K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 34

Top book review blogs 2019

Greetings everyone.

Awesome news. My blog, K.J’s Athenaeum, is included in the 2019 top review blogs! I am truly honoured to be included in this list.

As you may know, I am never without a book in hand, and a majority of the time these are books published by indie authors. I always work hard to provide spoiler free and engaging reviews of the books I have read.

The Ranked blogs’ list is created by User Generated Content, so if you run a blog or know someone who does, why not recommend them for the appropriate category? It’s also a great tool to find people with similar interests and build your community.

While you’re there, if you’ve been enjoying my reviews I would be really grateful if you’d vote for my blog in the top book review blogs category, you can get there by clicking on the button below. You can also find numerous other book review blogs that may pique your interest. 

Let’s get K.J’s Athenaeum on the map, and extend the reach of indie books.

Book review: Truly Unfortunate -CA King (@PortalProphecy )

Truly has been having a run of bad luck. Each month is a struggle to make rent and pay [image error]for her psychiatrist. Her childhood memories have been forgotten, but within there lies a dark secret. One her psychiatrist is determined to reveal. When people around Truly start dying in mysterious ways Jeff and Miranda are called to action. Whilst they seem to be nothing more than accidents, Jeff’s gut tells him there are more to these deaths than there seems. Each of the victims had been told their fortune before meeting their end. Jeff had seen something like this before. Little did he know that starting down this path would change his future forever.

Truly Unfortunate is the first book in CA King’s Welcome to Knollville. I have read a few books by this author, and intend to continue to do so in the future. CA King never fails to keep the reader entertained. Great scene setting, character development, and attention to detail will drive the reader forward, rooting for the characters and hoping to see if and how Truly can turn her life around without giving in to the horrific demands being made of her. Discovery, hardship, and perseverance fill this supernatural tale and marks the start of what promises to be a gripping and engaging series.

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Book review: The Ancient Order – JB Michaels

When thirty legionaries and a priest go missing following a request for information on [image error]the Christian God, and this new religion, what is to be done? Simple, you send Magnus, proven and respected warrior, to investigate. His journey leads him to an unsettling discovery, where an impossible show of brute force is just the start of his unsettling discoveries. With the introduction of the new religion by the Romans there are those who hold the old ways close, so close there is nothing they won’t resort to in order to ensure their ways live, even if that means a brutal killing spree of not only those embracing the new ways, but the innocent as well. Something needs to be done to not only protect those of this time, but to aid the generations who will follow.

The Ancient Order is the prequel to the Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thrillers Series. JB Michaels has created this short novella as a means to explain how the Order referenced and integral to the later books in the series is first formed. It fills in the background history, while providing an interesting adventure you can’t help but be pulled into. Conflict, suspicion, and mistrust fill the air as ancient threats rise and a clash between old ways and new seems the only means to obtain a victory. It was great watching the forming of this union, the foundation of what becomes a cornerstone of supernatural protection in the future. I liked the main characters, who were enhanced by those playing a more supporting role. JB Michaels has certainly added another perspective to his later books in the series, and his writing style continues to hold its audience captive.

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Book review: Candlewicke 13 Curse of the McRavens – Milan Sergent (@MilanSergent)

Valor McRaven had a destiny. He had heard whispers of great deeds, being the Knight of [image error]Night, during his latest poison recovery. But no one said anything to him, not that they were given the chance. His parent tried their best to keep him separate, and distant from other children by hiding in the shadows. But this choice was taken from him when his family were found guilty and sent to the sanatorium. Things soon turn from bad to worse when evidence against Valor himself is found at the scene of a crime, and whispers about him being the Grim Warlock begin to spread. Will Valor be able to prove his innocence, find the truth behind the death of his twin, and uncover the truth behind the Great Deception. It is a lot of pressure for a young man to bear, but perhaps his unique abilities will allow him to rise to the challenge. One thing is for certain, if he doesn’t discover the truth a fate worse than death awaits him.

Candlewicke 13 Curse of the McRavens is the first book in Milan Sergent’s Candlewicke 13 fantasy series. This is a highly detailed book with attention paid to not only world and character building, but to providing a vast history, complete with myths, legends, fables, and bestiaries. There are different types and understandings of magic, and the views on them are varied. Vivid characters and a constant sense of foreboding drive the reader forward, searching the text for hints and clues as to who is behind the horrendous acts Victor is being accused of. The insertion of images really enhanced the chapters, and I thought the addition of the maps at the end were a great touch. Humour, drama, questions, uncertainty, and tension erupt in a world of magic where anything seems possible. Follow the trail of clues, and discover more hidden truths than you would dare imagine could be concealed.

