How to Deal With Negative Book Reviews?

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It happens to EVERY writer and it hurts you to see someone talk like that about your baby, err novel…  At first, you just sit there, stunned. Unable to believe anyone would take such offense. Schock. Anger… Don’t panic. Negative book reviews, especially those that are potentially malicious, are near the top list of nightmare scenarios for every writer. You have been putting your heart and soul into pursuing your passion. So it is understandable when you would like to act first in the face of negativity and have regrets later. Please don’t!  Hold your tongue.

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It makes no difference if you won the Pulitzer Price, or if you teach English in high school classes, or how many books you have sold. Check it out, many negative reviews show up on Bestseller books pages online too! In most cases this reviewer would never tell you the same directly in person. But the anonymity of the internet makes for a different mindset.  Sometimes – or often – the review has nothing to do with the actual book:

• The reviewer expected a different content
• The reviewer regrets the purchase
• The reviewer thinks there is too much violence or sex in the content
• The reviewer could have a bad day
• The reviewer could even be a competitor
• The reviewer is jealous of your success
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How to Deal with Bad Reviews?
It is difficult to be thick-skinned when it comes to someone reading your work. Writers tend to be quite emotional people, that’s what makes them good at what they do, but it also means that they are likely to take a bad review to heart.  Before you plan a strategy for addressing criticism, you need to determine if the review is true. Investigate before taking action. The best way to deal with bad reviews is to ignore them.  If they really hurt, talk with your writer colleagues or friends about it. They can go to your books page and choose the “fair” reviews, and click on: Helpful. This way the helpful reviews climb up to the top and the negative review is not as visible anymore.  Many readers don’t even know how to write a review.  Try to get as many professional reviews as possible, such as Midwest Reviews, Armchair Reviews, ForeWord Reviews, Kirkus Reviews etc. They are trained and know how to write a fair review. Any review, good or bad, is better than no review. Readers who like the genre you write in will give you a better quality review, whether it’s a good review or a so-so review.

Never have any sort of contact with a reviewer. There’s no point in doing so. Everyone has an opinion, and all opinions are valid to the person who has them.
As Stephen King famously wrote: “You can’t please all of the readers all of the time; you can’t please even some of the readers all of the time, but you really ought to try to please at least some of the readers some of the time.”

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Funny, Negative Reviews
Bestseller author Rayne Hall blogged about negative, but funny reviews she received, some are really hilarious. Read her article, sampling some of the stupidities for her highly popular novel Storm Dancer (dark epic fantasy novel).  “This book is too long. I had to spend many hours reading it. I’m busy and have other things to do.”  “The character of Queen Matilda is not believable”. There’s no Queen Matilda in the book.

Digital Book World listed snippets from Bestseller reviews:

“It was one of the most boring and shallow books that I have ever read.” —review of the American classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Not nearly enough consistency and far to [sic] little plot.”—review of Harry Potter And the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

“If I were you, I’d peruse it briefly at your neighborhood library before putting hard-earned money out.” —review of children’s classic A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

“I find myself saying to myself as I read it ‘bla bla bla’ as that is what the author seems to be saying.” —review of National Book Award Winner Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen

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If the Review is Factually Incorrect:
If a statement made is untrue (not just an opinion you disagree with), you have the right to ask for the comment to be removed or retracted. You would have to provide conclusive supporting evidence which shows the comment is factually incorrect. If you can’t provide proof, the sad truth is you won’t get anywhere asking for removal.

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You’ve done your best; you can’t change the book, other than a misspelled word or comma in an e-book. Life is too short to worry about what anyone thinks of your work. You shouldn’t be reading your reviews at all. And here are the good news: Consumers are smart enough to sniff out and ignore one odd-ball negative review in a sea of positive ones. Hopefully you worked hard on getting lots of reviews, so that few bad ones diminish in a sea of brilliant reviews. Read a list of bestseller authors that got hundreds of 1-star reviews. And not only bestseller reviews. Almost all books have a huge variety of reviews, from 5-star to 1-star reviews.  Hope that helps. What Else Can You Do to Increase Your Books’ Success is described in this blog post.
What other advice do you have for handling negative book reviews? Let us know in the comments below.

