Goodreads Reviewers' Group discussion

L0VE ST0RY: LzeroVE STORY
Dear friends,
I am new to publishing books. I have a question for this elite group of authors, readers, & reviewers.
My romance novel is three months old now. The response to my novel has been “not discouraging”. The novel may not have sold many copies, but it has got many readers on Kindle (KENP reads).

What puzzles me is that I have had all my readers from India. Not even a single one has been from any other country. (Except my friends & Family).

Why is this so?

Take a look at my book Cover and Blurb and please be honest.
1. Is the Cover or Blurb not up to international standards?
2. What else could be the reason?

Please feel free to criticize, I will use it to improve my next book / or even this very book.

Thanks a lot.

This the blurb: (for quick reference)

This is a story of a simple hard-working handsome guy and his younger sister who wants him to marry her best friend. Marriages they say are made in heaven. Then this is a story of the sweetest girl in the world who meets her true love. This is also a story about two friends who live for each other. This story is also about parents and their desires for their children. Altogether, this is a story of love which could bring tears of joy in your eyes.
This story has multiple endings. You can choose how your story ends.

Is it because you are Indian yourself?

The cover is okay, could be better but not terrible. The synopsis of your book needs great improvement. You need to really tell what the story is about, yours doesn't read like that. First off, you use the phrase "this story" too many times. I wouldnt even use that phrase at all or only use it once at the most. Mention the main characters names and give something more specific about who they are and what the story is about. I would not read this book from this synopsis.

Sumant wrote: "L0VE ST0RY: LzeroVE STORY
Dear friends,
I am new to publishing books. I have a question for this elite group of authors, readers, & reviewers.
My romance novel is three months old n..."


also, I would re-title your book. Love Story is way too generic. And what is that up at the top? What is Lezerove?

I think that the title is generic, but okay. The cover looks good. I think that the description is generic, too, and also is simplistic. It might be better if you had a professional reviewer, or a long time reviewer like myself, read the book and write a better description to describe the story and draw in the readers. Sometimes people do this for free, but occasionally professionals will charge for this service some minimal fee.

Michele wrote: "Sumant wrote: "L0VE ST0RY: LzeroVE STORY
Dear friends,
I am new to publishing books. I have a question for this elite group of authors, readers, & reviewers.
My romance novel is thr..."

Thank you for you advice & time. LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now.

I will also work on the Cover & Synopsis. Thank you again.

S. wrote: "I think that the title is generic, but okay. The cover looks good. I think that the description is generic, too, and also is simplistic. It might be better if you had a professional reviewer, or a ..."

Thank you for you advice & time. I will surely look into that.

Sumant wrote: "Michele wrote: "Sumant wrote: "L0VE ST0RY: LzeroVE STORY
Dear friends,
I am new to publishing books. I have a question for this elite group of authors, readers, & reviewers.
My roma..."

can I ask why you are spelling love with zero? What is the significance of it? If you are interested, I can help you with your book for a reasonable fee. I am only working part time right now so I have more time plus I could use the money. You can email me at [email protected]

Sumant:

The cover is okay. It demonstrates that it is a love story and it's adequate. I don't let the cover influence me to much, the blurb is much more important.

Yes, I understood what you were conveying in the zero in the title. I didn't have to think about it. However, ask yourself how does that add value?

I think something different for the title may be more positive. Years ago, a very popular story by that same title made many millions. When I saw your title, I thought, well there is only one real "Love Story"...

Your blurb sounds "Indian" to me. I don't say that as a racist statement. I have known Indians (very dear friends) and I read a number of International authors. This sentence was what made me think that "This story is also about parents and their desires for their children." Westerner's particularly American's don't care what their parents think about who they choose to love. In fact, I would say it has become very popular to anger/annoy your parents with your choice of a "special someone" in your life. As Westerner's tend to be very rebellious in our culture. Thus this may not appeal to a Westerner under 40 years old.

I have a marketing degree and have been review ARC's for more than 10 years on Amazon.

Who is the target audience? Are you looking for young adults? Old mother's? Teens and tweens?

Once you know who you want to read the book, then decide how to make the blurb appeal to them.

Kathryn in FL wrote: "Sumant:

The cover is okay. It demonstrates that it is a love story and it's adequate. I don't let the cover influence me to much, the blurb is much more important.

Yes, I understood what you were..."

Thank you very much for your time and comments. There are many thing to learn from your observations.

I did not have a age group in mind as a target audience. It is for those who love romance as a genre.

My idea of the Blurb was that romance , in Indian conditions is slightly more difficult and complex, that should make the story more interesting. But you are right, I have to bring out the other aspects of the story more strongly.

