reading

Have You Heard That Word Before??

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: pexels-photo-8419515.jpeg

An author-friend of mine and I often read each other’s work. Last week she used a word in her story that I hadn’t heard before. 

I normally use context clues to gain meaning of unfamiliar words, but in this case I still wasn’t sure. I had to look it up.

I ‘ve heard more than once that readers either skip over unfamiliar words (thus not gaining the express meaning of a sentence) or if the author uses too many of them, they put the book aside.  Sometimes they do look up the meaning. However, they become irritated if there are too many unfamiliar words in a book and most likely will not select books from that author again.

Readers, please share how you react to unfamiliar words in the books that you read. Authors really do want to hear from you. After all, we really do write for YOU!

Reach for the Stars

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: pexels-photo-9821386.jpeg

Do you remember coming home from school with a tiny foil star for exemplary behavior or academic accomplishment?

The idea of receiving stars for “the remarkable” carries on to present day when they are even earned on the internet by people, products, vacations, songs, photographs, inventions, and so on.

We’re all aware of what they mean. We appreciate—even strive to—“earn” them.

No one is more aware of this concept than authors. Stars from reviewers translate into public awareness of them and their books, which ultimately mean sales.

We put forth our best everyday, keenly aware that our final product will be judged by our readers. Our end goal is a product worthy of those priceless five-star reviews. 

Remember Me

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

It’s two days past the official Valentine’s Day, but it’s not too late to put your Romance Novel on your Facebook page. Most women—and even a growing number of men—are reading love stories as one way to find encouragement, hope, and relieve the stress of everyday life.. 

Here’s my friend, Mia’s, book cover—and its Amazon link. Consider reading it yourself, as well as sending it to your friends. It’shttps://www.amazon.com/Remember-Me-Marigold-Mia-Michaels-ebook/dp/B0DP5L58SD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3GPOU9W0X70TI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zYBdJYfWJGrvCOpeXExywkUlY2YBnX_fdMcwBBLvWeXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.k94iT6aG5r7y3uxfnHunmj4K6ZlGmKuYWvGb40P77hw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Remember+Me:+A+Sonnet+for+Marigold&qid=1739555530&s=books&sprefix=remember+me+a+sonnet+for+marigold,stripbooks,151&sr=1-1

It’s a real pager-turner. A mixture of romance and suspense!

Update

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: pexels-photo-30605307.jpeg

Have you been thinking of updating one of your books? 

If you’d like to change your book’s details (contributors, categories, or description), manuscript, cover, or territory and publishing rights) here’s how to do it: 

Click on the ellipsis button next to your book on your bookshelf. Choose EDIT BOOK DETAILS, then SAVE AND CONTINUE. 

At the bottom of the Pricing page, click PUBLISH. Amazon will review your book to ensure it still meets their guidelines for quality/standards.

Some changes can be made directly to the published version on your bookshelf. Other changes require you to publish a new edition of your book.

Certain features are “locked” and cannot be updated until you publish the book as a new title (a new edition) from your KDP Bookshelf.  They are: language, title, subtitle, edition, primary author, digital rights management.

Take A Peek

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: screenshot-2023-07-07-at-7.11.48-am.png

I recently published another book. I looked at my book’s listing by typing its title in the AMAZON BOOKS search bar. However, I found that the LOOK INSIDE feature had not yet been activated.

This feature should be showing up online from 7-10 days after a book is published.

I later discovered it wasn’t that my feature had not yet been activated–Amazon had changed the feature. Now, there is a READ SAMPLE button below the book’s cover image, allowing potential buyers to click and receive a sample to read.

That’s really all that has changed.

So, authors, don’t be disappointed if you don’t see the cute LOOK INSIDE icon. It’s simply a change of wording. 

This is a great feature, when you think about it. READING SAMPLES allow readers to add the book to their cart or use 1-click to purchase instantly. They feel more comfortable ordering after “sampling”, discovering if it is a book they will truly like.

Note: Some features/pages aren’t available (or only available in limited amounts) unless the customer is logged into their account and/or have made a prior purchase. 

Authors need to be aware that this feature is NOT available for books with no ISBN, the sample cannot be adjusted, and specific pages cannot be designated to be “hidden” from view.

This is important to know. A friend of mine had pages entitled “Dear Reader”, Dedication, and so on at the beginning of her book. Because these took up about 8-10 pages, customers only saw those pages—and not any real story content. Authors may need to adjust the front matter in their books accordingly so customers can receive a meaningful sampling of their writing.

Unlike in previous years, Amazon now automatically activates the reading sample feature for authors. Less work for us!!

The Read Sample button is only available for e-books when using a mobile device  AND, it is not available for print books on mobile phones. 

Reading Trends for Writers

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: 47572746831_4dd6b67740.jpg

Understanding book sales is important for authors and publishers.

All of my books have been fictional. Each based on ideas that interest me at the time.

However, gurus are suggesting authors take a scientific approach to choosing our topics and genres.

With another book published—and starting to write yet another—I set out to garner information on trends among American readers. 

Recents surveys show that nearly half of Americans polled haven’t read any books in more than a year!

So then, let’s focus our attention on the other half—the readers.