More About How to Get Professional Reviews
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/prestigious-reviews-and-how-to-get-them/

Huffington Post Collection of Articles Regarding Bad Reviews
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/bad-book-reviews/.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,100 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
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Did You Write a Kindle Single?

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Many writers have taken a strong 70-page idea and stretched it into a weak 300-page book because that was what the industry demanded. Amazon gave short formats – Singles – an identity.
Any writer can approach Amazon directly, as Stephen King, a prominent author, did with Guns,  a nonfiction essay too long, at 8,000 words, for most newspapers or magazines. Another hit was his Single Mile 81, a top seller.

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Amazon’s Sub-Store
In January 2011, Amazon launched a sub-store on its US website to sell something it called a “Kindle Single” : “Compelling Ideas Expressed At Their Natural Length”, as they call it. The internet giant Amazon pays 70% royalties, for Singles priced between 99 cents and $4.99. “Typically between 5,000 and 30,000 words, Kindle Singles are editorially curated and showcase writing from both new and established voices – from bestselling novelists and journalists to previously unpublished writers.”

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The Guardian explained:
“It may not sound like a call to revolution. But Kindle Singles are. Writers can seldom express ideas “at their natural length”, because in the world of traditional print only a few lengths are commercially viable. Write too long, and you’ll be told to cut it (as Stephen King was when The Stand came in too long to be bound in paperback). Worse, write too short, and you won’t get published at all. Your perfect story is 50 pages long – or 70, or 100?  Good luck getting that printed anywhere.  Commercial print publishers have never liked novellas or novelettes, authors always have. Indeed, many writers have done their best work at that length, despite the difficulty of finding publication.  Hence the revolution.  Because the new length exploits this hole in traditional publishing.”

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How Much Do Kindle Single Authors Earn?
The top-ten list of bestselling Kindle Singles includes a number of big-name writers. But how is the format working for writers who don’t have the brand of a Stephen King or Jodi Picoult? Gigaom.com offers well-researched insights from their interviews:

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Author: Oliver Broudy
Bio: Former managing editor of the Paris Review; writer for Men’s Health
Kindle Singles: “The Saint,” $1.99 (3/2011), “The Codex,” $1.99 (10/2011)
Sales: “The Saint”: 41,826 copies, “The Codex”: 5,009 copies (both figures through January 2012)
Estimated royalties ([price * number of copies sold] * 0.70): $65,241.16

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Author: Frank D. Gilroy
Bio: Author of the 1965 play “The Subject Was Roses,” which won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award
Kindle Single: “Lake,” $1.99 (11/2011)
Sales: 12,500 as of February 2012
Estimated royalties ([price * number of copies sold] * 0.70): $17,412.50

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Author: Mishka Shubaly
Bio: Musician; bassist for The Freshkills
Kindle Singles: “Shipwrecked,” $1.99 (4/2011), “The Long Run,” $1.99 (10/2011), “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” $1.99 (3/2012). “The Long Run” is the ninth-bestselling Kindle Single overall, by units.
Sales: “Shipwrecked”: 21,024 copies, “The Long Run”: 60,567 copies, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”: 11,406 copies.
Estimated royalties ([price * number of copies sold] * 0.70): $129,544.82

Read the whole story by Laura Hazard Owen in her post: “Exclusive: How Much Do Kindle Singles Authors Make?”

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If You Want to Have Your Single Published
Amazon criteria’s – Submission Policies – are:
• Original work, not previously published in other formats or publications
• Self-contained work, not chapters excerpted from a longer work
• Not published on any public website in its entirety
• Currently not accepting how-to manuals, public domain works, reference books, travel guides, or children’s books
“A Kindle Single can be on any topic. So far we’ve posted fiction, essays, memoirs, reporting, personal narratives, and profiles, and we’re expanding our selection every week. We’re looking for high-quality writing, fresh and original ideas, and well-executed stories in all genres and subjects. You also can write to our editors at kindle-singles@amazon.com”
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The latest Kindle Single Bestsellers in a variety of genres can be found at Amazon’s “Singled Out” page.
If you are an author and already published a Single at Amazon, let us know about your experience and success.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,100 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
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Stephen King Book Signing in Sarasota Florida

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Read tips for your own book signing, that might not draw such a crowd, but it will show your book to many more readers, and it is a part of your author platform, which helps to cement your author brand.

