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AND ... leave a comment if you'd like to have your name entered into the bait bucket for ONE OF THREE eCOPIES of either A Glimmer of Hope OR Isle of Hope. Winners announced in the next Weekend Edition.
We Have Winners
Giveaway rules can be found here. Please drop us a line to claim your giveaway at seekers@seekerville.net. All prizes not claimed in 8 weeks go back into the prize vault. We wish we could contact all our winners individually, but we'd rather write books! And P.S. - if we forget to send your prize DO let us know after 8 weeks per our rules.
Winner of the lovely No Regrets mug from last weekend is Elizabeth Van Tassel.
What would be better than pursuing your dream of writing and supplementing it with a part time job that allows you to set your own hours or utilize your own personal skill set? On Monday, guest blogger B. K. (Brenda) Jackson opened the discussion on juggling your dream of writing with the very real obligation of paying the bills. Winners of the ebook 130 Work From Home Career Ideas are : Jackie, Rhonda, Leslie, Jill, and Edwina.
Sandra Leesmith discussed "Godly Professionalism," and the importance of RWA on Tuesday. LeAnne Bristow is the winner of a reimbursement for one 2016 membership fee for RWA. OhioHomeSchool is the winner of the deep dark chocolate truffles from See's Candy.
Margaret Daley was our special guest on Wednesday, to share about NINC. Novelists, Inc. Bonton (Bonnie Roof) is the winner of Margaret's recent Love Inspired Suspense Deadly Noel.
Amanda Cabot joined us on Thursday to us today to help us understand rejection and how to overcome and to teach us about SARAH! Sharee Stover and Jill Weatherholt are the winners of a copy of On Lone Star Trail - please specify if you'd like ecopy or paperback.
Next Week in Seekerville
Monday: Mary Connealy brings us a wonderful post by Victoria Alexander, "Twenty Things I Learned in Twenty Years as an Author." Mary will be giving away three books...to three winners.
Tuesday: Debut Love Inspired Suspense author, Meghan Carver is our guest today, sharing the spotlight with Punxsutawney Phil. Her post is, "Find Your Genre…The Groundhog Way." She's got copies of her release, Under Duress to share as well.
Wednesday: Time for the February Contest Update. This is a busy update so don't miss it. Stop by to meet our February Diva/Divo. The prize vault is open!
Thursday: Join us today when the gals from the Yankee Belle Cafe (Mary Jane Hathaway, Jan Drexler, Mindy Obenhaus, Cate Nolan, Ruthy Logan Herne and Missy Tippens) stop by and talk about integrating our real selves with our author status while having fun in the kitchen... a low-key way to connect with people and develop readerships. With six of us, some kind of fun prize will most likely be involved, which might include having Missy Tippens come and cook you dinner! (This is not LIKELY to happen, but who knows? It might?)
Friday: Best of the Archives: Featuring Julie Lessman, and her post, "The Perfect Pickup Line (Or How to Hook a Reader!)." Comments are closed on Fridays to allow us all more time to write and read.
Seeker Sightings
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| Safe in the Fireman's Arms and Rocky Mountain Reunion |
Tina Radcliffe will be going down under to appear on the blog of the Australian Romance Readers Association, on Sunday, January 31, (Saturday in the US) with her post, "Why No Story Should be Without a Furry Secondary Character."
On Friday, February 5, Tina will be cooking in the Yankee Belle Cafe. Stop by!
Then from February 5 through February 12 you can find her at the lovely blog home of Everyone's Story, talking about "What's Your Plan B?"
Stop by to chat and of course there are giveaways!
So come by on FEBRUARY 1st to leave a comment on Julie's "Love Letter" blog, and you'll be entered for an ecopy of Isle of Hope or an early ecopy of A Glimmer of Hope. Winner announced on Julie's Journal Jot blog on Friday, February 5th.
Thanks to everyone who sent links!
The February Calendar is UP!
Indie Contracts (Kristine Kathryn Rusch-Business Musings)
If I Run, Video Interview with Terri Blackstock (Family Fiction)
Long Awaited Jane Austen Adaptation is Here (Vanity Fair)
7 Top Ebook Price Promotion Stats You Need to Know (BookBub Partners)
A List of 35 Blog Images You Can Take Yourself (The Write Conversation)
16 Publishers Showcasing Their Books & Authors on Pinterest (BookBub Partners)
Social Media Tips for Keeping Your Sanity (Writers in the Storm)
Paramount Pictures to Adapt Little House on the Prairie (GalleyCat)
Big freeze as indies and Amazon imprints sweep Kindle Top 10 (Roger Packer)
It's coming....details soon. Sign up starts February 20th.
Thank you, TINA, for another great WE. Do you ever get tired of hearing it over every weekend? Well, have I told you lately that YOU ROCK, TINA dear.
ReplyDeleteI,have a copy of ISLE OF HOPE, but I'd love the prequel!
Congrats to all the winners!
And TINA...I have both those books...thanks! And thanks for the heads up on that blog. Now if I can just remember it!
Book in a week. It's coming. It's coming. It's coming!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marianne!!!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGreat Weekend Edition, Tina. Congrats to our winners. And to Julie on the upcoming release of her prequel A Glimmer of Hope! A real bargain price, too!
Happy weekend Seekerville!
Janet
Tina, just finished reading Rocky Mountain Reunion. Loved it! You rocked the ending! Wow, what fun to see Anne and Matt find their Happily Ever After.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Tina, book in a week?? Whoa, that got my attention. I'm hoping that's times four.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Great Weekend Edition Tina
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners.
Have a wonderful and blessed weekend.
Thanks for another wonderful weekend edition, Tina!! Congrats on your latest book, looking forward to reading it!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners - my thanks to Seekerville and Margaret Daley for the win of her book, "Deadly Noel"!!
Congrats to one of my fave people in the world - Julie Lessman - on the recent release of her "Isle of Hope", and the coming release of it's prequel "A Glimmer of Hope"!! Both exquisitely beautiful, inspiring reads!!
