Christian Speculative Fiction discussion

Hey, Steve:

Finished BLYTHE and had to wait for Amazon to post the review today. Here are the links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.amazon.com/Blythe-John-Kr...

John, I put reviews up on Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. I for sure had to abbreviate the review at BAM and maybe at B&N, but they're there. Thanks for the challenging read.

I finished reading Dronefall. Here are the links:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3F4JDY...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Astray by J F Rogers. Here are the links:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

Good job, JF!

Wow, the reviews are coming in so thick and fast now, it's hard to keep up! Many thanks Cortez, C.S. and Guy for your thoughtful contributions.

Glad to help out, Steve.

Steve wrote: "Wow, the reviews are coming in so thick and fast now, it's hard to keep up! Many thanks Cortez, C.S. and Guy for your thoughtful contributions."

Glad to be of help.

Thanks so much, Guy! I’m glad you enjoyed the story.

Much appreciated, Cortez.

John wrote: "Much appreciated, Cortez."

Appreciate you and your gift, John.

Hello! Here's my review of Spark:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately, Amazon has restricted my right to post reviews because the reviews supposedly violate the Customer Reviews Guidelines and the relationship between me and the seller could be perceived as biased. I have contacted them about this with crickets as answers. Steve, I understand if you need to remove me from the group because of it :( I am posting my review on my blog as well.

M.H. wrote: "Hello! Here's my review of Spark:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately, Amazon has restricted my right to post reviews because the reviews supposedly violate the Customer ..."

Thanks, M.H. Amazon can definitely be difficult. Thanks for taking the time to read and post a review!

M.H. wrote: "Steve, I understand if you need to remove me from the group because of it :( ..."

No, no, we wouldn't think of doing that, M.H.! We've all had our struggles with Amazon and their arbitrary review actions. It's good that you've taken it up with them, even if the answers were meaningless—some of us have found that later on they do put it right.

So hang in there, keep trying to post, and if you suddenly find you can—fantastic! We'll take it as it comes.

M.H. wrote: "Hello! Here's my review of Spark:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unfortunately, Amazon has restricted my right to post reviews because the reviews supposedly violate the Customer ..."
I am sorry to hear how Amazon is treating you. If I don't hear from them or see any changes to my reviews in the next few days, I'm going to email them again. It's a bit like tilting at windmills, but we must keep trying. Their assumptions are wrong and they need to know that. I'll also keep praying that they will see that your reviews are unbiased and there is no collusion.

Aww you all are so supportive! I appreciate it. I will keep trying. Maybe they will start posting my reviews again. For now, I can promote the reviews here, on my blog, in email, and on Facebook. Hopefully that will still give these books the exposure it needs.

That sounds great, thanks M.H.

Attached are the links to my reviews of Kingdom Come.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

My reviews for CS Wachter's "The Sorceror's Bane" - so well done!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

Thank you, C S Wachter. You're an amazing talent in storytelling! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

-Sean Elliot Russell

Sean wrote: "My reviews for CS Wachter's "The Sorceror's Bane" - so well done!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-r..."

Thank you, Sean.

Thanks, Kenyon and Sean, for your reviews. Much appreciated!

A reminder to everyone: Round 1 finishes this Friday. If you haven't completed your review yet, please try and do so by then, so we can keep on track.

Blessings!

—Steve.

My review of Nasy Leftovers

GR https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon

I'll add the Amazon review when it's approved.

Here's the Amazon review https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

(Note different star rating between Goodreads and Amazon due to different rating system.)

Thanks, Jeanette!

Thanks, Jeanette! Good points and interesting views.

I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. I intend to post it on Amazon and my blog as well. I'll put up the links when I do.

But here's Goodreads, for now:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A.L. wrote: "I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. I intend to post it on Amazon and my blog as well. I'll put up the links when I do.

But here's Goodreads, for now:
htt..."

Thanks for the review A.L. glad you liked it despite the flaws :) Re typos - I've gone through this book so many times, plus several edits and beta-reads by others. So it would be great to know what they are. One thing, I use Australian spelling conventions which aren't the same as US conventions (e.g colour rather than color or realise rather than realize). Thanks again for the review :)

I just got reader copies of Dronefall. I don’t think I’ll have it read and reviewed by tomorrow.

A.L. wrote: "I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. …"

Congrats on being ahead of the game, A.L.!

Jeanette wrote: "One thing, I use Australian spelling conventions which aren't the same as US conventions (e.g colour rather than color or realise rather than realize)...."

I think Jeanette makes an important point here. I don't know if that was the reason you found "quite a few typos", A.L., but I use British spelling, and I've had reviewers make similar comments when in fact what they were seeing was British English, not American typos. I would especially urge our American reviewers to bear this in mind, and to check an international dictionary (there are plenty of these online) before concluding that unfamiliar spellings of common words (like colour/color) are typos. Check 3 or 4 of them, and if they all turn out to be correct in the same 'other' variety of English (e.g. British or Australian), you have your answer!

Guy wrote: "I just got reader copies of Dronefall. I don’t think I’ll have it read and reviewed by tomorrow."

Hey, Guy, no rush! You're down to review Dronefall for Round 2—deadline 10th August.

Just reviewed Trials of the Mighty by Kenyon T. Henry. Thanks!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks, J.F.!

Okay, Steve, Lara, and Stan:

Here are the links for Guy L. Pace's NASTY LEFTOVERS:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hey, Thanks, Cortez. I appreciate the review very much.

