THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

Anyone got any advice about getting books reviewed? I'm making one of my ebooks free in a week or so. I guess it's the only way anyone is going to read it. Do authors review each others books? I would have thought it could be helpful.

HUGE topic. As a fellow author, I share your pain. I do believe that getting fellow authors to write reviews is a good path. What kind of books do you write?

Offering a free promotion of your book is a good start, Anthony, and often brings in a review or two. I'm not sure readers, as a rule, think in terms of reviewing a book once they've read it or there would be a lot more reviews out there for authors (especially independent authors) than there are.

I have been looking through some review and book blogger sites. Look for one that concentrates on your genre and read the terms for requesting a review.

Goodreads is also a helpful resource.

If you are working on another book, keep that up as well. I think it takes some time to reach readers. Just keep writing.

I have several indie author review sites that gave me follows on Twitter. I'll try to post some links over the weekend. In the meantime;

http://indiereviewexchange.com/
and
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=indie+author...

Joyce wrote: "HUGE topic. As a fellow author, I share your pain. I do believe that getting fellow authors to write reviews is a good path. What kind of books do you write?"

I have written a Victorian-style thriller and a humrous, fictional look at people in British pubs.

Thayer wrote: "Offering a free promotion of your book is a good start, Anthony, and often brings in a review or two. I'm not sure readers, as a rule, think in terms of reviewing a book once they've read it or th..."

Good advice, Thayer. I'm working on another book, my third. I like humour and thought I would write a short one and keep the price down. Some authors seem to have had some success this way. At the moment my books are only published to Kindle, although I'm working towards print-on-demand paperback editions through Amazon. I've got one author who has agreed to give me a review when the book is free at the end of next week.

Ken wrote: "I have several indie author review sites that gave me follows on Twitter. I'll try to post some links over the weekend. In the meantime;

http://indiereviewexchange.com/
and
http://www.lmgtfy..."

Thanks Ken. I have bookmarked them.

I tend to focus on blogs who review mysteries (which is what I write), so some of the following might be helpful. Also, if you're interested I would be happy to offer an author interview on my blog (http://joycestrand.com/BLOG) and I can connect you to other authors' blogs as well for author interviews.

http://masqueradecrew.blogspot.com/
http://thekindlebookreview.blogspot.c...
http://www.forewordreviews.com/servic...
http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/...

I'm not recommending any of them. I just got notices I was being followed. Looked at the site and followed back.

However, the indie review site I posted the link too sounds interesting. Providing a freebie in exchange for a (good) 4+ review is akin to buying a vote and rankles a bit.

Know what you mean about the freebie thing. I suggested it to the other person as a means for her to recieve my book. The plan to do a giveaway was already there. I must confess I had a giveaway before and from three hundred downloads gained only two sales. I'm learning as I go.

Joyce wrote: "I tend to focus on blogs who review mysteries (which is what I write), so some of the following might be helpful. Also, if you're interested I would be happy to offer an author interview on my blog..."

Thankyou, Joyce. I will be taking a look at the blogs and am looking at your interview blog.

Anthony wrote: "I must confess I had a giveaway before and from three hundred downloads gained only two sales. I'm learning as I go."

I can't give it away on Second Avenue.
--Rolling Stones--

The interview idea seems good, Joyce. How would that proceed?

Let's start communicating over e-mail. Contact me at [email protected].

o.k.

SQUEEE!! An unexpected but amazing review for Isadora DayStar! Please check it out and see what I'm so jazzed about! (and no it's not the complaint about the "Hallmark ending" LOL!!)

http://www.examiner.com/writing-in-ta...

That's a review worth having.

Anthony wrote: "That's a review worth having."

Thank you Anthony! I'm finally calming down from it, lol!

Thayer wrote: "Offering a free promotion of your book is a good start, Anthony, and often brings in a review or two. I'm not sure readers, as a rule, think in terms of reviewing a book once they've read it or there would be a lot more reviews out there for authors (especially independent authors) than there are. "

Responding as a reader, I do make an effort to post a review on all of the books I read, particularly those that are free downloads and/or from indie or beginning authors. I tend to feel as if that is "my" part of the bargain, if you will ...

However, I will also admit I do not feel at all compelled to finish a book that doesn't interest me. Consequently, many of the free/cheap books I download don't get finished and I don't review something I haven't finished except in very rare cases. (Something has to REALLY annoy me about the book/writing for me to note it in a review on a book I haven't finished.)