Looking forward to another wonderful coming week with Seekerville - crossing my fingers for that home-cooked meal by Missy, lol!!
Good morning, Seekerville! The last weekend in January -- WOW! The year is already speeding by. Great W.E. edition, Tina! So many yummy-sounding links!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, another Seeker book is available for pre-order! Beautiful cover, Julie!
This weekend is art fact database completion (FUN!)for my November 2016 book and working on TAX PREP (not so fun!). Then the weekend will be wrapped up with the addition of anywhere from 10-18 inches of snow between Sunday night & Monday night. IS IT SPRING YET??? :)
Thanks for a great weekend, Tina. Julie what a beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteAs I edit my current WIP, I've started thinking about the next story. Maybe I'll be ready to start in time for Speedbo!
Have a great weekend everybody!
Julie, I love that GOH cover! Of course toss my name in for the drawing!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners this week, and to the authors with upcoming releases! Lovely WE, Tina.
All, check out my blog on Wednesday for a review of Isle of Hope! Find it here: scribblesandsomedays.wordpress.com.
We're drawing names out of a bait bucket now???
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great weekend edition. And an extra big THANK YOU for the copy of the ebook 130 Work From Home Career Ideas. I can't help but think God is trying to nudge me to stay at home and write. I just need to make sure it's His will and not simply my wishful thinking.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I love the cover! I especially love how nicely it complements the cover of Isle of Hope.
Speedbo is only a month away!!! Yikes! I better get the second round of revisions done on my Killer Voices r&r and get my next story loosely plotted in my mind.
Congratulations to all the winners! I pre ordered Julie's book yesterday, so don't include me in that drawing.
ReplyDeleteSpeedbo here i come! I hope to have the 3rd book written by then and already have another in mind. Current on is now at 50,000 words and I estimate it will be around 60,000 when it is finished.
Have a great weekend everyone!
TEEEEEEEEENA!!!! Another fabulous WE, and with Marianne -- you gotta get tired of hearing it because every single weekend, you pound it out of the park, my friend!
ReplyDeleteSUPER CONGRATS to the winners this week -- and, WOW, there are a lot of them, so YAY!! And uh-oh ... congrats to OhioHomeSchool, wh is the winner of the deep dark chocolate truffles from See's Candy -- but Walt won't be happy! ;)
LOL, "book in a week"??? Like Janet, I'm hoping (and praying) that's a typo because I'm doing good to get a book in a year, much less a week!! But I can do Book in month, I hope. At least I know I'm capable because I wrote A Passion Redeemed (480 pages) in a month!! ;)
Hugs and Happy Weekend, all!
Julie
WEEKEND QUOTES:
ReplyDelete"The more brilliant a quote, the more falsehoods it can hide."
"Facing your fears is like wrestling your image in a mirror. You could do it but the only one likely to get hurt is you."
"Like plants fears gain their greatest strength when you shine a light on them."
"Fear was the first and still is the best example of 'thinking making it so'."
"Fear is a balloon that requires its object to inflate it."
"Facing your fears is like staring at a warning light: it achieves no useful purpose but it does delay the taking of appropriate action."
"The reason we have only fear to fear itself is because only when fear itself is feared does fear obtain an objective reality."
Thank you to Glynna, Jackie, Sarah, Rhonda for the compliments on the cover for AGOH -- I really appreciate your kind comments. And, yes, Rhonda, I almost went with colors close to IOH, but decided that might be too confusing at first glance, so THANK YOU -- I think they compliment each other too. :)
ReplyDeleteBonnie!!!! You already KNOW you are one of my favorite people IN THE WORLD too, so God bless you, my friend!!
Glynna, NOooooooooo, "tax prep weekend"??? YUCK!! I did that a few weeks ago, and it was NOT any fun. Of course, I'm sooooo bad at it! Saying one right now that it's fast and painless, my friend! :)
YAY, Jackie ... editing one and onto the next!! Way to go, my friend!
Hey, Sarah, can't wait to see what you think, my friend -- I will definitely be there! :)
LOL, Mary ... YES, we ARE drawing names out of bait bucket -- in honor of both Lacey and Jack (who spend a fair amount of time baiting hooks on the dock) and moi, who ALSO spends a fair amount of time "baiting hooks" on a deck too -- the kind that hopefully hook a reader!!
Oh, Rhonda -- saying one for you RIGHT NOW that it IS is will for you, too, my friend!! :)
Wilani!!! I am sooooooo proud of you, my friend -- starting your 3rd book -- WHOO-HOO!! You go, girl!!
Hugs,
Julie
CONGRATULATIONS to this weeks winners! WOOP WOOP for JULIE's prequel.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!!!!!
Please put my name in for the draw.
Congrats, Julie, on the pre-release of A GLIMMER OF HOPE. You probably hear this a lot -- those are gorgeous covers.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners, too.
What a WE, Tina! Looking forward to your post regarding furry secondary characters. I'm still trying to convince my cat that is not his picture on the cover of SAFE IN THE FIREMAN'S ARMS.
Wishes for a wonderful weekend to one and all.
Nancy C
Another spectacular WE, TINA! You rock!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to JULIE on the novella release--and yes, gorgeous cover!!!
So sorry about the snowy weekend, GLYNNA, but maybe it will be incentive to keep after those tasks? We need to get started on our tax stuff, too, but still waiting for a couple more forms to arrive.
A Book in a Week
ReplyDeleteAt first I didn't think a book in a week was that much of a challenge -- until, that is -- I discovered that they were taking about writing a book in a week and not reading one!
When authors write books faster than readers can read them, then the roles are reversed and it will be readers who hold book signings of the books they have just read and who go on virtual blog tours.
Review Questions:
(Your help is appreciated. I'm writing a review blog in April.)
(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
Vince
Vince I'll respond to #3, I often read books and it's HARD to shut off the internal editor and I think, "I'd have gone THAT direction, I'd have have THAT moment be interrupted, I'd have ended it BEFORE this event...."
ReplyDeleteYou know, just daydreaming as I read. I do it with movies too.
And that often jump starts ideas for my own books.
