Lindar's Blog
Best Selling Author Lingo
by Linda Louise Rigsbee on 03/06/21
Today, as I was reading a book advertisement, I noticed that
two of the authors who reviewed it were "best-selling authors." I
wondered how many best-selling authors there could be. Isn't best implying only
one? Then I wondered if using that title every time they wrote a review was
like crying wolf. Wouldn't people begin to pay no mind?
So, I got on the internet and Googled "how can so many
people be best selling authors?" I might as well have asked "how long
is a string?" It depends on where the books are sold.
On Amazon, it means that you have sold more books during a
specific time period than any other book in that category – or even
sub-category. So, you could be a best seller for an hour in a small market.
Well, surprise! I'm a best seller! I held that title for a
week with a small publisher. I think I sold 3 books to earn it. On the flip
side, I've sold 57 copies of a romance book in a week and have 5* reviews, but
my rank is something like #7,000 on that book.
The New York Times best seller list is coveted, but best
sellers on that list haven't necessarily sold the most books. They only
consider books from specific traditional publishing companies, never
self-published authors. You could become a millionaire selling a self-published
book and never show up on their list.
Further research indicates it is possible to manipulate or even
purchase the title of best-selling author. That sounds unfair to those who
really are. I have been publishing long enough to know that marketing requires
more time, effort and money than I am willing to invest. I just keep publishing
and hoping my books will get discovered.
I have never claimed to be a best-selling author. I have advertised
that I am an award-winning author. If you have won an award for your writing,
then you are an award-winning author. I have won multiple awards in writing
contests over the years, so I think that claim is legitimate. I worked hard for
them. If I get my name in the news as a good author, I'll thump my chest a
little, but I think I'll skip the claim of best-selling author. It sounds too
much like a hollow victory to me.
I have had my books on my free read website www.deartales.com for many years and some
have well over 200,000 reads world-wide. I only stopped posting my novels
because someone pirated one of my books. You can still read many of my short
stories on this site. No information or membership is required to read them and
there is no advertising.
My purpose for writing is for pleasure – mine and that of
the reader. If I sell a bunch of books, I'll be happy, but if I only entertain
for a few hours, that's enough payment for me.
70's BLOG
by Linda Louise Rigsbee on 07/24/19
Today I turned 70. I have been pondering for weeks about why
69 doesn’t sound old but 70 does. It’s a mind thing – an anniversary, so to
speak. Most people have at least one year set in our minds as a turning point.
This morning, I woke up with an idea. (My good ideas usually arrive as I wake
in the morning with a fresh mind.)
A week ago I started a to-do list and it was so long that I
got depressed and pushed it aside. I mentioned my disappointment on Facebook
and got some positive suggestions. (This is one of the things I love about
Facebook, btw.) Among those suggestions was a shorter list for that day or that
week, as well as a list of blessings. I decided to merge some of the suggestions
and, what better day than my 70th birthday – a turning point in my
life?
Instead of making a to-do list and scratching things off;
why not make two columns? Why not list what needs to be done and move it to the
accomplished list when it is done. Add to that list; things I have done for
others and things I have done for myself. But this isn’t all about me. Family
members can see what needs to be done and when they finish something, they can move
it to the accomplished list and initial it.
Turning 70 isn’t an end-of-life event. It has the potential
of any other year in my life. I can haul out the rocking chair and look at my
life as spent, or I can set new and improved goals based on the wisdom I gained
in 70 years. The choice is mine.
Underlake, by Kia Heavey
by Linda Louise Rigsbee on 01/24/16
After “Night Dreams,” I was hooked on this writer. Kia Heavey has a way of sucking you into the character. “Underlake” is a young adult book, but don’t let that discourage you “old” adults. Regardless of your age, this book is hard to put down. I didn’t simply see Katie. I was Katie for a while – young, confused and vulnerable. There is enough hypocrisy and double standards in life and media to confuse a kid when their parents are stellar examples. But parents are merely imperfect people – flawed, like Katie’s mother.
Torn from her trendy friends in the big city, Katie reluctantly spends the summer with her mother in a remote house by a peculiar lake. She is discovering something about herself when she meets a nice boy who is unlike anyone she has ever known. The boy has a dark cold secret that she will eventually share with him. That secret will change her life forever.
I love the way Kia Heavey can twist a book in the middle without tearing it apart. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something different.
Why Should Readers Review Books?
by Linda Louise Rigsbee on 01/09/16
Why Reviews Are Important To Writers
The purpose of a review is supposed to be to help readers, but many people don’t write reviews because they either don’t know how, or think their opinion isn’t important. It is true that if you love a book, the next person might hate it. The fact is, reviews are probably more important to the writer than they are to the reader.
For an undiscovered writer, getting reviews is a little like getting your first job. To get the job, you need experience, but to get experience, you need to get a job. It’s the same for writers. To get readers, writers need reviews, but to get the reviews, the writer has to have readers.
So, why are reviews so important? Other than the obvious reason that people are cautious about test driving new writers, lots of good reviews encourage publishers to promote the authors – especially Amazon.