Steve wrote: "Guy wrote: "I just got reader copies of Dronefall. I don’t think I’ll have it read and reviewed by tomorrow."

Hey, Guy, no rush! You're down to review Dronefall for Round 2—deadline 10th August."

Oh, good! Whew!

That completes your two reviews, Cortez—thanks for taking part!

hi Steve and all, sorry I'm late, life happened. I just finished my review of Akrad's Children, by Jeanette O'Hagan. I'm trying to figure out again how to post the links. I'm a slow learner, but I usually figure it out.

Here is the goodreads link:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Still trying to figure out the amazon-I did purchase it because i had trouble downloading the form, so I shouldnt have trouble posting a review.

Ann wrote: "Here is the goodreads link:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Still trying to figure out the amazon-I did purchase it because i had troubl..."

If you need any help, Ann, just let me know. Maybe I can help.

Kind regards,
Sean

Thanks I was trying to copy & paste to amazon but it looks like I need to just write it again, then my battery was dying so I'm waiting for more juice to get it done!

Thanks for getting the review done, Ann—and sorry about the problems posting it on Amazon. Hope you win soon!

Steve wrote: "I think Jeanette makes an important point here. I don't know if that was the reason you found "quite a few typos", A.L., but I use British spelling..."

I noticed this and intentionally did not mention it in any way in my review of your book Steve. To me, it is a non-issue when reading a book and doesn't need to detract from the review. IMHO, of course.

Stan wrote: "I noticed this and intentionally did not mention it in any way in my review of your book Steve. To me, it is a non-issue when reading a book and doesn't need to detract from the review. IMHO, of course...."

Yes, I appreciated that, Stan! And you also (separately) made me aware of some British terms I'd used that didn't make sense to you. That's really helpful—I can now try and find equivalents that will work both for Brits and Americans. That approach is much better than condemning an author for inappropriate word-use without bothering to check if they might be using a different variety of English.

Guy wrote: "Hey, Thanks, Cortez. I appreciate the review very much."

Thanks for the story!

Steve wrote: "That completes your two reviews, Cortez—thanks for taking part!"

No problem.

Here are my two more reviews. For Akrad's Children.

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

My blog:
https://stardriftnights.blogspot.com/

Jeanette wrote: "A.L. wrote: "I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. I intend to post it on Amazon and my blog as well. I'll put up the links when I do.

But here's Goodreads,..."

Steve wrote: "A.L. wrote: "I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. …"

Congrats on being ahead of the game, A.L.!

Jeanette wrote: "One thing, I use Australian spelling conv..."

Well, it was actually things like switching it with is and situations where a sentence had been restructured during revision and a conjunction or something got left behind, a few missed words...I'm not sure how it happened, I saw you had a professional editor.

I guess I could go back through it, if you need me to. It didn't actually bother me too much. I even recommended it to several friends.

I just wanted to comment on using words that have unique meanings in different parts of the world. I love it please don't stop! Using the unique words allows the author to use their voice. Trying to replace them with common language is the equivalent of bringing Mc Donalds worldwide. Was it necessary? Was it beneficial? Maybe a glossary in an appendix would help? Please don't take flavor out of your language.

Ann wrote: "I just wanted to comment on using words that have unique meanings in different parts of the world. I love it please don't stop! Using the unique words allows the author to use their voice..."

If that comment was directed to me, Ann, thanks—I appreciate what you're saying, and it's true: words that may be unfamiliar to the reader can add to the flavour (notice: not flavor!) of the story.

However the problem comes when the author is using words the reader doesn't know at all. I had a number of reviewers who made irritated comments about that in my book—and as a speaker of British English I hadn't even realised those words were not used across the water. So there's a fine line to be drawn between, on the one hand, retaining such words for 'flavour' or 'atmosphere'; and, on the other, making sure your readers are not being pushed out of the story by them!

That's why it's really helpful when reviewers are specific about the words that 'threw' them—though that makes for longer reviews, which is another whole issue! But in a group like this I would love it if reviewers were willing to take the time, if requested, to give the author some details separately, outside of the review, about the language issues they found difficult—and about other issues as well, for that matter.

Maybe if people are interested in discussing this further we could move it to a separate thread…

A.L. wrote: "Jeanette wrote: "A.L. wrote: "I already posted my review of Akrad's Children for round two. I intend to post it on Amazon and my blog as well. I'll put up the links when I do.

But ..."
Hi A L

Thanks for recommending Akrad's Children to several friends. Really appreciate that.

If you can remember where the typos were - I can go in an correct them, but don't want to put you to too much trouble as (unless you make a note of them at the time), they can be hard to track down again.

Yes, it's been through a couple of rounds of edits. As you say, sometimes changing things can introduce errors - and with a long book, it's still possible to miss things.

Thanks again for the review - I enjoyed reading it :)

Steve wrote: "But in a group like this I would love it if reviewers were willing to take the time, if requested, to give the author some details separately, outside of the review, about the language issues they found difficult—and about other issues as well, for that matter."

I don't send info like this to every author I read, but when I have sent such info in a kind message - well, I have yet to have an author get upset. When we present such information with kindness, most authors welcome the opportunity to to make such corrections without having to hunt through their whole book to find them.

Couldn’t agree more, Stan!

By the way, Ann has started a new thread to continue this discussion, if anyone would like to follow it there: "Regional unique words", https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

here is the link for my review on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3FAO7O...