But that worries me because I don't want to be too derivative. It's not plagiarism to take an idea and twist it a bit, with essentially the same story. Plagiarism is copying and using EXACT WORDS.
But still, I'm uncomfortable with some ideas I get that are too similar to something I've seen before. And I know I can be guilty of that.
PS I know I've said this before, but I am one of the few people I know who figured out what was coming at the end of the Sixth Sense mid-way through the movie.
ReplyDeleteSo plotting (considering I'm a pantster) is something I consider myself very good at.
Glynna, sorry to hear about your snowy weekend! It's oddly in the low 50s here in central Indiana today...in late January. Winter, you perplex me, but I'll enjoy this warmth while it's here.
ReplyDeleteGreat WE! Thanks, Tina! Can't wait to read your Down Under Blog about the furry critters! :)
ReplyDeleteJulie, congrats of the release of your prequel. Your excerpts blew me out of the water!!! I landed right in the middle of your story, on the dock that's so beautifully portrayed in your graphics.
Wilani, you go, girl! Proud of you and your success as you keep moving forward!
Speedbo 2016! March is a mere month away. Are the days passing much too quickly...or it is just me?
Guess who I get to have dinner with tomorrow evening?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait!!!
Hi Julie:
ReplyDeleteHow much does that Amazon algorithm know?
Is just preordered "A Glimmer of Hope" even though it seems a little ironic to wait a month to read a novella. But consider this: after I ordered "A Glimmer of Hope" at the bottom was this information with book cover illustrations:
Customers who bought this item also bought,
"Isle of Hope" by Julie Lessman, "Home for Christmas" by Julie Lessman, "Charity's Cross", by MaryLu Tyndal.
Actually, the blurb for "Charity" was so interesting, I pre-ordered it too! (You don't think it is the same Charity, do you? :))
Vince
Wow! Gorgeous covers!
ReplyDelete*nervously biting my nails 'til Wednesday now...Julie's coming...* ;)
ReplyDeletePlease reach out if you need a beta reader, reviewer, copy editor/proofreader, or author's assistant. Depending on what you need, I'm very reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI'm online at scribblesandsomedays.wordpress.com, or y'all can contact me more directly at sclauche@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you!
Julie, did your husband design AGOH's cover?
ReplyDeleteGoodness, but this is a busy place! I'm a little lost, but I realize I really need to come by here more often! Awesome stuff you guys!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Julie on her prequel! Love, love, love the cover! The thoughts of Isle of Hope make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! What a fantastic book! I would love to win the prequel! Maybe it would take my mind off of this kidney stone that is kicking my rear. :(
dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com
Hi Mary:
ReplyDeleteI agree that what you mentioned can be a big problem to avoid.
I remember when I first became a copy editor, the marketing director was always correcting my editing of other copywriters. He'd say: "Don't edit something to make it read like you would have written it. Edited it because it is wrong or because you can make it sell better."
The above is a very hard lesson for an editor to learn.
BTW: While I am very good at predicting plots and solving mysteries early in the stories, that's because the author was playing fair and building foundations and hiding clues. This does not necessarily mean I could write a great mystery plot -- and I am a plotter.
My favorite great plots are the ones I figure out early but no one else does! : )
Vince
Vince,
ReplyDeleteGreat point about copy editors! Too true.
Oh goodness! Just saw the February calendar and can't wait for the 22nd! Dani Pettrey is coming to Seekerville :)
ReplyDeleteCARYL SAID: "WOOP WOOP for JULIE's prequel."
ReplyDeleteLOL, girl, I LOVE your expressions and enthusiasm!! :)
VINCE SAID: ""The more brilliant a quote, the more falsehoods it can hide."
LOL ... never thought about it before, but that is SO true!! And that's what I love about great quotes -- they're like millisecond mini-lessons that say SO much in so few words ... uh, unlike me ... ;)
NANCEY C SAID: "You probably hear this a lot -- those are gorgeous covers."
LOL ... maybe, but it's never near enough, my friend, trust me, so THANK YOU!!
Thanks, Myra -- it's always fun to have a new release, isn't it?
Hugs,
Julie
VINCE SAID: 'At first I didn't think a book in a week was that much of a challenge -- until, that is -- I discovered that they were taking about writing a book in a week and not reading one!"
ReplyDeleteLOL!!
VINCE ASKED Review Questions. (Your help is appreciated. I'm writing a review blog in April.)
(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
No, because I'm not likely to READ a book under ten reviews ... ;)
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
Nope, because for me, it's in the stars, my friend, although when someone goes to the trouble of crafting a really nice review, it does bless me.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
Mmmm ... great question! And my answer would be a resounding YES!!
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
Nope.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
LOL ... are you kidding??? ABSOLUTELY!!
Vince
HUGS,
Julie
Hi Tina:
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to attend your, "Why No Story Should be Without a Furry Secondary Character", post." My wife just finished, "Pain Danger" (I got her to write a review!!!) and her first comment was, "I loved that dog. He was a major character in the book." The dog surely made a major impact on her reading.
Maybe you could mention the difference between a major and secondary animal character. In Ruth's, "An Unexpected Groom," I'm having trouble determining if the hero's dog, Rocky, is a major character or secondary character (I'm 38% into the story). What do you think: is it based on 'face/page time' or 'importance to the story'?
Vince
MARY SAID: "I am one of the few people I know who figured out what was coming at the end of the Sixth Sense mid-way through the movie. So plotting (considering I'm a pantster) is something I consider myself very good at."
ReplyDeleteUH, yeah!! That's the first thing Natasha ever said to me about you -- that you're a genius at plotting, and I agree.
DEBBY SAID: "Julie, congrats of the release of your prequel. Your excerpts blew me out of the water!!! I landed right in the middle of your story, on the dock that's so beautifully portrayed in your graphics. "
WOW, Deb, you just blessed the socks off of me (which isn't good because I'm working outside in 40+ degree weather!!). But seriously, your comment means the world to me, coming from a truly respected peer.
