Eva Pasco's Blog - Posts Tagged "reviews"
In Review
So this is Christmas
And what have I done?
*“Happy Xmas” (1971) – liberty taken with the original lyrics by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
With Christmas forthcoming, another year almost finished, and a new one about to begin—just what have I done over the past twelve months?
I finished writing my second Contemporary Women’s Fiction novel and submitted the manuscript, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE, for publication on March 31, 2016. The Paperback (550 pages) was officially published on August 22nd; the Kindle Edition (361 pages) on September 20th. Shortly after the eBook showed up at Amazon, I announced my novel’s release on social media.
Thanks to Advance Readers who volunteered to read the PDF file before my launch party, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE earned favorable REVIEWS on Amazon, which served as collateral for marketing and promoting a new launch. For my book cover blurb, I chose this excerpt from the first pre-publication review written by Author, Suzanne Kale—“A deep, warm read weaving together history, karma, synchronicity and chance.”
In October, my novel won UNDERGROUND BOOK REVIEWS’ “Pitch Perfect Pick” of the week, enabling it to become eligible for entry into their 2017 Novel of the Year Competition.
http://ow.ly/DPW2305IZRM
From late September until this point in time, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE has received 13 reviews (one 4-Star; twelve 5-Star) and two editorial reviews. http://tinyurl.com/htkxdox
The novel earned a 5-Star Seal from Reviewer, Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite, which I have framed. One of the most endearing excerpts—“One cannot know if such writing comes naturally to the author, or if she suffers from the agony of meticulousness required to produce such an exquisite work. The end result hearkens to the classics for its resemblance to such deeply thoughtful plotting, characterization, and the gorgeous prose used in its exposition.”
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
Although position will fluctuate, as of December 9th on GOODREADS, it ranked:
1st out of 70 books in the category “Books Set in Rhode Island”
2nd out of 11 books in the category “Must Reads by New Authors”
3rd out of 55 books in the category “Best Indie Books 2016/2017”
18th out of 811 books in the category “Self-Pub or Indie Books Worth the Read”
18th out of 120 books in the category “Culinary Fiction”
26th out of 202 books in the category “Favorite Books Released in 2016”
116th out of 445 books in the category “Food-Related Fiction”
450th out of 3,109 books in the category “Indie Authors Everybody Should Read”
https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/3...
How did AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE land on 9 lists? Fellow Indie Authors nominated it.
Why do ranks fluctuate so frequently where you gain and lose a lead? It’s all about authors supporting other authors, sacrificing personal gain to help another attain more visibility to prospective readers by nominating and voting. Thus far, favorable reviews and votes have enabled this quiche to rise to the occasion in 2016.
And what have I done?
*“Happy Xmas” (1971) – liberty taken with the original lyrics by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
With Christmas forthcoming, another year almost finished, and a new one about to begin—just what have I done over the past twelve months?
I finished writing my second Contemporary Women’s Fiction novel and submitted the manuscript, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE, for publication on March 31, 2016. The Paperback (550 pages) was officially published on August 22nd; the Kindle Edition (361 pages) on September 20th. Shortly after the eBook showed up at Amazon, I announced my novel’s release on social media.
Thanks to Advance Readers who volunteered to read the PDF file before my launch party, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE earned favorable REVIEWS on Amazon, which served as collateral for marketing and promoting a new launch. For my book cover blurb, I chose this excerpt from the first pre-publication review written by Author, Suzanne Kale—“A deep, warm read weaving together history, karma, synchronicity and chance.”
In October, my novel won UNDERGROUND BOOK REVIEWS’ “Pitch Perfect Pick” of the week, enabling it to become eligible for entry into their 2017 Novel of the Year Competition.
http://ow.ly/DPW2305IZRM
From late September until this point in time, AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE has received 13 reviews (one 4-Star; twelve 5-Star) and two editorial reviews. http://tinyurl.com/htkxdox
The novel earned a 5-Star Seal from Reviewer, Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite, which I have framed. One of the most endearing excerpts—“One cannot know if such writing comes naturally to the author, or if she suffers from the agony of meticulousness required to produce such an exquisite work. The end result hearkens to the classics for its resemblance to such deeply thoughtful plotting, characterization, and the gorgeous prose used in its exposition.”