I was surprised to learn that PRINT BOOKS continue to be the most popular format. E-books rank next; then audiobooks. 

The number of female readers is only slightly higher than for males.

Americans love HISTORY, MYSTERY, AND BIOGRAPHY.

Fiction sales gave gone up by 45% over the last five years. 

Non-fiction, especially political and self-help, are currently seeing a decline in interest. 

You can draw your own conclusions, but from these statistics, we might want to focus on women readers of history, mysteries, and biographies.

And although Romance has always been a popular genre—and probably will continue to be—perhaps now would be a good time for Romance writers to couple with the genres above…Romantic Suspense… Historical Romance, and so on.

Those are my thoughts based on a little research.

Lossent

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: pexels-photo-8419515.jpeg

At a recent book fair, a shopper introduced me to a new word she is trying to get into the dictionary. (I’ll share the word at the end of this post). She is out “campaigning” for this word at book fairs, libraries, grocery stores—anywhere she thinks someone will be interested and will help.

I did some research to aid in my understanding of just how new words do, in fact, join the hundreds of words which are added to the dictionary each year. And, here is what I found:

  1. A words gets into the dictionary when it is used by many people who all agree that it means the same thing. (Used in conversation, books, in movies, editorials, etc.)
  2. Dictionary editors read and look for changes in language in mainstream life. They keep notes on where they “read” the word, its context, and source and key it into a searchable database. 
  3. To be added to the dictionary, they look for three types of usage: frequency, meaningfulness, and widespread use. Once words “qualify,” (such as bucket list, unfriend, selfie) they are added to the dictionary.
  4. Some common words get “new” definitions added, also. Examples would be: cookie and mouse.
  5. Here is the word the book fair lady shared: LOSSENT. It means a person who outlives their biological, fostered, or adopted child and is deeply affected by the loss.
  6. You may want to start using this term and help LOSSENT earn a place in the dictionary!

FREE e-books

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: pexels-photo-3806168.jpeg

Readers: Want to Get FREE e-books? It’s fast and easy. 

Simply sign up online at BOOK SIRENS. (Signing up is free).

They boast having books from 5,000+ authors and publishers to choose from.

As a reader, all you do is fill in a short questionnaire about your preferred genre, read a book from their library of available books, and leave a review.

Read as many as you want. No minimum or maximum.

You’ll be helping to support authors by writing your honest reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or Book Bub. If you find an author you’d like to follow, you can easily add your name to their reader list after you read.

While you’re on the Book Sirens site, look for Remember Me: A Sonnet for Marigold by Mia Michaels. It’s a new Romantic Suspense Novel you won’t want to miss.

Remember Me: A Sonnet for Marigold

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I’ve blogged to readers and writers about book covers, “Hooks,” keywords, suspense, punctuation, back cover blurbs, choosing one’s audience, marketing, pen names, and so on. 

Can any one single book can possibly deliver on all fronts?

This one comes close. From cover-to-cover, Remember Me: A Sonnet for Marigold, was written with each aspect of the writing process in mind.

Here are excerpts from the back cover copy and blurb, along with the stunning cover. Who wouldn’t be drawn into this story?

Does true love really last forever? Author Mia Michaels creates a world where all reason is lost to the magic of love.

From the moment Mike’s plane crashes, Natalie’s world is turned upside down. As she struggles to remember the details of her life after suffering a brain injury in the same crash that killed Mike, a shocking revelation about an affair with the handsome pilot surfaces, leaving her questioning everything. 

Almost losing Natalie in the horrific incident gives Paul a wake-up call. He is determined to be the husband she needs, but at every turn, someone tries to sabotage their new commitment to one another. Who is sending her gifts, trying to turn her heart away from Paul? And what is the role of Mari and Pierre, two mysterious figures who seem to be connected to this love triangle?

 If only Natalie’s memory would return, perhaps she and Paul could rebuild their relationship before it’s too late.

Just when you think you’ve figured out the truth behind this love triangle, author Mia Michaels throws in an unexpected twist in this gripping Romantic Suspense novel. Remember Me will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Sprinkled with humor and a dash of fantasy, you’ll find everything you like—and more—in this modern breakout novel.

Don’t miss this unpredictable journey of true love. BUY NOW on Amazon.com

The Cover is the Hook

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

At an auction, I ended up with a book by an unfamiliar author. I had a stack of books at home to read. I certainly didn’t need another one, but as I placed it on the bottom of the stack, I wondered to myself why its author had decided on such a nondescript cover. Not beautiful. Not exciting. Not memorable.

With dozens of books in my Must Read stack, why would I even include this one?

I made the mistake of turning to page one. Five hours later, I looked at the clock. I’d almost finished the entire book!

It was a great book. Unique plot. Suspenseful, with touches of humor—certainly proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

But should you?

Is it really important to have an engaging cover that will attract readers?

Of course it is! Case in point, if I hadn’t accidentally come across this book, I would not have read it. There was nothing compelling about its cover.

Authors, there is so much competition out there! We cannot afford to leave it up to chance readers to pick up our books. Be intentional. Hook the reader from the moment they see the cover–and keep them reading to the end.