VINCE, YAY!! You will LOVE MaryLu Tyndall -- she is one of my TOP FAVES as far as authors, an auto-buy for me, for sure. I'm anxious to see what you think. I just bought Charity's Cross last week, but alas, I won't get to it for months due to several endorsement books, 8 Rita books to judge, and Carol Award books on the heels of that to judge.
SARAH SAID: "*nervously biting my nails 'til Wednesday now...Julie's coming...* ;)"
LOL ... well, that makes TWO of us biting our nails now, my friend, so see you Wed., nubs and all! ;)
Hugs,
Julie
SARAH ASKED: "Julie, did your husband design AGOH's cover?"
ReplyDeleteWell ... it's funny you should ask because this is somewhat of a touchy subject. You see, after Keith designed A Light in the Window, he pretty much nixed any further involvement in my covers because he is not a print guy, so it's harder for him to do than somebody who does it for a living. He did make a comp for me on IOH, but I gave him the design I had in my head, he drafted the comp, and then we sent it to Killion Inc. to do the final, which turned out beautifully, in my opinion. So when it came time to do AGOH's cover, my hubby was SO busy, that I just went ahead to Killion, told them what I wanted, and they did the rest. I LOVE the job that they do because they work so well with my preconceived ideas, bringing them to life. :)
DIANA, nooooooooooooooooo!! A kidney stone? I curse that sucker in Jesus' name and command it to dissipate right now at the powerful Name of Jesus!! And, girlfriend, you NEVER have to win anything, my friend, because as many fabulous reviews as you have given me, the prequel is yours! Will send as soon as I have the mobi file, okay?
HUGS!!
Julie
I'll take a stab at your book review questions, VINCE.
ReplyDelete(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
Probably, if it's an author I really like and want to help her/him move up in the Amazon algorithms.
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
Doesn't really matter. As JULIE said, I look at the stars first. Then I'll see if the comments align with the rating.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
Probably so.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
No. But I can see how perhaps in some instances such mentions might be appropriate.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
Well, if it's written the way I would have written it, then obviously I'm going to relate better to the story. But if the book is otherwise well written and everything in the story "works," then I'll rate it on its own merits.
I would love to have a copy of the Isles of Hope. Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletePlease put my name in the bait bucket! Thanks Seekers! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteVince, tell Linda that I greatly appreciate the review. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so glad she liked Bailey!
Congratulations to all of the winners...myself included...yay! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteDon't enter me in the drawing for Julie's book. I already have it and I drool each day over the cover. It's coming up in my queue.
Thanks for the great links, Tina!
Happy Weekend, Seekerville Friends!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS to all the winners, and THANKS for another awesome WE, Miss T!
This year the timing of SPEEDBO should work out perfectly for moi, because my goal is to finish polishing my Genesis entry and send in by Feb. 28, so I'll be all ready to begin something new by March 1! (will use Leap Day, Feb. 29, to eat cake and drink coffee while celebrating 3 of my kitties' 8th birthdays - - I think it's so fun that they were born on Leap Day in 2008!).
And speaking of eating cake....please enjoy the Peach Pound Cake I'm setting out. ;)
Hugs, Patti Jo
p.s. JULIE LESSMAN, I loved loved loved ISLE OF HOPE and finally got my review posted on Amazon. WOW, you are amazing!! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs, PJ
Review Questions:
ReplyDelete(Your help is appreciated. I'm writing a review blog in April.)
(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
I don't care how many reviews it has.
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
I don't care how many words total.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
I am reviewing the book I read not the book I want to have read. ***** THAT NEEDS TO BE A BILL BOARD. REVIEW THE BOOK YOU READ NOT THE BOOK YOU WANT TO HAVE READ.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
Nope. But I sure read them all.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
SEE QUESTION #3
My criteria is simple. I read a review occasionally. I tend to read the high reviews and the low reviews. I look for tropes I don't like nothing else. There are certain tropes I cannot read. Period. Such as pregnant heroine. Anyone who had a ten pound baby will understand. I had two. Then the criteria for writing the review is did the book take me away? The analytical part of me may pull the book apart afterwards...but the question is...while I was reading was I entertained all the way to the end?
If the book did that then I review. If it did not then I close it and start the next book and do not review.
PS. I also rarely review people I know anymore. Just too risky.
ReplyDeleteYAY, MYRA ... another validates me that the stars are what it's all about in the final analysis!!
ReplyDeleteHey, BRENDA, you're in the draw, girlfriend, and with three chances to win, those are good odds, so GOOD LUCK!
BETH ... you're in the bait bucket, girl, so GOOD LUCK!!
AH, but, JILL ... you don't have the PREQUEL to Isle of Hope, which is what I am also giving away, so GOOD LUCK!!
PATTI JO!!! You are the bane of my diet, my friend, tempting me with all things peach!! And HOLY COW, I saw the review you posted on Amazon, so GOD BLESS YOU, my friend -- SO appreciate it!! You are now entered in my contest to have a character named after you in my next book, so GOOD LUCK!!
TINA!! Two ten-pound babies???? OMG ... I thought an eight-pounder was a back-breaker. YIKES!!
HUGS,
Julie
VINCE SAID: "My favorite great plots are the ones I figure out early but no one else does! : )"
ReplyDeleteOkay, Vince, I just HAVE to ask -- did you figure out A Heart Revealed???
HUGS,
JULIE
I tend to review books I enjoyed, like Tina. If I didn't, well, why would I say something unkind??
ReplyDeleteAs a reader (and a reviewer myself), I appreciate a review's quality of content over its quantity.
Hi Julie:
ReplyDeleteYou wrote:
"Okay, Vince, I just HAVE to ask -- did you figure out 'A Heart Revealed'???"
No, but I don't think anyone else did either. "A Heart Revealed" is still one of my favorites because while I didn't guess the ending wrongly, I never ventured a guess at it at all. I knew you would not use the most convenient ending that most readers, I'm sure, were expecting. I just couldn't see you writing such an interesting book just to end it with a well worn cliché. On the other hand, I also could not figure out how you were going to go about doing it.
