ROBUST discussion

My novel, Treespeaker, just got a 4.5 star review from Erica at Sift Book Reviews http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/06/tr... and it has made me really happy. It's not the rating or her comments on the good grammar or character development that most pleased me - it's the fact that she actually 'got' the story. There can't be a nicer feeling than being understood.

it's the fact that she actually 'got' the story."

That has to feel great. A genuine connection between author and reader. Real communication. Congratulations!

I know what you mean - the rating doesn't matter so much as the fact that someone on the same wavelength 'got' it.

Congratulations Katie!

Congratulations, Katie! "There can't be a nicer feeling than being understood."

That is a great feeling, Katie. Good luck on the book.

Right on, Katie. Though I have no book by which to be understood, I'm sure the feeling is some welcome catharsis...try to remember it when you're toiling on your next one! :)

Yes. I don't know why, but my novel has been doing much better in the UK than the US. (It may be the Year 0 connection). In any case, two reviews last spring from bloggers in UK blew me away, and it was definitely the feeling of "These are the people I wrote the book for."

Katie - I see that 'Treespeaker' is edging the top 10 in the 'Smashwords Must Read' list.

YAHOO! How wonderful for you.

I know for myself, the list hasn't generated any sales. :( Though I am getting steady hits on the Smashwords pages of both books.

Marion - Good for you. I would think it is Year 0, I don't get any UK sales from Authonomy.

Kat, I actually got two sales from Smashwords today...that's more actual sales than I've had from there in three months! How do you know how many 'hits' you've had?

Marion, I was selling much better in the UK than in the US (which includes my own Australia) for a while, but that's turned around again now. Not sure why.

One smasher sale was me. lol. Not sure when I'll have a chance to read it Katie. I have a backlog of reading and a pile of editing about 300,000 words thick. (environmental epic series I have to beat into shape) I'll put it on my kindle and try and read it while I'm stuck in airports. I think I have to head to Sydney soon.

If you look for the STATS page - it shows you the number of hits per book and the number of samples.

Very handy - even though Smashwords sales are few and far between.

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about that page, Kat! Probably a good thing really.

Amos, thanks! By coincidence, you may have noticed a 'sale' on your free-for-September book yesterday, too! I can't predict when I'll read it either, but I look forward to it.

Ah yes. So many books, so little time. lol. All electronic, of course. Love the kindle/ebook concept and (as a sci-fi sort of guy) I have been pushing and looking forward to such things for a while :) It's nice to be able to carry a bunch of books in one small package and it gives me more opportunities to read things. I don't buy paper copies at all these days and I don't even print anything I write. It's all digital.

My 'messages' are often about social injustice. You don't have to look for them, they pretty much come out and smack you. lol. You can never have a sledgehammer too large :)

Welcome Amos, it looks as if you are going to fit right in here!

Don't forget to introduce yourself!

Cheers, Sharon