Mother's Day Reading Blitz

There will be a live Giveaway event on Facebook for 

the Mother's Day Reading Blitz

It's hosted by Indie World Publishing & Author Services

Put the whole three-day weekend on your calendar 

Allow Mom to sign up for awesome gifts,

then shop for her next book, or stock up for her summer vacation.

Also note on your calendar the three day Mother's Day weekend, from May 9 - 11.  During those three days be sure to visit the Indie World Publishing & Author Services website to search through the 72 books by over 60 fantastic female authors which will be available for only $0.99!  That's 99 cents! Participating books can be found here so start looking now: http://www.indieworldpub.com/#!mdrb-books-by-genre/c1f28

On Saturday, May 10th, there will be a giant giveaway of lots of fantastic books written by female authors ~~ some on the book sale lists and some not.  All these books have strong female lead characters.  

There will also be other items available for giveaway.  The great news is you don't have to be a mother (or even a female) to join in the fun!  Just mark your calendars and get ready to enter each contest for your chance to win!  Oh - and invite all your friends and family!  We'll be expecting to see you there!

For my part, I have 7 of my books posted for sale at the amazing low price of 99 cents.  I will also have two others to be given away.  Visit the site today for my listing of books in the variety of genres so you will know which ones you might be interested in purchasing. 

For the giveaway I've chosen my two children's books (see below) since they have no Kindle equivalent.  Click on the link below the picture to visit the Amazon page where you can read about them and see the reviews.  

If you win a book, or decide to buy one, please be considerate of the author and make a comment on the book's Amazon page about your reading experience.  It's not difficult.  Just scroll down the page to the write a customer review button and click.  There is even a Tips and Guidelines link highlighted on the review page if you want some hints on what to do.

DON'T FORGET TO MARK YOUR CALENDAR.  REMEMBER MOM AND WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.

http://www.amazon.com/Carousel-Pony-Make---Wish-Story/dp/1482336766

http://www.amazon.com/Theres-House-Judith-Victoria-Douglas/dp/1478361131

                            

Review On Novella #1 and Free Kindles

http://booksbyjvd.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/first-time-review-for-story-1-of-painted-tree-two-novellas/ 

This is the review posted on November 30 of Matthew Keith's review of In Blood There is no Honor, book 1 of Painted Tree: Two Novellas.  Book 2 is If I Could Only Sparkle, and doesn't yet have a separate review.  There are a couple of reviews for Painted Tree as a whole.

This weekend both individual Kindle editions of these two novellas are being offered for free on Amazon.  Be sure and take the opportunity to read the reviews and download one or both.

I am looking for reviews or even a comment on Amazon, maybe Goodreads also, so I will know how my readers like the stories.  Since they're free, please don't let me down.

My novel, Ariel's Cottage, in it's Kindle edition, The Price for Love, downloaded over 245 free copies and I have yet to receive even one short comment as a result.  I only got one promise.

My latest novel, One Unicorn Wish, was offered for free last weekend with 230 copies downloaded.  I'm still waiting to see how many of those readers are takers, but don't give back.

While the general population of readers don't have clue how important such comments and reviews are to an author's success or failure, most of those receiving notice of the available downloads are also authors.  Any disregard by fellow authors is both inconsiderate and blatant thievery when nothing is given in return, not even a thank you.  You see, I don't believe in giving my hard work away for free any more than a ship builder, cabinet maker, inventor, scientist or any professional would.  Yes, some self-governing professionals (writers are not among the self-governed) are expected to do some pro bono work, but writer's are at least given a little notoriety when they do something for charity.

I have stooped, yes, stooped to giving away only in hopes fellow authors will make a comment in return.  I understand some may yet be coming because authors are very busy folks.  I, myself, have several downloads I have yet to get time to read.  However, when I do, I post a review, always.  So I'm hoping those who have taken advantage of a free opportunity realize and appreciate the author's graciousness in providing, as a gift, the result of their hard work when accepting the opportunity to read the novels for free, and are not just taking advantage by disregarding the author's professional need for a public response.

