Ask the Author: Ted Cross
Answered Questions (3)
Ted Cross
Hi Terri. I actually looked at that already, and while I'm sure it is possible, I couldn't understand how to do it. I can write to Goodreads and ask them for help. Thank you!
Ted Cross
Thank you for your kind words, and thanks for reading my book! Interesting question. I absolutely love Rome, and the Rome series by Colleen McCullough is one of my favorites (I can't recommend it enough).
Part of what allowed me to write honestly about Russia is that I lived there for years. While I have visited Rome a couple times and read a lot about it, I'm not sure I'm expert enough to pull it off, though I suppose a 'future history' of Rome would allow me to logically change a lot of elements. It's a fascinating thought experiment, so thank you for posing it. I know that even if I were to attempt it, it would be quite some time since I'm in the middle of writing three books (plus while still working in my day job I don't get to write as quickly as I would if I could write full time).
Part of what allowed me to write honestly about Russia is that I lived there for years. While I have visited Rome a couple times and read a lot about it, I'm not sure I'm expert enough to pull it off, though I suppose a 'future history' of Rome would allow me to logically change a lot of elements. It's a fascinating thought experiment, so thank you for posing it. I know that even if I were to attempt it, it would be quite some time since I'm in the middle of writing three books (plus while still working in my day job I don't get to write as quickly as I would if I could write full time).
Ted Cross
It's unfortunate that you so bluntly take an antagonistic tone, as opposed to understanding where indie authors are coming from, having to put their completely unknown books up against trade published books that start light-years ahead of us by default, regardless of quality, via their publisher's professional marketing departments. Of course I don't put myself in the league with the big, long-time professional writers out there, and I have ever suggested that I do.
Putting one single vote for a book on some lists is merely a very minor attempt to put some visibility on a completely unknown book, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I've had a few readers write to me that they discovered my book in this way and they were grateful to learn about a book they otherwise most likely would have missed. Famous authors can count on hundreds, if not thousands, of votes automatically for their books--and most of them deserve them--so I don't understand you begrudging a single vote that will only have my book appear way down the list from all the famous ones. I don't understand the one star you give book when it's very unlikely you actually read it, but that's your prerogative, obviously.
Putting one single vote for a book on some lists is merely a very minor attempt to put some visibility on a completely unknown book, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I've had a few readers write to me that they discovered my book in this way and they were grateful to learn about a book they otherwise most likely would have missed. Famous authors can count on hundreds, if not thousands, of votes automatically for their books--and most of them deserve them--so I don't understand you begrudging a single vote that will only have my book appear way down the list from all the famous ones. I don't understand the one star you give book when it's very unlikely you actually read it, but that's your prerogative, obviously.
Ted Cross
I do remember you from Authonomy. Too bad it has been taken away from us! I sent you a response via email.
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