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Folks were lining up around the blog… What a sight!  I was curious and asked one of those in line if there is free ice cream from the new opened parlor.  But no!  She explained me that there is a book
signing.  Book Signing? Really? Yes, she said, in BookStore 1 is an author signing his books.  Yes, and what’s his name? Stephen King she answered. Well, no wonder that folks are lining up!
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Stephen King Book Signing in Sarasota Florida

As I had already a small camera in hand, I asked several folks to model for me and took also lots of
photographs from parts of the line-up (sorry, had no wide angle lens with me to capture how the line went around the whole block).

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Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1973, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine.  I would assume to make ends meet…

If it hadn’t been for Stephen King’s wife, Tabitha, the iconic image of a young girl in a prom dress
covered in pig’s blood would not exist. King received 30 rejections for his story of a tormented girl
with telekinetic powers, and then he threw it in the trash. Tabitha fished it out. She sent his story
around again and, eventually, Carrie was published. The novel became a classic in the horror
genre and has enjoyed film and TV adaptations as well.

Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, which allowed him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world’s most successful writers.
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Word for Your Week:
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is hard work.” –Stephen King

And by the way: There is a publishing seminar in Sarasota, FL, this coming Saturday, March 22.
Sign-up for the Early-Bird-Offer, and learn how to become a successful writer – maybe one day people are lining up for your book signings too.  It all takes a lot of time, often years, patience and dedication. We will show you at this seminar how to redeem and get short stories from your books’ manuscript and from your research, to get your name out as a writer. Remember: Stephen King started out with short stories!
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Tips for Your Own Book Signing
Start with your local bookstores, some will agree to a book signing with a local author. However, just because you set up an event, doesn’t mean people will come! You have to announce it to as many people as possible. In the weeks leading up to the book signing, promote it often on all your Social Media sites, on Craigslist, print some flyers and post it at libraries, on Community Boards, coffee shops etc. Sent out a press release to various local media outlets, and maybe offer them a free digital version of your book.

Don’t forget to mention that you will have a drawing (maybe for a Kindle, Kobo or Nook and also that you will have “refreshments” (ice water to juice, coffee, or cookies, or even wine and cheese). It all depends on the venue, in a chain book stores that includes a coffees hop you may think about a gift card for a large coffee to hand out to people who bought your book.
Bring your book markings or cards, a fish bowl to collect addresses for the drawing, lots of pens, and ice water for yourself. And have someone to be present at your table and help you. See more tips at our blog post: “Top 18 Book Launch Tips” where you also get a time schedule.
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In her article “How to Have A Successful Book Signing” MaryJanice Davidson said: “First, let’s define “successful”. A successful book signing is when you show up, your books are there, you have a place to sit, and you sell just one book.”  Well, hopefully more than one I would say.
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Author Michel Sauret: “Not every person that comes up to you during the signing will buy the book. Don’t be desperate and try to force a sale to everyone you talk to, but definitely show your enthusiasm and confidence in your own work.” 

Valerie Peterson wrote: “signing books—can be an important part of your book marketing campaign. While online bookselling is booming, of course, many people do enjoy seeing authors live and in person, and it gives writers an opportunity to meet their readers—as well as to sell some books!”

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,030 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
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Great Story Idea – But Too Short for a Book?

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Recently, The Guardian wrote about Amazon’s SINGLES and the New York Times ran a fascinating profile of David Blum, the editor of Amazon’s “Kindle Singles” store, and the whole phenomenon of Singles – and also what it means for the future of books.
Amazon has sold nearly 5 million Kindle Singles over the last 27 months, according to Teleread. Blum receives more than 1,000 unsolicited manuscripts each month, from which he “cherry-picks” the best ones.  Out of a couple hundred Singles, more than 5 million Singles have been sold in the last three years.  28 of these authors sold more than 50,000 copies.

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What’s the Benefit for Authors?
Writing articles is one of the most effective methods to attract website visitors. If a reader values the content we write, they will often pass it on to their friends through social media sites such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.  If we include the right keywords in our content, people will find our articles in the search engines. If we are smart, we submitted these articles to Online or print magazines, newspapers, guest blogs or even eZines, adding our web links and readers will click on these links and come to our website to buy books.

