Wednesday Writerly Way ~ Reviews and Giveaways

One of the hardest thing to get as an indie author is free book reviews and reviews in general. How can you get 'em? That's the big question for today.

Some GoodReads sections have areas where you can get your book in a queue line for ARCs, or reviews. There are even sections set up for reviewers looking for books to read and review. Be aware these fill up fast and the wait could be long before your book comes up. I believe my first indie published fiction, Escape from Second Eden, will be reviewed later this year after a year of being in queue.

Most times, you run across reviewers with a goodly number of followers (2,000+), but they are so back logged in reading material it could take months if at all. If I had a buck for every reviewer that has posted under their submission guideline, *Not accepting new material at this time,* I'd be rich. Believe me, I've perused thousands of these sites over the years.

Now I could pay to have someone review my books, but I have principles against doing so. But why you may ask...

• Is the reviewer giving an honest review, or just in it for the money?
• Can a reviewer be impartial when reading for money?
• Does it really count as word of mouth advertising when using a paid for service?
• Are they grammar Nazis or content readers?
• How can they give an honest review of your work when they read thousands of books in a year?
• How much credibility does it actually carry?

These are some points I ponder when I look at paid for reviews services. Now I was an rabid reader. Sometimes reading up to two books a week, but that only equates to 104 books a year. Maybe I'm crazy which wouldn't be far from the truth, but why pay for a service to read your book?

Does a Kirkus review carry more weight in your mind when it's a sentence taken out of context on the cover or description? It doesn't as far as me, the reader, goes. I've found more stinkers than roses with paid for review services. They'll review any book for a price. Now if the author was to post the full review that might be a different story too, but it would be unlikely to sell many books.

I've had the stinky reviews about grammar and formatting issues by those who leave reviews in the past and I take them in stride. I even pulled all but one of my books off Kindle for that very reason. That was a logical choice. A no brainer in foresight, but not necessarily a good move when you consider I had my stroke a few days later and have been unable to reformat them to put them back up for sale in a year.

If as an indie author you pay for cover art. If you pay for editing services. If you pay for formatting service. You've already paid through the nose for something you haven't even published yet.

While I agree with the premise you've got to spend money to make money...should you have to pay for reviews too? I'm a relative tight wad. I'll squeeze every penny until it screams for mercy. I'm not opposed to spending hard earned money when I can rationalize it as a need, but some things take a lot of debate to ratify in my mind.

The more rational choice for me is to giveaway copies and have the average Joe review it or maybe another author that writes in the same genre as I do. Someone with a respected opinion would be helpful.

Who would you trust for your reading material, some faceless service or a friend?
Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Monday Mailbox~Networking Revisted

First I wanted to respond to the many emails and comments I received regarding my rant last Saturday found here. As I have said I write my blogs in advance because that's the only way since my stroke that I can edit them properly so they make sense. Since my stroke, I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, and react abruptly and inappropriately. This, unfortunately, is part of the way the stroke has affected my mind. Sometimes it is easy to control, but others well it just comes out although I do try to temper it.

The same day my interview with, my friend, Albert Rollins at Free Book Reviews came up on his roll call. So many people were taken aback by the difference between the funny and witty J.L. Murphey that they looked me up here and other places and were greeted by my rant. Oops, my bad. Sometimes, I just reach my limit and have to vent. I forget about how many new readers I have. For this, I apologize profusely. Now onto our regularly scheduled email...

Since Wednesday's post my mailbox has been full of mail, they ranged from insulted to wanting to know more. Today, I'm going to focus on the insulted ones to respond to because it's controversial. No not really, but because it answers both views.

The ones who were insulted was about my comments on online social media. The buy-my-book ads on twitter and other social sites, I mentioned.

How could I discount them so easily? Because I can.  There are thousands of indie authors publicizing their books on these sites, but the ones who actually makes sales is the one who develops a relationship with the reader. One ad over and over again won't sell your book any better than not doing it. If anything the reader will be so tired of seeing the ad they will go out of their way to NOT buy your book.

For online promotion to work takes a lot of time on your part. Most authors are busy writing their next book. I have said being an indie author you wear a lot of hats. This is one of them. But being smart about the way you use your time saves you fruitless effort, or wasting your time and money.

Wait a minute you say, this doesn't cost me anything. I beg to differ. If you had a job, how much are you paid an hour? Keep that figure in mind. How much time are you spending on the Internet marketing your book? Three hours everyday times $7.15 (that's minimum wage here in the US) times a five day work week... $107.25 before taxes. I will guarantee you, promotion or advertising executives earn a lot more than that because I was one. Now add in your internet connection for a month divided by four (4 weeks in a month). You can break this figure down to the hour if you like. If you have a fee to belong to various sites add that in. You're using electricity (batteries do need recharging or replaced) add that in. Incidental charges like your Smart phone or computer. So did it really not  cost you anything?

Wouldn't you want to spend your money wisely? Especially, if you are trying to sell your book?

• Most media retailers have sites in which you can publicize your book unless you make a nuisance of yourself. Sony Nook, Amazon, CreateSpace, Smashwords is on Facebook and Twitter, GoodReads all have author forums.
• Most will let you introduce yourself, your book including back page blurb or synopsis and place a picture of the cover.
• I know GoodReads, CreateSpace, and Amazon will let you create author pages for Q&A.
• These are 24/7 sales people for your business.
• You can become affiliated with sites like Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, SciFi writers, Independent author groups, etc. I just signed on with a stroke survival group. It wasn't to promote my upcoming book, but there is a tie-in.
• Online writer and reader groups are endless.
• Blogging or website which offer a feedback system.

The important thing to remember when joining these groups you are making a commitment to participate. The more you participate; the more everyone gets a chance to know you. The more they know you; the more apt they are to purchase your book. You don't have to beat a friend over the head with buy-my-book.

It's building a relationship between authors and their readers or possible readers. It creates the buzz. To me, this is a better way of using money wiser.

Keep writing and loving the Lord.

Free Book Reviews Has Started Up Again~ Yeaaaah!

Need your indie book reviewed or just looking for a good book to read, I've got some great news for you! Albert Rollins III has started his Blogspot site again.

I've always known him to speak the truth in his reviews. He covers overall feedback, voice, character development, plot, dialogue, pace, continuity, and setting. If he says a book is excellent or good, you can bank on it. He is currently looking to revive his readership. He has been gone for quite a while. I'm happy to welcome him back.

He has a very simple contact form. There are also a listing of books that he has reviewed in the past. He's a strong supporter of indie authors. Lets show him ours. He supports our troops with Operation E-Book Drop.

From his site under About Free Book Reviews:

Free Book Reviews is a blog that reviews indie books, interviews indie authors and generally talks about whatever amuses them in the literary world. If you are an author please feel free to submit your book for review and/or an author interview. If you are a reader feel free to check out any book listed on our blog. In any case, please share this blog with as many people as you can!

Keep writing and loving the Lord.