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Book review: Making History – Bruce Polky

At the age of six, you are given a PAD. This piece of technology is integrated into your life, [image error]you can do nothing without it. They never fail, they never go faulty. Or at least that’s what they would have you believe. There was one chip distributed that was faulty, but they would never admit this, and since it is designed to cover any faults it cannot be proved. Dav was unfortunate to have been issued such a device, leaving him no choice but to pursue less than lawful means. He never expected the consequences of his actions would be so grand, and the truth that had been concealed from everyone would be so vast. What most people thought was truth and knowledge for all, was in fact carefully filtered propaganda designed at keeping them in place. Things are about to change.

Making History by Bruce Polky is an entertaining and gripping science fiction filled with technology, brilliant ideas, and great world/universe building. The characters are complex, intriguing, and evolving. It is written in a compelling narrative which makes it difficult to put down. I particularly liked the alternative history chapters where we learn about how things came to be, from the first idea of sharing knowledge and beyond. These snippets made an interesting intermission which further enhanced the flow of the story and builds upon the information we had already been given. This was a really enjoyable read, and will be highly appealing to lovers of sci-fi.

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Book review: Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider – Ellen C Maze (@authorellenmaze )

The problem with writing a good book is you never know how far it will reach, nor the [image error]impact it will have on those who read it. Beth was used to the somewhat overzealous fans, but what she wasn’t prepared for was a visit from a monster straight from her tales. He marked her for sport, but when her path crossed with Michael’s he was certain there had been a mistake. She didn’t fit the profile of a rabbit. Her book had been dangerous to their kind, prompting a disconnection that the Elders hadn’t seen for a long time. This woman’s work was dangerous, and to secure their lifestyle she, and her influence, had to be forever silenced.

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider is Ellen C Maze’s Christian paranormal. It focuses on Beth Rider, a young novelist whose book has turned the lives of the Rakum upside down. The steady paced novel introduces an increasing level of tension until you daren’t put it down because you just have to see how things will play out. Obviously being a Christian fiction, there is constant, yet not particularly preachy, injection of faith, God, and the power of religion, which means the book would appeal to those who both enjoy a faith orientated read, and those who find an overly-religious tone too oppressive. The balance in this book was good, and central to the unique plotline. This is a fantastic story, with plenty to be taken away from it. The more you read into the meanings, the more messages become apparent. Hope, salvation, fear, threat, challenges, and trials will keep you reading, while the ever-growing characters and their forming bonds will keep you hungry for more.

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Book review: The Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets by Madeleine Holly-Rosing (@MHollyRosing )

Jonathon was pleased to have his daughter home again, but her return was not the easy [image error]transition he had hoped. Although her visions had not returned, she and her new husband had barely been under his roof when news of Jonathan’s older brother, Hal, and his impending visit arrived, followed by a prompt attempt on his life. Since Jonathan was given the family business, Hal had always enjoyed making things challenging for his little brother. But this time he arrived with news of an impending war, one Jonathon had also seen the warnings of. When Elizabeth’s visions return, everything must be done to conceal and master them. This gift was something of a curse, one which could ruin not only her reputation, but that of her father’s house. But there is a purpose to their return, and a danger no one can perceive.

The Boston Metaphysical Society, A Storm of Secrets by Madeleine Holly-Rosing is a steampunk fantasy with some impressive world creation. It is easy to fully immerse yourself in the fictional world full of charm, turmoil, threat, and secrets and be whisked away by strong characters you can’t help but like. They are realistic with their own ambitions, goals, and motivations and they remain true to their character. I haven’t read all that many steampunk novels, mainly because aside from Steam Whistle Alley, which I came across last year, I haven’t read many that have been well-executed. I was pleased to give this a try and found myself happy to add another well-written steampunk novel to my collection.

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Marketing: Building a Customer Profile – Part One – Demographic

In my last article I wrote a brief explanation about Traditional and Digital Marketing, and what would be potentially more beneficial for an author. I touched on one of the most important cornerstones in marketing, knowing who your customer is. (On that note, I am still collecting data to help you with the baseline of this, so if you haven’t filled in the survey yet here’s the link and don’t be afraid to pass it on)

This time, I thought I would discus how you build a customer profile. I have always been a firm believer in writing for yourself, not what trend dictates is popular, but does that mean my customer base is limited to just me? No. There are a vast sea of people out there who will enjoy reading the same things I do, and in order for me to get my book in front of them understanding who they are is essential.