Love spelled with a zero, has a significance in the story. I was thinking that that would make a reader curious and pick up the book. I am working on making it more obvious.

Thank you very much. I will post a revised Blurb here very soon. Hopefully you can advice me on that one too.

Michele wrote: "Sumant wrote: "Michele wrote: "Sumant wrote: "L0VE ST0RY: LzeroVE STORY
Dear friends,
I am new to publishing books. I have a question for this elite group of authors, readers, & rev..."

Thank you for your time and advice,

I like have mentioned above "Love spelled with a zero, has a significance in the story. I was thinking that that would make a reader curious and pick up the book. I am working on making it more obvious."

I am a part-timer myself. When I look for a paid support, I will definitely contact you. Thank you for your offer.

Hi Sumant .. I am an Indian . Yet this blurb did not appeal to me too. Not only is it way too generic, but it sounds way too simplistic. As a reader , I want something interesting or catchy .
For that matter, even the storyline seems very basic n simple. The parent angle or brother- marry- sisters best friend is very cliched for Indians . It wouldn’t appeal to international readers .
I would suggest that for your future books, pls zero in on your target first, n then go ahead with your story.

Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the reference. It was conveyed fine in my opinion.

And you are welcome. :-)

S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the reference. It was conveyed fine in my opin..."

I still dont get it. Why would love be spelled with a zero? What does that mean?

Bela wrote: "Hi Sumant .. I am an Indian . Yet this blurb did not appeal to me too. Not only is it way too generic, but it sounds way too simplistic. As a reader , I want something interesting or catchy .
For ..."

Thanks for you time & advice. I guess the blurb has got things wrong and does not do justice to the story. The parent thing comes as a small guiding principle they don't have role in the story (hardly a chapter of 1500 Words). I am working on a new blurb which should bring out more about the story, which is not as boring or simple as it appears to be :-).

The problem is that if I drop a hint about the story then I reveal the plot. Let me see how I get over that.

Thank you again. I have promotion day left with Amazon & I plan to use it in a week or two. I will post the dates here.

I will also post my revised blurb here, If you have the time and if interest you, then you can please pick up the novel on the promotion day, read it, and then I would look forward to learn more from your feed back.

Thank you

Michele wrote: "S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the reference. It was conveyed fine..."

That was the part which I wanted to hook the readers with.

I have promotion day left with Amazon & I plan to use it in a week or two. I will post the dates here.

I will also post my revised blurb here,

If you have the time and if it interests you, then you can please pick up the novel on the promotion day, read it, and then I would look forward to learn more from your feed back.

Thank you

S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the reference. It was conveyed fine in my opin..."

Thank you again.

Sumant wrote: "Michele wrote: "S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the reference. It w..."

I still dont understand what the zero in the word is supposed to mean........and it didn't catch my eye at all that it was the word zero in there even when it was told to me I had to stare at it for several seconds to see the word in there

Michele wrote: "Sumant wrote: "Michele wrote: "S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "LzeroVE is supposed to mean Love spelt with a zero, I guess I could not convey that effectively. I am working on it now."

I understood the ..."

Love is spelled as LOVE . We can also write LOVE as LØVE (This has a Zero instead of O) .

So if LOVE is written as LØVE it may look like love but it is not.

Was trying to take some poetic liberties. :-)

Thank you.

but why spell it that way? What is the meaning? Sorry I dont get it

Michele wrote: "but why spell it that way? What is the meaning? Sorry I dont get it"

No problems. I got quiet a few ideas after listening to your views. . Thank you.

I have redesigned my Cover & put a line when LØVE is not LOVE. :-)

And I have also thought of a promo line:

LØVE STORY : It's not a Love Story

So thank you for making me think. :-) .

I think it would be clear when one see's it with the reference it has in the story. I surely hope that you would read it. I can learn a bit from you.

A sincere thanks.

Thanks to all of you. I have revised my Blurb,

-----------

Torrential rains confine two strangers, a ravishing beauty and an elegant gentleman, to an apartment. In the next thirty-six hours, the enchantress falls for the eligible bachelor, drowns him in her love, and then disappears without a trace. Why?

When they find her she is crazier in love than ever before. Will the end be even more bizarre than the disappearing act?

-----------
This is the story about & I hope it sounds exciting.

PS: I will let you know the Kindle promotion day very soon. (as soon as I have my New Cover & Blurb updated.
-----------

Thank you. Looking forward for more tips from all of you.

that synopsis is better. I cant say if it could be improved on even more until I read your book but i look forward to reading it!