I have arranged for other free giveaways for my Kindle works, but unlike an author with a big publisher paying an advance and sending out the free signed copies of books to those they know will give a good review, I do not receive any income and only hope the reviews the giveaway generates will bring about a few sales.

Please become aware of this need if you are not an author.  If you are an author please do not disregard your fellow authors, especially the independents one who are on their own to promote their work to the public.

It should go without saying and become a professional courtesy and each author should feel it an obligation to reciprocate with at least a short comment.  I think some have forgotten this defines a true professional, as in any other profession.  We should not be surprised when a fellow author receives a free copy and provides a review.  Nor should we feel disappointment when it doesn't occur.

It reflects badly on those who are given this gift, take it and don't respond, just as it does with your old Auntie when she sends a birthday or Christmas gift and you don't thank her.  Some of these "old fashioned" values are worth returning to and keeping.  It would make independents more professional in the eyes of those who taken care of by their publishers and have developed a sense of superiority over those who work for themselves.  Think about this sense of professionalism when you join the ranks of the published.

I published a review today for someone who I know from her postings works very hard on creative presentations to keep her publications before the public and in the minds of fellow authors.  I know she's been doing it for a while, obviously working very hard doing things I don't even know how to do.  Yet there were only 6 reviews.  I was shocked.  She must be an amazing individual to keep at it so continuously even after enough disappointment and frustration that would cause a lesser person to quit.  She is a true professional author.  And she writes very good stories I enjoy reading.  I only hope someone somewhere feels the same about me.  It's always nice to be appreciated.

Two New Reviews

I've posted these latest reviews on my Wordpress blog, It's All About the Books!  Click on the link to get to each, or check out the books on Amazon, Shelfari, Barnes & Noble or Goodreads.  They are also on LibraryThing.

And a reminder: Miracle Belle, A Horse with a Secret is still free as a Kindle through Tuesday, 10/1/13 and Twisted Vine: An Anthology of Short Stories and Poems is still free as a Kindle through Wednesday, 10/2/13.

Five star review for TREE & SKY: The Secrets of Meshyah's World

http://booksbyjvd.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/tree-sky-review-5-stars/







Four stars for Where the Horses Run, Book I, Mass Extinction

http://booksbyjvd.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/a-review-by-a-horse-lover-reader/






HAPPY READING, EVERYONE!

Ways you can help your favourite author(s)!

A. Piper Burgi, a self-published author/writer, has written a wonderful short article that repeats what you may say to friends and family and they nod, "um-hum," and never follow through--too busy, don't know how to get to that, I tried but it didn't work, etc., etc.  Well, here it is from someone else.  Sometimes and somehow something becomes more important when said by an "outsider."  Now you can say it without saying it yourself.  I hope they pay attention this time.
Here is her article to share.

Perhaps you are not aware that every time you click that “like” button or write a customer review you are helping an author. Writing a book takes many hours and dedication. Often it takes an author away from their loved ones. Most authors get paid much less than you might think; most of them write because they love to tell a story. The one or two dollars they make in royalties per book barely buys that next cup of coffee that fuels the next chapter. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme…it’s a labour of love and a complete stranger can pull them into the depths of despair or lift them up with just one review. It can take months and sometimes even years to write a book. It takes even longer to design the cover artwork, edit the contents and then publish it. After that most authors have to give up even more of their spare time to market and promote their book(s). Please give something back in return! Leave a review, even if it’s just two sentences! Authors thrive on feedback! Help them get noticed by leaving high-star rating or click the “like” button! Every little bit helps! Tell your friends, family members, your local library or bookstore about the author and their work! And above all…keep reading! =)

One Thing I’ve Learned from Self-Publishing

http://wp.me/p2DG92-hk

An ongoing technical problem with getting a single book completed.  Have a read on my Wordpress site.
And I'm still sorry this isn't my main site.  I think it's much more pleasant to look at, but I get fewer likes, comments or followers.  Until/unless that changes it will be more of a reblog site -- sometime with my blogs, sometimes with other interesting ones I've found.