Book Reviews

Get That “BUZZ”

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Authors, you can use book reviews to build credibility and buzz about your book BEFORE IT IS PUBLISHED.

Here’s how:

1- Identify reviewers who read in your genre. (In other words, if you write mysteries, target people who read mysteries—or, better yet, other mystery authors who are willing to review your book for you.)

2- Offer to review their work, in exchange for their review of yours. (If they are not an author, offer them a free, signed copy of yours AND let them know their review will be published on the back cover of your book or inside page following the title page).

3- If you don’t have contacts of your own, you can use platforms, such as BookSirens or Net Galley, but they require a fee and the sending of free copies to their reviewers.

On those platforms, you are able to read reviews written in the past, and choose one or more reviewers (based on what kind of job you think they did) to review your book.

**Stay tuned. More information in next week’s blog.

Do You Really Need Them All?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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There are four types of book reviews—and reviewers. It is suggested that authors benefit from garnering reviews from all of them.

Peer reviews:These are reviews by another author who writes in the same genre. If possible, these would be from a more seasoned and well-known author than yourself. 

Editorial reviews: These mostly focus on grammar, spelling, plot, structure, formatting, POV, etc. by an editing professional.

Manuscript reviews: These are overviews to help the author evaluate his/er own writing. They include those similar to the editorial review, but also delve into story consistency, character development, dialogue issues, pacing, and more.

Customer reviews:  These are from individual readers. Make it easy for consumers to post these by providing links to social media, Amazon, and so on.

Take A Peek

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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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. 

FREE e-books

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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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.

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.

Mending Fences

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

My novella, Mending Fences, is now on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback formats. 

 I previously published this novella in a collection alongside three other authors. It is now available as a stand alone novella with special pricing.

After the death of his beloved grandfather, Mason finds himself torn between the needs of Rose, the aging grandmother who raised him, and the demands of Lee Ann, the mother who abandoned him as a baby.

Mason’s relationship with Lee Ann is turbulent and complicated. After marrying the wealthy Rex LeMasters, Lee Ann charged back into Mason’s life, reclaiming him and his older sister, Glory, and moving them from the family ranch in Boise, Idaho to Green River, Washington when Mason was fifteen. His mother has not spoken to Mason’s grandparents since that time.

 When Gram takes a fall, Lee Ann at last returns to see her mother—a visit which dredges up memories of a secret buried since Lee Ann’s childhood. 

Will learning the truth about what caused the rift between them so many years ago help them move forward toward reconciliation? Will Lee Ann’s new perspective on the past serve as a catalyst to restore her relationship with her own children?

This novella will inspire you to face your own difficult circumstances, let go of bitterness resulting from past hurts and disappointments and offer forgiveness to the significant people in your life. 

Readers, Authors Need Your Help!

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

Authors need feedback from readers in order to write enjoyable books for their reading audience.

If you are a reader, here’s how you can help:

  1. Leave honest reviews on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, various book-related websites, and authors’ websites. (Below, I’ve included one I just received this week for my latest book, Justice for Jessie: Forgiving the Unforgivable.)

Review from Ann Ferri- Book Bub:   This is a *Must Read* book. It hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. It is full of emotions and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a new to me author and I loved her writing style and can’t wait to read more of her books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2)    Buy their books! Sales reflect customer satisfaction.

3)    Read the authors’ blogs, leave comments, and “follow” them. We really do want to hear from you!

4) Tell your friends about a good book you’ve read—even feel free to loan it to someone. This is a great way to introduce readers to an author who is “new” to them.

As always, thank you for following me. I appreciate your comments.

Brenda

Has Amish Fiction Met Its Demise?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

I don’t write “AMISH”, but I sure enjoy reading Amish books. About three years ago, these were very popular and it seems like I devoured every one of them. It didn’t matter who the author was (although I did come to have my favorites). I simply liked the good, clean reads, with the conflicts of religious beliefs which sets them apart from mainstream christian practices.

At any rate, last year I noticed that there might not be as many Amish books coming to the market. This year, I’ve only seen a few.

I asked myself if this was just a “sign of the times,” had I really read everything out there, or were there just not as many authors who were writing in this genre? 

Perhaps it was something else entirely. 

Back in 2002, there were only a couple of authors writing Amish fiction, while currently there are over 60 authors and hundreds of titles.

Among them are: Amish Romance, Soon-to-be Amish, Leaving the Amish, Amish cozy mysteries, Amish Wild West Adventures, Amish quilting, Amish cooking, and so on.

I have found that Amish fiction hasn’t slacked off. In fact, at some point it even spawned a sub-genre called “bonnet fiction,” a flourishing genre of Amish Romance. 

So, to answer my question. I have fewer choices now because I have read so many of these books! 

These authors aren’t going anywhere. They are still writing uplifting and inspiring stories.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

In the past two weeks, I have been getting Junk emails advertising—actually guaranteeing—40+ reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. The correspondence says they are fully compliant with Amazon’s rules and regulations.

Why the influx of these so-called review businesses? How much do they cost? Do they deliver what they promise? Do they really “comply”?

Well, the jury is still out on that one because I’m not sure I want to get caught up in something that just might be a scam.

If you have tried one of these. I’d be interested to hear about your experience.

Generally speaking though, I would make these few remarks:

It’s a waste of money to pay for a trade book review if you only intend to sell your book on Amazon. You will sell more books by generating more five-star reader book reviews.

For myself, I usually read short and to the point reader reviews, rather than lengthy professional ones. Those reviews mention things like character, plot, theme (which I am interested in as a reader) and less about writing style, editing, and so on.

And, remember, paying for a review is no guarantee that it will be any more positive than reader reviews.

Here’s a plan for finding those reviews which will be of most benefit:

*Go to Amazon and find several books that might be direct competitors of yours.

*Look at their category on Amazon.

*Find the bestsellers in each category.

*Read their reviews and see what review sources are listed.

*You may find some free blogger reviews and/or some free niche publication reviews.

Like I said, I am curious about the “new” paid reviews advertised out there recently. Please write in and share your thoughts.

Who Are You Looking For?

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

How do readers find authors whose writing styles are a perfect fit for their tastes?

     Some readers say they enjoy beautifully-written descriptions of landscape and weather, creating striking visuals and immersing them in the story’s setting. Others want little in the way of setting or character backstory to distract them. Plot and dialog are their focus. They want to dive right into the story.

    Is finding an author compatible with your tastes hit-or-miss? Or is there an easier way to discover authors you’d enjoy reading?

May I suggest?

  • Ask for recommendations from friends who are aware of your specific tastes.
  • Read book reviews.
  • Read authors’ descriptions of their own books in which they will often say, something like, “Fans of (author’s name) will love this book.”
  • Read books which have won contests that focus on the specifics you are looking for. 
  • Use the computer search bar, typing in key words.