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
Although position will fluctuate, as of December 9th on GOODREADS, it ranked:
1st out of 70 books in the category “Books Set in Rhode Island”
2nd out of 11 books in the category “Must Reads by New Authors”
3rd out of 55 books in the category “Best Indie Books 2016/2017”
18th out of 811 books in the category “Self-Pub or Indie Books Worth the Read”
18th out of 120 books in the category “Culinary Fiction”
26th out of 202 books in the category “Favorite Books Released in 2016”
116th out of 445 books in the category “Food-Related Fiction”
450th out of 3,109 books in the category “Indie Authors Everybody Should Read”
https://www.goodreads.com/list/book/3...
How did AN ENLIGHTENING QUICHE land on 9 lists? Fellow Indie Authors nominated it.
Why do ranks fluctuate so frequently where you gain and lose a lead? It’s all about authors supporting other authors, sacrificing personal gain to help another attain more visibility to prospective readers by nominating and voting. Thus far, favorable reviews and votes have enabled this quiche to rise to the occasion in 2016.
Twenty-Five!
Waiting for the break of day
Twenty-five or six to four
Twenty-five or six to four
*(Lyrics from the song, “25 or 6 to 4," recorded in 1969 by the band, Chicago)
My break of day:
July 19th - My Contemporary Women’s Fiction novel, 'An Enlightening Quiche,' merited its 25th Amazon review one day shy of turning 10-months old.
Breakdown: Twenty-two 5-Star and three 4-Star reviews
I’m grateful for each unique review which offers valuable insight to potential readers.
https://amzn.com/B01LX9UXWV
Arguments: Twenty-five—less or more?
Less:
Don’t get hung up on reviews. Many bestsellers have few reviews when they hit hot. Sales are always going to be more important than reviews to Amazon. Around ten to fifteen reasonable (3.5 – 4 star) reviews and a few strong editorial reviews will do nicely. You don’t need 300 reviews.
http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2...
More:
Reviews immediately add credibility to your book, communicating to potential customers that it is a worthy read. They also improve your book’s ranking when consumers are searching on Amazon, which is the primary reason to stay committed to getting reviews. And that, hopefully, will translate into more book sales.
http://www.blurb.com/blog/how-get-rev...
More, more, more!
Purportedly, 50 is the magic number of reviews that triggers Amazon to start paying more attention to your book. After you hit 50, you gain more visibility on Amazon.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brooke-...
From my own experience, nothing generates more of a buzz on social media than when I post my latest 4 – 5 Star review for a book I’ve read, or post the latest 4 - 5 Star review my book has received. Word of mouth is the best marketing strategy money can’t buy, discounting the cash outlay for a verified purchase. Since reviews can make or break a book on Amazon, it behooves the Indie author to foster feedback from readers, as the pen is mightier than the sword!
*Doing my small part to help an Indie author rise above the ashes of obscurity by reading and reviewing—I’m currently reading Aliya Dal Rae’s Sweet Discovery (The Jessica Sweet Trilogy) (Vol. 2) in the genre of Paranormal.
https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Discover...
Who are you reading?
Overlooked Four-Leaf Clovers
An Indie author, my novel in the genre of Contemporary Women’s Fiction—'An Enlightening Quiche'—is just one of many overlooked four-leaf clovers in the field of books, along with yours. So, it is all the more rewarding when readers “look over any one of our four-leaf clovers they may have overlooked before.”
Having piqued reader curiosity by whatever means necessary—free or paid ad—to click on the book link, perchance the blurb enticed them to take a leap of faith to make that purchase. I tend to think their decision may be influenced by reviews. Reviews not only contain previous readers’ opinions about our book, but they often provide insight and further details on content not revealed in the summary.
An avid reader who selects books written by fellow Indies, I’m constantly looking over other four-leaf clovers, those often overlooked, to read and review. It’s my belief that reviews make an Indie author’s pasture greener for attracting more consumers outside our network.
That mentioned, it’s an opportune time for me to introduce Indie Fab author/historian J.B. Richards’ monthly IHI (Indies Helping Indies) Book Review Project providing FREE “verified purchase” Amazon Reviews and Cross-Promotion for Indie authors through free promotional advertising on Twitter, and about 100 author/reader groups on Facebook.
Those Indie authors with less than 15 Amazon reviews can submit books for IHIBRP reviews posted at her Writers Block on the Yeshua and Miri website:
https://www.yeshuaandmirinovelseries....
*At the end of each month, Jeannie will post a notification on her Facebook wall to let you know when she will be accepting new submissions. Once the IHI Book Review Project Submission notification is posted (usually on the last business day of the month around noon to 2PM EST), you may enter your book in the drawing at that time!
http://www.facebook.com/jeannie.b.ric...