I’ve made a resolution to read and review more books this year.
When to Write a Bad Review
I don’t write bad reviews. Writers put a lot of time and effort into writing a book. Who am I to say this book is not good? I can only know that I don’t like it. I don’t like to read reviews where people are ripping apart a writer, either. It makes me want to cringe, even if I’m not the writer.
If everyone reviewed only the books they liked, bad reviews would be unnecessary. No reviews would mean the book isn’t well received. Unfortunately, the author would have no way of knowing what was wrong.
So, if I don’t write bad reviews, how do I help the writer improve? I write a good review if I see potential. I can always highlight the good points. If a writer has potential, there are always good points. Then I can simply say that I would like to see more of or less of whatever it was that tempted me to write a bad review. I could also say that I saw potential and would be revisiting this author to see how they progressed. I could leave my name and a link to reach me. If they want more information, I’m available - just the facts and that done respectfully. Offending a writer has no purpose.
How to write a simple review:
Writing an editor’s review is a daunting task for the writer. They have to know their audience and how to reach them. They have to convert a mountain of information into a brief synopsis that intrigues the writer to buy the book.
The editor already did that in the process of publishing the book. All the reader needs to do is express their personal experience. There is nothing wrong with “I really enjoyed this book” or “well written. I couldn’t put it down.” The fact is, some of the shortest reviews are the most effective. I don’t know about everyone else, but I rarely read a long review.
Assuming a person would like to say a little more, but doesn’t know how, here is an outline that might help.
What did you like about the book?
Did you learn something from it? Was it hard to put down? Did you relate to one of the characters?
Why would you recommend this book?
Was it well researched and informative? Was it memorable – you kept thinking about it long after you finished it? Did it leave you feeling empowered, peaceful, inspired?
What was your personal take on it?
Regardless of the overall message the author intended, readers often see things that have a specific importance to them because of an individual perspective, or something that is happening in their life at the time. This should always be identified as personal opinion.
Would you look for more books by this author?
Give twelve writers the same plot and you will have twelve unique stories. While authors may write in multiple genres and from different perspectives and point of views, they tend to have the same style throughout their books. What is it that you liked about this writer’s style? It doesn’t have to be earth shattering. It can be something as simple as, because it was clean, or made you laugh.
The important thing is that you review the book – and that the review is respectful. There is no set length for a reader review. Every review is important.
Where and when do I write a review?
Here’s a simple 7 step method to submitting a review on Amazon.
2. Click on the title and go to the page with the book description and opportunity to purchase.
3. Beside the stars is a link that shows how many reviews there are. Click on it.
4. Scroll down and click on the button that says “Write a Customer Review.”
5. How is this author’s writing? (Poor, Okay, Good, Great)
6. Answer all the questions, give it however many stars you think it deserves and then write your review.
7. Click Submit button.
That’s it. Very simple and takes only a few minutes. It means so much to the writer, so give the writer a little boost.
Don’t forget the free read sites. Often new writers get started that way. There are places like www.publicbookshelf.com and www.freeonlinenovels.com that offer entire books to read free online. I have a free read site www.deartales.com where many of my books can be read free. All of these sites have places where readers can leave comments or reviews. Mine even have polls.
Free reads give readers the opportunity to check out new writers. On some of my stories, I have had over a hundred thousand visits. Often people read my books free online and then buy a copy of the books. If you like to read, give these undiscovered writers a chance, and be sure to leave a comment. Your thoughts can make an author’s day.
"After The Blast" by T. L. Knighton
by Linda Louise Rigsbee on 05/04/14
I just realized that I posted my April Book Review in the wrong blog. Thank goodness I have all my mistakes taken care of for the year now. Here is my April blog:
Not everyone gets the novelette/novella purpose, but T. L. Knighton certainly did with his book, "After The Blast." The synopsis looked interesting, so I bought a kindle copy with the intent of reading a few pages. I figured if I liked the writing style, I'd read it in my free time. Good luck on that idea. A few pages led to another chapter and the next thing I knew the hours had flown by and I had completed the book. I was scolding myself for not getting anything done, but I was doing it with a satisfied grin on my face.
I could relate to Jason in this post apocalyptic story. As a victim of "The Little Red Hen Syndrome" personality myself, I could imagine making the decision that no one else was doing anything, so I'd best figure on doing the job alone. Jason's reaction to the situation was not only believable, but also underlined the fact that we never know what we are capable of until we are put to task. At one point I actually stopped and mathematically calculated the possibility of one of Jason's accomplishments. It would have been a real push, but Jason was motivated enough to make it possible.
Knighton didn't get sidetracked with details, yet his story contained all the pertinent facts. It is a gripping story that entertains for a few hours and leaves you feeling like the story is finished, yet pondering all the possibilities later. Knighton captures the good, the bad and the inevitable ugly part of human nature without getting bogged down with gory details. "After The Blast" was an entertaining and well written read that I recommend for anyone from young adult up.