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Kindle Singles
Now it is possible to write 5,000 (better 10,000) to max. 30,000 word articles, Amazon calls them “Kindle Singles” and sell them online. A prominent author of these Kindle Singles is Stephen King, with his Single “Mile 81” a top seller. So, instead of submitting our work to reader forums or our blog, we can sell those articles to the internet giant Amazon website and receive 70% royalties, even for Singles priced under Dollar 2.99. To be precise for Singles priced between 99 cents and $4.99

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Other Criteria’s at Amazon are:

• Original work, not previously published in other formats or publications
• Self-contained work, not chapters excerpted from a longer work
• Not published on any public website in its entirety
• But they are currently not accepting how-to manuals, public domain works, reference books, travel guides, or children’s books!!!

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Amazon’s Submission Policy
“A Kindle Single can be on any topic. So far we’ve posted fiction, essays, memoirs, reporting, personal narratives, and profiles, and we’re expanding our selection every week.  We’re looking for high-quality writing, fresh and original ideas, and well-executed stories in all genres and subjects.  We will consider e-books recently published via Kindle Direct Publishing, manuscript submissions, or pitches.”

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Read more how to submit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000700491
Individual writers may benefit the most from the program, as it makes it easier for them to self-publish works that precisely for reasons of length can’t find support from traditional publishers.
What content is sitting on your computer, just waiting to become an e-book or a Kindle Single?  

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars  Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,030 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
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Bestseller Author Stephen King – King of Business

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Photo Credit FreakingNews.com / Manoftheyear.com

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Editor Mike Zimmerman, who has written more than 50 celebrity cover profiles – wrote about Stephen King’s business success, which is stemming mainly from his prolific writing (50+ books so far), but also his sense of business, shown in his smart dealings with publishers, his early adapting of e-books (chapter after chapter, down-loaded and volunteer-ly paid by his readers – a nightmare for publishers) and the creative, savvy brand he has gained.  Yes, and he even sells
t-shirts!  Just have a look at his professional website!

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Zimmermann wrote:
“Stephen King is a terrific businessman who leverages his success to broker creative and unusual deals in an industry not known for its flexibility, speed or inventiveness. The ebook revolution, currently in full swing, has the entire book publishing world scrambling to figure out new business models and how, if possible, to preserve the now-ancient art of printing words on paper.”
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Further:
“Over the years, King has always been forward-thinking and daring in his dealings with publishers. He experimented with an online-only ebook, The Plant, way back in 2000 when Kindle was but a gleam in Jeff Bezos’ hard drive. And 14 years ago, when he left Viking to go to S&S, he structured his deal in an unheard-of way, ditching the big advance for a smaller one, but splitting the profits 50/50.

Another bold move, according to The Wall Street Journal, was orchestrated by King’s then-agent Kirby McCauley:  Instead of a publisher licensing rights to King’s books for a period lasting up until 70 years beyond the author’s death (the usual publishing boilerplate, assuming the books stay in print), King leases his books to the publisher for a period of 15 years.”

A lot, new writers can learn from Stephen King, read the whole article on http://Success.com

From Stephen King’s Press Release Page

Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1973, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine.

Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world’s most successful writers.

Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. They are regular contributors to a number of charities including many libraries and have been honored locally for their philanthropic activities.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/
to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 970 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
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The Magic behind the Fantasy

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WilliamStadler

From the small town of Reidsville, and now from Raleigh, North Carolina, William Stadler enjoys writing novels, specifically in the epic fantasy genre where heroes and villains come to life.

William Stadler: “I wrote short stories in sixth grade, and my teacher used to give us six or seven lines to fill in. I’d use those seven lines, and then I’d turn the sheet over and fill up half of the back.  After that, I didn’t write extensively again for over fifteen years (except for a poetry phase).

But then something crazy happened. Steve Jobs died. I’m not typically bothered by the death of a celebrity, but Steve Job’s death really got to me. I started reading some of his quotes, and one said, “Set a goal, and work at it everyday.

Now I’ve heard that philosophy all my life, but something about that instance really got me thinking about what I truly enjoyed doing: writing.  Steve Job’s final words about working at your dream everyday materialized a writing passion within me. Because this has been so liberating, I have developed an inner desire to see people write.”
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The Pioneers Saga series was created. After months of writing, often until 3 a.m. and on his lunch break, Stadler’s first three novels have been released. He has already begun to work on his next trilogy saga.

