regarding "Posting a Comment":


Thanking you in advance for the following! I have NOT had ANY problems whatsoever so far! THANK YOU!!!

I AM REQUESTING NO FOUL LANGUAGE BE USED ON MY SITE, ANYWHERE WHEN POSTING COMMENTS. ALSO, PLEASE BE KIND TO OTHER PEOPLE! NO CRITICIZING, NO ARGUING, NO FIGHTING, NO CAUSING TROUBLE, NO FORCING YOUR VIEWS ON OTHERS, ETC. Let's let this site be a comfortable AND a "SAFE" site you want to keep coming back to and enjoy visiting! If any of the above 'not wanted' occurs, you WILL BE REMOVED and NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ANY LONGER! The Comments Moderation utility will be turned on, and your comment may NOT be published.


Also, CONCERNING ADVERTISING OF YOUR PRODUCTS IN MY COMMENTS SECTIONS - NOT ALLOWED!

I want to continue to keep this site a very interesting, informative and a very communicative site! A FUN place to come and visit! I want it to be VERY ENJOYABLE, AND TO BE A SAFE PLACE TO COME AND VISIT! I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY! Thank You!!!


Click on the Tab "About and Contact Me".  You will see WHY and HOW I ended up doing a Book Blog!!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Now that we have all this nitty-gritty boring stuff out of the way . . .

LET'S HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!