Michele wrote: "that synopsis is better. I cant say if it could be improved on even more until I read your book but i look forward to reading it!"

Thank you.

As promised my promotional dates are now fixed. I really hope that this group reads & reviews my work. Thank you in advance.

48 hours starting Saturday 21st Sept 2019 at 0.00 Hrs Pacific Standard time

This Saturday & Sunday read a #sweet #romantic #novel for free. Buy & share it for free on promotional day. #Read it on any PC, Mobile, Tab, whenever you want. Leave a #feedback & #review if you like it.

LzeroVE STORY, is available for #promotional #free #download, on all #Amazon websites. You can also search it with “B07RL64722”. Thank you.

#Mexico from 20th Sept 2019 (22.00 Hrs) #Mexico City time:
https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B07RL64722

#US & #Canada from 21st Sept 2019 (00.00 Hrs) Pacific Standard time
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RL64722
Canada https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07RL64722

#Brazil from 21st Sept 2019 (04.00 Hrs) #Brasilia time:
https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B07RL64722

#UK from 21st Sept 2019 (07.00 Hrs) GMT #London time:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RL64722

#Europe ( #Denmark, #Spain, #Netherlands & #Italy) from 21st Sept 2019 (09.00 Hrs) #Copenhagen, #Madrid, #Amsterdam & #Rome time:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07RL64722
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07RL64722
https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07RL64722
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B07RL64722

#France & #Italy from 21st Sept 2019 (11.00 Hrs) Paris & Rome time
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07RL64722

#Japan from 21st Sept 2019 (16.00 Hrs) #Tokyo Time:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07RL64722

#Australia from 21st Sept 2019 (17.00 Hrs) #Melbourne Time:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07RL64722

#Inda from 21st Sept 2019 (12.30 Hrs) #Delhi Time:
https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07RL64722

For more details and future launches, please visit the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/LzeroVESTORY/

Hi Friends,
Did any of you read my book LØVE STORY: LzeroVE STORY , When LØVE is not LOVE
How did you like it. Please let me know!

Like always, all criticism are welcome.
1. Why did you not pick up the book?
2. Why did you not read it?
3. Why did you leave it half way?
4. What needs to be improved?
and if you did...
5. Why did you like it?

Thanks in advance

did you do a promotion yet? I never saw your post for it if you did....I thought I would have gotten a notification for it

Michele wrote: "did you do a promotion yet? I never saw your post for it if you did....I thought I would have gotten a notification for it"

I encourage you to read this thread back for the past two months, he has repeatedly posted it.

Michele wrote: "did you do a promotion yet? I never saw your post for it if you did....I thought I would have gotten a notification for it"

I did. No problem if you missed it. I will keep posting my promotions dates here for my next book. That is due later this month.

Thanks

In response to: "1. Why did you not pick up the book?", the reason for me is that it sounded kind of like your average romance story, and I don't generally read romances unless they have something special to them, like historical romances, time travel romances, romantic suspense, action/adventure romances, etc. I'm not so much interested in the romance story, I'm more interested in whatever else in involved in the story.

S. wrote: "In response to: "1. Why did you not pick up the book?", the reason for me is that it sounded kind of like your average romance story, and I don't generally read romances unless they have something ..."

I understand. Thanks for the response.

Sumant wrote: "S. wrote: "In response to: "1. Why did you not pick up the book?", the reason for me is that it sounded kind of like your average romance story, and I don't generally read romances unless they have..."

You're welcome. I'm sorry it's not my thing... if it was, I'd be happy to review it for you.

S. wrote: "Sumant wrote: "S. wrote: "In response to: "1. Why did you not pick up the book?", the reason for me is that it sounded kind of like your average romance story, and I don't generally read romances u..."

Dear S,
The sorry is absolutely not required. Had it not been for some honest advice here I would have not improved my book. The response to the book is better now.

Honest advice is not easy to get. It may look harsh initially but if one looks at it properly it benefits a lot.

I have hundreds of friends very close to me who read my book. They were very polite and praised all aspects of the book but it did not help. Only when I changed the blurb and the cover, even in my own eyes the book looked better.

So this is just to thank you and all others in the group. I really appreciate all the inputs you have provided.

Just to mention about Michele’s comment on missing the promo date. I understand that in a bunch of hundreds of junk mail we get daily, it is very likely to miss promo mails. It is the promoters efficiency which should make sure that his target audience should get the message. Being the first time I was a bit too cautious and posted the message only once in the group. I will come up with better ideas next time (without being too pushy :-) ).

I am really thankful to all you friends for providing inputs (especially when it is a voluntary unpaid hobby for most of us.)