Vince
Ha, VINCE! You told me you didn't guess the end of Rancher's Reunion the Huntington's book either, now that I think about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Myra, Mary, Tina, and Julie:
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering questions from my review post. I've cut and pasted them all into a file in my Review Project folder.
I also just look at the number of stars a book was given. A ten word sentence is equal to a 2000 word review as far as stars go. I do figure a ten to fifteen word review is probably from a friend, colleague, or family member. I've had authors tell me not to worry about writing a long or fancy review. Just give it four or five stars.
And like Tina, I don't care how many reviews a book has. In fact, I like to be the first person to review a book. And when you preorder a book, there are no reviews...and I do a lot of that.
All these responses are very helpful. Some confirm what I already believe and some are so different they are sending me back to the drawing board. (I've spent years working with artists!)
Vince
Hi,Julie Even though I already pre-ordered AGOH I wanted to leave this comment to thank you again for your wonderful stories. They're always so good and the characters so well rounded that it's always a pleasure to revisit them again and again ! IOH was no exception and I'm sure AGOH will be just as great!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina:
ReplyDeleteYou Wrote:
"Ha, VINCE! You told me you didn't guess the end of Rancher's Reunion the Huntington's book either, now that I think about it."
That's right. I often don't guess the ending of romances written by pantsers. Often a panster does not know what is going to happen next and even a mind reader cannot read what is not yet in a mind.
When I wrote:
"My favorite great plots are the ones I figure out early but no one else does! : )"
I was talking about the reading enjoyment these plots provide me. They may be favorites because of the satisfaction I derived from reading them but that does not mean that they were the best books or even my favorite books. They are just my favorite plots.
I think it is a benefit if I cannot guess the plot ending, if that ending is supported by facts in the story. Usually I'll mention this in a review. Not knowing how it will end right to the end makes the story more real with genuine surprises. It's just more fun to read.
Vince
Yesterday was cute grandkid day here at the farm.... today it's a back-to-work day for the Ruthinator, but I missed this amazing Weekend Edition yesterday!
ReplyDeleteTINA!!!! Thank you for this, you are (as always!) amazing. And stinkin' cute.
I jogged over to a couple of the links, and that's going to be my reward as I go through writing sprints today... write... check out links.... write.... check out links.
I have a no visitors sign on the porch door! :)
ReplyDeleteVince, I love that you're doing the blog on reviews... Here are my answers:
Review Questions:
(Your help is appreciated. I'm writing a review blog in April.)
(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
No, this wouldn't matter to me at all, but I think it makes a difference to readers unless the author does a "REVIEW PUSH" to gain more reviews. (A giveaway, a contest, a weekend review party, etc.) Then I think the numbers pump up with a little incentive. Sometimes they pump up the wrong way, though!
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
No way! One of my favorite reviews is "AWESOME!" :) or "She had me from the first page." Often less is more when it comes to reviews!
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
It wouldn't affect my review... but I'd take that idea and see what else I could do with it based on how I'd see the characters moving emotionally. Like Mary said, seeds of inspiration come from all directions. Internet stories, books, songs, Biblical phrases... but like Tina said, I would review the book in hand... not based on what I thought, because we're a different breed.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
No, not usually, nor would I think to unless the book was specifically to honor someone. I read them, but that's not reviewable information.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
If you're an author giving a review, you better be PDC. Pretty Darned Careful. I reviewed an author's book once and gave her a 4 (this was back in the day before I knew we weren't supposed to be honest!!!!! Ooops!) and she was insulted.
I burned my little typing fingertips doing that, scorched 'em right off, and decided that it's better to be quiet when you're on this side of the page.
What in the world of all that's good and holy is wrong with a "4"?????? I will never understand that reasoning, but it taught me a lesson. The hard way. And authors have Very Long Memories....
Just so you all know, if you give me a '4', I'm happy dancing. I'm grateful. The whole everybody gives "5"s for everything is way too reflective of everybody gets a participation trophy... and everybody gets to pass their grade because holding kids back is too painful (and looks bad for the school's numbers)... I'm much more in tune with the authors who have their "one star" celebration parties, because that's funny! And you can't please everyone, and that's all right!
Bonnie, I'm looking forward to that Missy-cooked meal, too, LOL!
ReplyDelete:)
Any suggestions on what she should make? When it comes to Missy, I'm in love with Southern cooking, 100%.
Vince...
ReplyDeleteReview Questions:
(Your help is appreciated. I'm writing a review blog in April.)
(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
Probably more likely to leave a review if it doesn't have many, especially if I enjoyed the story.
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
Word count doesn't matter to me.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
The important thing is whether I enjoyed the book, no matter the ending.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
No.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
Probably, but only because the author has provided a satisfying ending, IMHO.
Most Surprising Answer so Far:
ReplyDeleteThe answers to my review questions have been quite surprising in many respects; however, the answers to #1,
"Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?" seem to me to be the most surprising.
Perhaps I should have worded the question this way:
"(1) Are you more likely to review a book, that you have just read and liked, which has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
I would have guessed that everyone would pick the book with the fewest reviews. Consider this: if there are already 320 reviews, what good is one more review going to do anyone? What is the likelihood of your review even being read by anyone but Amazon's computer?
However, if an author has only 3 or 4 reviews, and it is really a good book, then your review can have a major impact.
If the book is really well written and it has few or no reviews, I will select that book to review first.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a romance novel in possession of great merit, must be in want of a winsome reviewer."
LYNNE!!! Thanks for coming by, my friend, AND for your sweet comment! You never fail to bless me! :)
ReplyDeleteHugs and GOOD LUCK!
JULIE
VINCE SAID: "That's right. I often don't guess the ending of romances written by pantsers. Often a panster does not know what is going to happen next and even a mind reader cannot read what is not yet in a mind."
ReplyDeleteLOL ... SOOOO VERY true, unless it's a pantster that writes a family saga with 15 main characters, then she darn well better know where she's going ... ;)
RUTHY SAID: "f you're an author giving a review, you better be PDC. Pretty Darned Careful. I reviewed an author's book once and gave her a 4 (this was back in the day before I knew we weren't supposed to be honest!!!!! Ooops!) and she was insulted."
