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.