His literary influences are George R.R. Martin; Stephen King; Terry Goodkind. Friends say William Stadler’s Stephen King-esque productivity has pushed them to make time for writing. “Hanging out with him has inspired me a lot to rediscover the passion that I have,” a friend said.
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If you would like to follow William Stadler, you can find him on twitter @William_Stadler.
He also writes a weekly blog, teaching aspiring authors how to develop their writing skills.
Goodreads, almost a must for writers and readers, shows him and his books, as well as Google+

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William Stadler created a video for The Pioneers series – EXTRACTED 
His Book Trailer can be found here on YouTube: http://bit.ly/11ReXrV

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While on a routine mission in the neighboring province of Broughtonhaven, Caleb Eaves and his squadron are ambushed by a band of assassins.  Left to die in an icy prison, Caleb has not heard from his wife who has gone missing, and he fears that his people have abandoned him.He must find a way to escape and track down his attackers if he ever hopes to regain the life he once he had.
Available on Amazon and B&N, 384 pages, $0.97

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Six months have passed since the victory at Bachenlaw. A new and incompetent governor has been named the head of the Polarist Region, and Broughtonhaven is at risk of being Dominated by these cold-blooded neighbors to the northwest. The Spiritualists plummet into darkness as they struggle to defend themselves from their invaders. The Alpha Council has refused to intervene, while Caleb, Sarai, and the Pioneers fear for the fate of the mainland.
Available on Amazon and B&N, 323 pages, $2.98

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Since the last war, the mainland of Clydenholm has known peace for the past three years. The Pioneers have settled their own civil disputes, and the life of tranquility that Caleb has longed for seems to be within his grasp. What he soon realizes is that this life is farther from him than he knows.

While on an Emblem Run in the Polarist Region, Caleb and Sarai discover that they are being watched, spied on by the Alpha Council. The location of the Pioneers is on the brink of being revealed, and if Juten is discovered, the Alphas promise to demolish the entire island, abandoning the Pioneers to their death.  Amidst it all, a dark evil looms over Clydenholm, one that threatens to expose the very wickedness of its inhabitants. Caleb and Sarai must face their own darkness if Clydenholm will be saved.  Available on Amazon and B&N, 306 pages, $3.02
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Enjoy the series and gift the author with a review : )    These three books in the Pioneer series cannot only be bought with one click on Amazon, but also be gifted: just click on “Give a Gift” and it will be send to the recipient’s email.  No Kindle necessary with Amazons free Cloud software.  Readers can also order a sample of each book with the “Sample now” button on Amazon.
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Book Reviewers wrote this:
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5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY AMAZING
“I have never liked a book this much !!!”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, possibly the next big thing!
“In his debut novel, William Stadler has crafted a refreshing new addition for the fantasy genre.”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to feed your imagination, spirit, and heart
“I was never a sci-fi reader, but I took a chance at “The Pioneers: Extracted” because I knew it wouldn’t merely become a book to expand my imagination. My expectations were abundantly filled by Stadler’s writing style and ….”

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Thriller, Satisfying Story, and Original Fantasy
“This book is both quality fantasy and a read I would recommend to anyone interested in an intriguing novel (I have already bought it as a gift for a couple people).”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
“I really enjoyed reading this book.”

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
“This is a great story. I have rarely seen such great depth of character and character development.”

 

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Interview with Patrick Jones, author of “The Wolf’s Moon”

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Patrick   thank you so much for taking the time today for this author interview. Let’s dive right in:

What inspired you to start writing?
I have written since I was a kid.  I wrote a mystery novel in High School.  My classmates liked the story but it, like everything else, wound up in the circular file cabinet.  Mrs. Ruth Morrisey, an English Lit teacher, encouraged me to write, while my family said I would starve.
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How did you get the idea for the novel?
One day I sat with a pen and paper and just started writing.  Sandy, my wife, was giving a lecture at a seminar so I decided to kill some time.  The more I wrote, the more it took on its own life.  “The Wolf’s Moon” went from a doodling, to a short story and ended as a novel.  I only wrote what I saw in my mind.
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Author Patrick Jones