LOL ... unfortunately VERY true, which is why I don't review a lot of books anymore because I know that 4's will offend authors I know and like, not unlike my own sister offended me by posting a 4-star on A Passion Most Pure, a book I sent to her free as a courtesy. She's a peace activist who thought I didn't accurately reflect the horrors of war. My first thought was, really? My own sister is going to take the time and trouble to give me a 4-star because I'm not politically correct in her opinion?? Get a grip, Pat -- it's a ROMANCE novel, not a dissertation on war!
I will admit, Ruthy, that I was in that "offended by 4's" camp for a long time, but like you now, I have come to appreciate 4's A LOT MORE, but ONLY if the reviewer takes the time to say WHY she gave it a 4. I cannot tell you HOW many glowing 4-star reviews I have on my books, most of which never say one negative thing. To me that is FAR more offensive than a 4-star where the reviewer explains that although she liked the story, she was put off by the passion or language (i.e. freakin', blinkin', etc).
And to be brutally honest, I was more hurt than offended by a good friend whose book I not only endorsed, but gave a 5-star review when that same friend gave me a 3-star review right after that. Really??? I'm sorry, call me overly sensitive (which I am), but if that had been me, I would have passed on posting any review at all rather than risk hurting someone's feelings. And I absolutely guarantee you that that same author would have been devastated it I had given her a 3-star. I finally let it go by praying for her and asking God to bless her, so we are still friends today, for which I am most grateful.
Obviously, this subject hits a nerve with me, but to their credit, reviews like this are largely responsible for toughening me up to negative reviews, so there's a plus right there! :)
Hugs,
Julie
Well if I had my way, Missy would make catfish, deep fried breaded okra, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes and a triple decker coconut cake for dessert.
ReplyDeleteSeekerville and Tina - Thank you for the mug! It's coming after a particularly hard week with a friend very ill, near death, and some other "trials" at hand, so thank you! And my agent has just sent out my MS for consideration so lots of prayers, walking that tightrope, etc. I love the idea of needing to keep reaching forward in faith.
ReplyDeleteJulie, your books are so enticing. I'd love to be entered. Thanks for your honest comments above. It really helps to see your heart (and humanity) in the whole process. Remember that you are a ++5++ star personally no matter what!
All of you, I've posted a contest (AMAZON gift card or cool gem growing kit for kids) to name my new blog with sections for kids and adults. Still a lot of resilience, but fun gems and mysteries coming too (since I write gem mysteries for tweens and teens. Come visit here: https://elizabethvantassel.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/help-name-my-blog-and-giveaway-too/. I'd love your votes, too, next week when I list the final three choices!
Whoa!! Julie. You definitely have taken some review blows. The trouble with reviews is that the star system is not accurate.
ReplyDeleteOh My, Tina. I'll be right there. Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteTINA: I feel Julie's passionate writing draws passionate readers who write passionate reviews, both good and bad. I agree with you in that the star system is not accurate.
ReplyDeleteTotally agreed on the star system, but is it that it's not accurate, or that we've usurped it?
ReplyDeleteNone of us expect Romantic Times to give us 4 1/2 Stars every book...
But we expect it from readers if they like a book.
I think that's as much our perception as anything.
The openness of indie publishing and online sales has opened a huge door, and I mean HUGE... for sales, but also feedback.
Hey, if we don't create emotions, we're not doing our job!
I am honestly okay with the review system, and when our books stretch boundaries, I think we've got to expect the ups and downs of reviews.
Julie, you touched a huge point with your sister's review... in a romance, there's so much we have to touch on... and then move along! Editors remind us all the time to not wander, so when a non-romance reader sees that, they think "Well, she KNOWS better!!!!". But the fact is it's someone else's book now, and readers don't always realize that we have rules we must follow. If we like getting paid, that is! :)
I'm sending that menu to Missy RIGHT NOW!!!!
ReplyDeleteMore About Reviews:
ReplyDeleteThe thing about a four star review is that to many authors it's like saying that twenty percent of their book was rubbish.
I agree that the star system is not accurate but how do you get accuracy? Do you do what I used to do to my old marketing boss when we argued over whether Puccini was better than Verdi? I'd just say, "Let's put the question into the God-O-Meter and objectively find out who was the better composer."
I must say I don't like the five star system because it is too restrictive. It's like giving a college student either 100% on a test or 80% -- with nothing in between.
I'm not too bothered by four star reviews that don't give a reason why the review did not merit five stars. Four stars does not have to mean that there was anything wrong with a book. It is just an admission that the reviewer has read better books.
What I don't like is a glowing five star review with nothing exemplified as to why it deserved five stars. I think a book should earn a five star review by doing something better than most other authors usually do.
What irks me the most are reviews that the reviewer obviously never read but wrote the review based on the blurbs alone. These become very obvious if you've carefully reviewed the book yourself. The things such reviewers get wrong should make the author's toes curl.
In any event, it was sure handy to have that God-0-Meter to settle disputes back in the day.
Vince
Missy doing some real southern home cooking?
ReplyDeleteDon't waste this opportunity on ordinary food!
Let Us Say Grace and Give Thanks!
Here's the meal: Spicy Okra Pickles, Pickled Shrimp, Southern-Style Deviled Eggs, Thanksgiving Roast Turkey, Cornbread Dressing, Honey Buttermilk Biscuits, Pan Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, 4-Cheese Mac & Cheese,
Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Lonée's Collards, Cranberry Sauce, Blue Ribbon Pecan Pie, Sweet Iced Tea, and finally, Captain Radcliffe's Punch.
And, the Super Bowl afterwards would be just perfect!
Looking at the Isle of Hope memes gives me hope warm weather will return....beautiful covers and an amazing book! Don't enter my name since I have both.....or will have when Glimmer of Hopereleases since I've already taken advantage of the preorder price.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the winners! Tina, good to visit with you in warm Australia talking about pets, and thanks for the WE info. I especially liked the links on creating your own blog photos (such fun to do my own) and the ebook price point comparisons. Next week looks full of great posts. I'm waving my hand wildly to have Missy fix dinner. :)
Speedbo......in just a month?!?! I'm clearing the decks to be ready!