There is only one thing she asks—that upon completion of her duties to you, you heed her request to then turn around and surprise another fellow Indie author by paying-it-forward and doing them a favor (it can be anything such as a book review, author interview, spotlight feature on your blog, or book promotion) with no expectation of anything in return!
Through the endeavor of Indies helping other Indies, may each of our books be looked over, rather than overlooked.
Puttin’ On the Ritz
Perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz
*(From a song written by Irving Berlin, first published December 2, 1929)
During the transition of summer into autumn, there were a number of book contests conducted within the Indie community to recognize read-worthy books in a wide range of genres. Those of us fortunate to win first, second, or third place have anxiously awaited our coveted merit badges to affix on our books.
On behalf of my characters in 'An Enlightening Quiche,' I graciously and proudly display my badge commemorating the 2017 Summer Indie Book Award for “1st Place – Best Contemporary”.
Augusta has nudged me to proclaim the book an “Award-Winning Fiction”. Definitely a nice ring to the bling!
A shout out to fellow Indie Fab author, Renee Gauthier, courtesy of RM Designs, for puttin’ on the ritz by affixing all the book bling my novel has merited since its first book birthday celebrated on September 20th, including a “Readers’ Favorite 5-Star seal” and “ATAI Fiction Finalist” badge. She not only did that, but created several banners too.
https://www.facebook.com/RMCustomDesi...
While I may not display my adorned book cover every day, on any single given day, I do cite one of my book’s achievements in an ad, along with the tagline, “Acclaimed Contemporary” or “Award-Winning Fiction”.
In my humble opinion, a published author’s finest achievement is that of enticing our target audience to read our book(s) and leave a review. Thus far, the carbon imprint reviewers have left behind for 'An Enlightening Quiche' have bestowed the greatest honor of all!
“Literally” Sucker Punched!
It’s like “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”!
Take one down, throw it away. One less book review today.
The takeaway of Amazon reviews is disheartening for Indie authors who experience sluggish, sporadic, or stagnant book sales. The reward for our slow and tedious uphill climb along this precarious journey is a book review posted by a reader. Therefore, it’s a shock to discover the removal of a review every now and then, especially when that review is based on a verified purchase. Mind you, nothing but the removal of a 5-Star review will do, while a mean-spirited 1-Star, vitriolic slander-fest holds its ground despite an appeal, and subsequent curt dismissal.
First and foremost, it’s an insult to the reader who takes a leap of faith in purchasing a book and graciously takes the time to write an honest review providing feedback.
Last week, my Contemporary, 'An Enlightening Quiche,' had its reviews whittled down to 28—again! So close to 30, yet so far! My Nonfiction Memoir collection, '100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s,' is down to 10.
Each day, I walk the gangplank, on edge, over what I’ll discover that may obstruct my path to the Promised Land of Visibility, purportedly attained after your book gets 50 reviews.
However, the hide of an Indie author is thick to begin with, having pioneered self-publishing on our own terms. Taking away one or more reviews over time can never undermine my integrity as a writer, erode myself self-respect, or devalue the merit badges my books have earned. I also take consolation that many bestselling authors have had few reviews prior to hitting it big.
Sales drive success, not reviews.
Although I’ve yet to strike the mother lode of book sales, like an errant weed poking through concrete, I’m determined to succeed in my own way—one book sale at a time.
Power of Persuasion
An indie author, I expend a minimal amount of energy on marketing and promoting my books, refusing to analyze and strategize Facebook or Amazon ads. It’s a costly exercise by trial and error. Even after reading the scant stories of successful authors who’ve discovered their successful algorithm to earn a lucrative living from writing, I’m not impressed or enticed in the least.
Of sound mind—a dubious claim, I didn’t sign up for becoming an expert in marketing analysis. I’m a writer who firmly believes “word of mouth” is a published author’s best marketing tool for persuading readers to take a leap of faith in purchasing a book.
And, so—whenever possible, I incorporate a snippet from a reader’s review in the ads I create:
Add text to photos - https://picfont.com/
This indispensable marketing tool enables me to compose ads for each of my books. Prepped the evening before, I post such an ad in various promo groups on Facebook.
As to their power of persuasion, my burden of proof reverts to the number of Booklinker URL clicks which automatically take potential readers to the Amazon storefront. Hence, it’s catch as catch can.
I’m not faring any better, or any worse, had I heeded a snippet of the marketing advice floating around. As I’ve learned the hard way, failure comes at a price, with little to nothing gained from my own expense. Namely, the revenue from book sales.
*Yet, a picture with testimony has potential for motivating the beholder to take action.