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How would you describe your book to someone who has not yet read it?
The story is an action suspense thriller that intertwines love, loyalty and in the end, redemption.  Mark Lansdowne wants to be left alone to grieve the loss of his wife to illness but instead is pulled into uncontrolled circumstances which narrowly cost him his life.  Although he knows he and his lifelong pal, Warren Skruggs, should leave it to the proper authorities, things continue to happen causing Lansdowne to take matters into his own hands.
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Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
Loyalty and Love: The loyalty between Linden and Skruggs: Trusting each other even if it caused their death, never questioning their motives.  True love that Linden has for his deceased wife:  Linden made a commitment and took a vow.  He loved her completely in life, so her death is only a temporary separation.  Love and friendship do not die.
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Who is your favorite character and why?
Skruggs.  The reason I like Skruggsy is because he would rather see humor than the bad in life.  He always smiles, but when the smile fades he becomes a very controlled, violent individual.  He deeply loves his wife.  He would help anybody at the drop of a hat that needed help.  But he would kill just as fast.

Are your plots based on your real-life experiences?
For a writer to convince the reader that a character is real, he must believe each and every one of them is real.  While one is writing the story he or she lives with each character as though they actually exist.  Maybe they are fictional but life experiences, what the writer sees, feels and hears must be the same for them.  I think this is true regardless of genre if the writer expects their readers to identify with the characters.  Each reader should think of someone they know or have met.
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Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“Thriller fans will rejoice at the well-paced vignettes and spiking tension.”
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If Oprah invited you onto her show to talk about your book, what would the theme of the show be?
I would think that I could get on stage and Oprah would say, “How in the world did you write a book and have it made into a movie at this time in your life?” Adele would then sing the song she made for the movie!!
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What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
The Kirkus Review has captured the essence of the book by the following description of their interpretation:  “Jones’ novel confidently lays the groundwork for future books, with romantic and thriller subplots tightly interwoven in the service of a propulsive narrative. No time is wasted in introducing the characters or the creature, yet nothing feels rushed. Fans of romance may feel shortchanged by the surprisingly chaste nature of Lansdowne’s interactions with the nurse. However, thriller fans will rejoice at the well-paced vignettes and spiking tension. Jones doles out information with care, providing enough history to make things clear without overwhelming exposition. This same care is evident in the novel’s resolution, which ties up loose ends without shutting the door on further developments.”
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Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Years ago, before Indie Publishing, it was hard, if not impossible, to get a book on the market.  Now if a person is willing to pay people (that a publisher pays) it’s not as hard.  What I have really learned is writing the book is easier than selling the story.  When I received my first proof copy, I was satisfied that I completed what I had set out to do.  I have learned literary agents are tough people who have to say, “no,” a lot.  They cannot take too many chances.  Books are their bread and butter and they have to maintain a good rapport with publishers.  If a publisher, after spending time and money promoting a book and it doesn’t sell, he or she is on the street.
I don’t think of a rejection letter as a bad thing.  It just tells me I need to sharpen my skills.  It is like getting a bad review.  I smile knowing I did something they probably did not – I wrote a book.
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Considering a book from the first word you write to the moment you see it on a bookstore shelf, what’s your favorite part of the process? What’s your least favorite?
Since my book has not been in a bookstore yet, I suppose my favorite part really is working with my wife.  It is fun.  We work well together.  I have not found anything I don’t like, except trying to find new ways to sell my book.
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If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about your book?
No, I like it the way it is.  The editor said the first chapter sounded like a travel log.  Maybe, but people who have read the book tell me it helps to understand the Ozark Region. Stephen King wouldn’t have liked Chapter One but I don’t think he has read “The Wolf’s Moon”.  I haven’t heard from him…YET.
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What genre have you not yet written but really want to try?
A children’s book.  I think it would be fun but I can’t visualize anything yet.  One day, perhaps.
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If your book would be made into a movie, who should play the main character?
The guy who played the part of the scientist in the TV program SG1, Michael Shanks.  He looks much like I imagined Linden to look and I think he could pull it off.
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How did you get published? Please share your own personal journey.
We self-published.  Sandy and I shopped around to find someone and decided on Create Space.  We were actually able to speak with a person that advised us.  The rest sent emails.  Yes, most everything had a price tag.  They were not the cheapest nor were they the priciest.  The people at Create Space were easy to talk with.  When we ordered books, they usually arrived before the scheduled delivery date.  They mentored us through all of the steps we needed to go through to get the book published.  We learned that the process does not end there.  There are a multitude of other steps that are necessary to traverse through the self-publishing adventure.  We have met wonderful people along the way who have mentored us throughout the entire process.  Sometimes it is frustrating, but with each baby step we move ahead in the journey.