Hope everyone had a good weekend! Blessings for the week ahead!
RUTHY AND VINCE: Oh, Vince - most of those are some of my fave southern foods. Here are a few others that are faves of my family: baked steak and gravy, fried corn, yeast rolls, 7-layer green salad, hummingbird cake, French coconut pie, pretzel salad, custard, jam cake, banana croquettes, meat loaf, pot roast, 3 bean casserole, potato casserole, stewed tomatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit cobbler.
ReplyDeleteP.S. And Amen for saying grace and giving thanks for that wonderful food, VINCE!!
ReplyDeleteVince, I'm glad to hear you are writing a review post because I want to improve my review writing.
ReplyDelete(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
No, it doesn't matter how many reviews a book has.
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
No, unless the 15 words communicate something profound about the book. Less than 15 words probably doesn't give enough information for me to tell if I will like it or not.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
No, probably because I don't think I could have written a better ending for any of the books I've read recently. The ending is always important to me. I like a sweet...sometimes surprising... epilogue to give me that sigh of happy satisfaction. If the ending is especially charming, I will mention that, but I don't base my reviews on how I would have written the ending.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
I have. I read these parts of the book first. These elements are important to me in getting to know the author, so I have mentioned them in some reviews.
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
I haven't really thought about this, so, no, that doesn't make any difference.
I'm looking forward to your post on reviews....as well as your book about reader rewards per page. Any news on that book that I have missed?
How Fair is This?
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading a wonderfully inspiring book. I'm going to give it a 5-Star review. It features multiple 'second chance' themes, forgiveness and redemption, all set in a beautiful location -- one I'd be happy to vacation at myself -- it's a location where the hero holds weeklong Christian retreats for teens, newlyweds, and those dealing with grief from the loss of loved ones.
The hero and heroine are warm, loveable, and highly sympathetic characters. I enjoyed every page of this book. It's everything I'd want in a Christian romance.
Since being published it has had only one review. That was a 5-star review by Julie Lessman on September 29th, 2010.
This is exactly why I like to review, and seek out, really good romances that have few or even no reviews. This is especially true of Christian books which I would love to encourage more people to read.
I think it is noble to leave reviews on fine Christian books that deserve the praise.
Vince
VINCE
ReplyDelete(1) Are you more likely to review a book that has under 10 reviews than one that has over 100 reviews?
I tend to review the book with less reviews first since I feel my review will have more impact there. Books with tons of reviews make me feel like mine w would be lost in the masses.
(2) Do you put much weight in a review that has less than 15 words total?
Depends. An AWESOME!!! review, I'll pay attention to. A 'this book is good', or 'this book stunk', I'll ignore.
(3) Does the belief that you could have written a much better ending to a novel affect your review of that book?
Nope. Especially since I've barely written one complete MS that possesses a good bit of deck. I review on the entertainment value I received from the book as I read it.
(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?
Um... why would I? Well, Bible quotes maybe... if I think people who don't like "religion" mixed into their romance will read the book. I give it as a fair warning thing. Not that those particular whiners pay attention...
(5) Do you give a better review to a romance that is written the way you would have written it?
A bit narcissistic isn't it? Answer: nope. A good story well told is a good story well told. If you caught me up into your world, I don't give a rip whether or not it was written the way I would've.
I tend to give more four stars than five, but am probably guilty of not saying why not five. Of course, I'm probably not giving a glowing, fanatic review either. Those type of reviews tend to get attached to Seeker books more often than not (five stars!).
I laughed so hard when I saw Ruthy's blurb about my cooking dinner! But you never know...
ReplyDelete:) :) :)
I see now that Vince has left me a southern menu! hahaha Actually, Vince, if you check out my posts on the Yankee-Belle Cafe, you'll find a lot of those. :)
Tina, I'll start cooking now. ;)
ReplyDeleteOooh, Bonnie, you listed some of my favorite foods!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sherida:
ReplyDeleteI asked:
"(4) Do you ever mention 'acknowledgements', 'dedications' or 'bible quotes' in your review?"
You answered:
"I have. I read these parts of the book first. These elements are important to me in getting to know the author, so I have mentioned them in some reviews."
I'm with you 100% on this and that may be because we are very much readers and romance fans. I read these first -- especially acknowledges -- because, if I know the author has checked with various experts on the theme of the book, then I will enjoy that book much more. It's like enjoying a gourmet meal in a fine restaurant even more when you're told that tonight, the owner, a world famous chef, is cooking the meal.
With this added knowledge, you'll be able to savor each bite trying to taste the difference a great chef makes. This can lead to a richness of experience that you cannot get in any other way. If I can tell a reader this before she reads the book, then I feel like I've also added to the reading enjoyment of that book. That's what I like best: a review that can help the reader derive even greater enjoyment from reading the book. I think of it as being a 'value-adding' reviewer. : )
As for my RPP WIP, I'm finishing up on the second draft. The art work is done. I even have a beta copy on my Kindle which I formatted myself using Scrivener.
However, I just keep coming up with more and better ideas. That's the big problem with not having a drop dead publisher's deadline. I never missed publishers' or advertisers' deadlines in my real job.
Thanks for giving your answers. You've been very helpful.
Vince
Hi Debby:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response to my review questions. I found it is very hard to get someone to write their first review. Especially if they do not read reviews.
I've tried for years to get my wife to write short reviews on Amazon. She never would. Then she read two of your books and I asked her to at least review them.
She had no idea what went into a review. She never reads any so she did not know where to start. So I printed out nine typical reviews that ran three to five sentences. Once she saw how typical reviews are written, she hand wrote the two reviews for your books for me to post.
Of course, I could not post them to my account so I had to open an Amazon accout for her. But to do that the account must buy at least one item on Amazon (and it can't be a free item) so I had to set up a credit card account and buy something. (So now Amazon has the credit card info -- but it's my credit card, anyway.)