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Don’t miss the book trailer for The Wolf’s Moon on YouTube and give it a thumbs up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LUT5eyAjE

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What general advice do you have for other writers?
If there was any advice I would give to an aspiring writer, it is to write.  Read other people, not for story content, but to see how they put the story together.  Don’t read just the King’s or the Patterson’s but also the Twain’s, Spillane’s and Fleming’s out there.  Then develop your own style.  Anyone can copy a style but to be unique to you, it must be your own style.

When they have what they feel is their style – let a few people read something.  They should be people that will tell the truth and give an honest opinion.  If it’s not what you wanted to hear, don’t get discouraged, get determined.  Don’t quit.
Remember:  There are a great many people out in the world wanting to sell their work.  Whether you sell only one copy or make the New York Times Bestseller List, you did something that many want to do and never do – you wrote and completed a book.
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What do you find is the best part of being an author?
That is a hard question.  I think meeting, talking, or emailing people who have said they enjoyed the book and they want to know, “when is the next one coming out?”  It is fun to know they enjoyed the story enough to want another.
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What is ONE thing that you have done that brought you more readers?
Blogging has done a lot but my wife continuously gets me involved with social media.  She says that it is important for people to know that I am no different from them.  I still cut grass, work in my wood shop, go grocery shopping.  I do all the same things that they have to do.  Where they may work in a factory, my job is writing.
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What’s one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you?
My personal world is a simple, comfortable place, as my immediate family makes life wonderful.  Sandy (my wife) and I like flowers, so we have several gardens around the house.  Our house is like one from a fairy tale.  At the end of a day, sitting with her on the deck having that last cup of coffee, watching the sun set and the moon rise give me great satisfaction and contentment.
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Where can people learn more about your writing?
To know more about me they can go to the website:  http://www.thelindenchronicles.com .
There readers can see pictures and my blogs.  I like to blog about everyday things.
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Thank you so much Patrick to get to know you better and to hear about your journey of writing the first book and the first year as an author-publisher.

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Pingates

 

Are You an Eligible US Author?

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Starting in January 2013, some famous authors become eligible to reclaim their work, such as Stephen King, Judy Blume or John LeCarre.  US publishers face the loss of their back lists as authors begin using the Copyright Act to reclaim works they assigned years ago, for example these New York Times bestsellers from 1978:
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• Jackie Oh  by Kitty Kelley
• Illusions  by Richard Bach
• Chesapeake  by James A. Michener
• Robert Kennedy and his Times  by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
• A Time for Truth  by William E. Simon
• Fools Die  by Mario Puzo
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Section 203 of the 1978 Copyright Act allows authors to cut away any contract after 35 years. It was set up to protect young artists who signed away future best sellers for a pittance.
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In many cases, before Section 203 came into law, the author had signed away their rights. The new law has fewer such loopholes and will also mean that nearly every book published after 1978 becomes eligible for termination. These new options mean authors have more leverage to walk away from their publishers altogether.
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Authors have a five-year window to exercise the right but must also provide advance notice at least two years but no more than 10 years beforehand.
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Many authors are simply unaware of their options, others may prefer to seek a sweeter deal with their publishers, rather than fly solo or risk a lawsuit. The Authors Guild and copyright lawyers can help with plain English explanations.

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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

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Pingates

 

Women On The Rise: The World’s Top-Earning Authors

Jeff Bercovici from Forbes  wrote recently: Watch your back, James Patterson. Sleep with one eye open, Stephen King.
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Watch out for women such as Janet Evanovich, who is the recipient of the Crime Writers Association’s John Creasy Memorial, Last Laugh, and Silver Dagger awards, as well as the Left Coast Crime’s Lefty award, and is the two-time recipient of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association’s Dilys award.

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Men still top the list of the world’s highest-earning authors, but this year it’s the women on the list who’ve been making the boldest moves, led by a trio of genre phenoms: Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games) , E.L. James (Fifty Shades of Grey) and J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter).

Read the whole story: Women On The Rise Among The World’s Top-Earning Authors

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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are more than 520 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.
Thanks, Doris

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Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Stephen King’s “Riding the Bullet” for FREE

 

Stephen King’s “Riding the Bullet” Famous Novella From 2000 Is Still Available on the Web – For Free

 

100,000 ebook downloads in one day in 2011 vs 400,000 downloads in one day in 2000

 

 

 

 

Ebook Friendly originally shared this post:

Harper Collins shared the news they sold 100k ebooks on Christmas day. The number is stunning and I wonder how other publishers were doing.

A goal to achieve is 400,000 downloads in one single day.
It happened in… 2000. The short book was Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet. Interestingly, it’s still available on the web, for free, and it’s not coming from piracy sites. Somebody from Adobe just forgot to remove it… (funny!)

Get his book here

 

 

Savvy Writers like you and me

 

We all learned: if we want to build a profitable online business we need to generate lots of traffic to our website and then convert that traffic into buyers. Writing articles is one of the most effective methods to attract website visitors.

If a reader values the content we write they will often pass it on to their friends through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or the new Chime.In.  If we include the right keywords in our content, people will find our articles in the search engines. This is free traffic that flows continuously to our website.

And so we wrote blog after blog, article after article and if we were really savvy writers, we re-wrote these articles even and submitted them to eZines or “content farms” for free, adding our web links and hoped that readers would click on these links and come to our website to buy books or whatever we offer there.
eZines and all these content farms, like 101, Answers.com, All About…, are a really profitable business – alas not for the writers that create all the content there, but for the owners of these websites…

Not anymore:
Now it is possible to write 5,000 (better 10,000) to 30,000 word articles, Amazon calls them “Kindle Singles” and sell them online. A prominent author of these Kindle Singles is Stephen King, with his Single “Mile 81” the current top seller (as of this writing). So, instead of submitting our work for free to content farms, we sell those articles at the internet giant Amazon website and receive 70% royalties, even for Singles priced under Dollar 2.99.  To be precise for Singles priced between 99 cents and $4.99

Other criteria’s are:
• Original work, not previously published in other formats or publications
• Self-contained work, not chapters excerpted from a longer work
• Not published on any public website in its entirety
• But they are currently not accepting how-to manuals, public domain works, reference books, travel guides, or children’s books!!!

If you are an author and already published a Single at Amazon, let us know about your experience and success.

 

 

The Secret of Successful Authors

 

John Kremers "Self-Publishing Hall of Fame"

In his book “Self-Publishing Hall of Fame”   author John Kremer, THE book marketing expert, features such famous and successful authors as Margaret Atwood, Lord Byron, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoi, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Rudyard Kipling, John Muir, Anais Nin, Marcel Proust, George Bernard Shaw, Gertrude Stein, Julia Cameron and Ken Harper.

He writes: “Self-publishing was once considered as bad as vanity publishing, but with so many self-published successes in the past few years, it is now possible to self-publish with respect. Publishers Weekly will now look at self-published books, something they would never have done five or ten years ago. “Gone are the days,” wrote Publishers Weekly rights columnist Paul Nathan, “when self-publishing was virtually synonymous with self-defeating.”

And now with the advent of print-on-demand publishing, it’s possible to self-publish books at little cost. POD publishing or self-publishing (Please Note: they are not the same thing!) are excellent ways to test the market for a book, establish that market, and even build the market to such an extent that an author can sell the reprint rights to a much larger book publisher for a very good advance. Indeed, many larger book publishers now scour the shelves and the Internet for self-published and POD books that could fit their publishing program. Self publishing has become respectable again.” Check out these authors above and some of their titles here:

• Walden
• War and Peace
• The Lazy Person’s Guide to Success
• How I Retired at 26
• Life’s Greatest Lessons
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Old Farmer’s Almanac
• The Elements of Style
• Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream
• The Cliffhanger
• Don Juan
• The Artist’s Way
• One of Ours
• Wall Street Money Machine
• What to Do When You’re Expecting
• Spartacus
• Eat First—You Don’t Know What They’ll Give You
• Work Your Way Around the World
• A Time to Kill
• Give Me My Father’s Body: The Story of Minik, the New York Eskimo
• The Sun Also Rises
• M*A*S*H
• 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth
• Ulysses
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad
• The Raven

Why hunt for a publisher if you can self-publish? Marketing tips galore are found on John Kremers website.