Then I typed up her first review into the computer but, of course, Amazon would not take it because the book releases tomorrow. So then I typed up the second book she reviewed and it posted. In a few hours I will post her first book review which will appear second. :)
I can tell you this: it is very hard to get someone who has not posted reviews to get started doing so. We really have to value those who do post reviews.
We also need to make it very easy to create and leave reviews. That is one of the things I am working on.
Thanks again for your help with my questions.
Vince
I have Julie's "Isle of Hope" so I'd love to be in the draw for the prequel :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat WE, looking forward to this week, which I HOPE will be much quieter & less chaotic then the last 3 weeks here! Can I go back to my normal now, lol?!?!
Hi DebH:
ReplyDeleteThanks for you answers to my review questions. All comments help.
I might add that I mention acknowledgements in a review when it shows the author has gone to great lengths to provide accurate details and thus has created a richer reading experience. Sometimes when I'm reading about a given profession and I find a lot of what goes on to be interesting, it means more to me if the author has researched the subject and what I'm being told is what really happens. Without the expert acknowledgements I might wonder if the story is real or fanciful and that would detract from my reading enjoyment.
Also one of my reasons for giving 5 stars is the detailed reality created by the author. Like what goes on in an operating room during open heart surgery. In cases where I have first hand knowledge, I don't so much need acknowledgements, but where I do not have such inside information, I want the acknowledgements to support my claims of accuracy.
That's why I pay special attention to acknowledgements. Sometimes it even annoys me when the theme of the book is highly technical and no one is acknowledged. It make me think that the author thinks she already knows it all. That does not inspire reader confidence.
Vince
ELIZABETH SAID: "Julie, thanks for your honest comments above. It really helps to see your heart (and humanity) in the whole process. Remember that you are a ++5++ star personally no matter what!
ReplyDeleteAw, Elizabeth, thank you SO much for your sweet comment, my friend -- it made my day! And I 'm sorry about your tough week -- I hope this week is better for you. Your contest sounds fun, and I will be sure to check it out.
TINA said: "Whoa!! Julie. You definitely have taken some review blows. The trouble with reviews is that the star system is not accurate."
LOL, yeah, I have, Tina, which makes me qualified to write a blog on 1-star reviews that I hope to do in a few months. I have more research on that subject than any other with TONS of links and people's opinions and other fun things. And I agree with you on the star system not being accurate. I wish Amazon did it like RWA does for judging books -- 1 to 10 (or for Amazon, 1-5), but able to use fractions because somehow I think they soften the blow of lower reviews.
BONNIE SAID: "I feel Julie's passionate writing draws passionate readers who write passionate reviews, both good and bad."
Oh my gosh, Bonnie, you NAILED it, my friend!! My editor always told me that she's never seen more "passionate" fans (i.e. reader friends) of an author than mine, and I have to agree, but that's because they are passionate like me, so it makes perfect sense.
VINCE SAID: "I must say I don't like the five star system because it is too restrictive. It's like giving a college student either 100% on a test or 80% -- with nothing in between."
YES, YES, YES, Vince, I TOTALLY AGREE!! Which is why I said above that I'd like to see Amazon use the fraction system like RWA judges use in judging a book. That way I could give a book a 4.6 instead of a 5 and not feel badly, and it would be far more accurate.
Hugs,
Julie
Congratulations to all the winners this week and to our dear Julie. I'm so thrilled for Glimmer of Hope! It's a prequel I'm looking forward to since you first hinted at it!
ReplyDeleteNo need to put me in the giveaway. Pre-ordered a copy. :)
Have a fabulous and blessed week, everyone!
Annie
O...forgot to say...love letters?! Sweet. Will check it out!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, SHERIDA, but, girl, you are one of those on my "no need to preorder" list, so next time (which will be book 2, Shannon's story, Everlasting Love), do not order -- you are automatically on my influencer list, my friend, whether you want to be or not! ;)
ReplyDeleteAND SHERIDA ALSO SAID IN RESPONSE TO VINCE'S QUESTION ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: "I have. I read these parts of the book first. These elements are important to me in getting to know the author, so I have mentioned them in some reviews."
WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I cannot tell you HOW much this impresses me, Sherida and Vince because it never occurred to me that a reviewer would ever mention those things. I will say that I work very hard to make sure the dedications and acknowledgments are just as emotional and deep as my books because it's an important way to thank those people who have impacted my life in a positive way, so it's nice to know that readers actually read them! :)
VINCE!!! Oh my goodness, you're joking!! I know what book you're talking about, but I am STUNNED that my review is the only one -- it seems impossible to me!! Glad you're going to make it two because this is one author is SOOO deserves it!
VINCE ALSO SAID: "I can tell you this: it is very hard to get someone who has not posted reviews to get started doing so. We really have to value those who do post reviews."
OH, PREACH IT, MISTER!! AMEN AND AMEN, and I think it's incredibly impressive that you encouraged your wife in this process. I can tell you one thing, my friend, you reap as you sow, and when your book is published, you will have more reviews than you know what to do with!!
Hugs,
Julie
TRIXI, soooo sorry you've had three hectic weeks, my friend, and saying one that this week will be WAY better. You are in the draw for the prequel, and here's hoping I can make your week with a winner's copy, eh? GOOD LUCK!!
ReplyDeleteOh, ANNIE, GOD BLESS YOU, my friend, and like I told Sherida, you are one person who never needs to preorder my books because you are on my influencer list whether you want to be or not, girlfriend, so no preordering book 2 in the Isle of Hope series, because you're already on the list,okay?
And thanks for mentioning the love letters -- I have to admit, it makes me cry every time I read it, but then I'm a weep sort as it is. ;) Hope to see you there tomorrow, my friend!
Hugs,
Julie
Julie, you are the sweetest! I'm honored to be part of your team!
ReplyDeleteI adored Little House on the Prairie books as a kid ... I'm definitely on edge to see how this works out ...
ReplyDeletePlease add me to the Glimmer of Hope drawing! =)