Who are you?

Even in the most basic sense this is a difficult question to answer. Think about it, there is more than just a single thing that defines you, and who you are will grow and change as time, experience, and inspiration tempers you. The same can be said about your potential readers.

In its rawest form, building a customer profile is no different than creating a character. You build up a picture of them, who they are, what they enjoy, habits, likes, hobbies. As authors you are already familiar and competent at doing this, so transferring this skill to a marketing profile isn’t too big a step.

Let’s start with the basics – Customer demographic.

One of the easiest way to pinpoint your customer is to discover their demographic.

Country, age, and gender are just the starting blocks, and yet without the correct information it can seem almost impossible to assess. You need to know what countries are most likely to respond to your genre, what age range are most likely to pick it up, and based on several older studies gender can be a key factor.

There are a number of things you can use to start your basic customer profile, and I will touch on them below.

Where are you?

If you already have a book out there, then you can look at your historical sales data to see where you made the most sales.[image error]

In my case, despite being a British author 63% of my sales come from the US, while 22% come from the UK. So straight off, my customer profile should reflect my customer as American. So don’t assume your own location is where you will hold the most influence.

If you haven’t released your book yet, then locating your audience can be trickier. To that ends you can use Google Trends to search for keywords relating to your book and see what locations ‘google’ them the most.

Since reading is a very global market, you may simply wish to consider targeting a specific language, rather than making a profile based on a single country. So instead of saying, ‘My customer is American,’ you could say, ‘My customer reads English.’

How old are you?

Unlike location, however, gender and age are harder to discern. You have to use your own judgement. You have written the book, so you have to assess who it is suitable for. You don’t want to target a child when selling graphic violence, equally, The Harris poll done in 2010 shows men over 65 prefer to read non-fiction where women over 65 are more inclined towards fiction. Age can be a broad spectrum and span many brackets, but for a customer profile, to start with, just focus on one bracket. You can always add more profiles as you understand your readers more.

What gender are you?

Finally gender. This is quite tricky when it comes to books. After many hours  of research, and checking historical studies, I happened upon a report completed by Goodreads. It shows which gender reviewed which genre. Since as authors we always appreciate a review, it seemed a good resource to share and use as general guidance.

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Using this chart as a reference you can see which gender is more likely to read your genre.  However, the results in themselves are flawed. They only reflect which gender reviewed which genre most, and does not include those who purchased a book and didn’t leave a review. So while it can present a picture, this must also be taken into account.

Summary

Understanding who your reader is will be essential to reaching them. Starting with a basic profile of location age, and gender you can start to design a marketing campaign to reach them, however, your customers’ demographic is just the first step of building your customer profile. In my next post I will discuss how to flesh out your customer profile, much in the same manner you add depth to your characters.

I hope to see you here again.

Article by K.J. Simmill (KS the Dreamer)

Since I still have your attention, and this is a marketing post, it must be time for some shameless self-promotion – check out my award winning books here, and have a great week x

Book review: The Knowing – JB Straton’s Story – Brit Lunden (@caroleproman )

JB had known from the moment his eyes first met Ellie’s that they were meant to be. His [image error]grandma had called what he experienced the knowing. He was drawn to her beyond anything he had before experienced. She was a rich Yankee, he a poor peanut farmer with only the promise of an unfulfilled dream as a football star. He was talented, but was certain he was trapped, forever destined to remain a farmer. Ellie wouldn’t listen as he told her to find someone better, she wanted only him, and would even defy her parents for his love. Fate, however, had other plans for the lovers.

The Knowing – JB Straton’s Story – is volume one in Brit Lunden’s, A Bulwark Anthology. It is a beautifully written love story encompassing the present, past, and even past lives. It is a romance, with a hint of supernatural. It is well-written with a level of area building and character development often unseen in shorter books. It was easy to read this is one sitting, the story is sweet, intriguing, and sometimes moving. It has certainly piqued my interest in other books by this author, especially the Bulwark, which this anthology stems from. Intrigue, obstacles, fate, and supernatural combine to present a gripping tale bound to satisfy anyone who enjoys a character orientated, well-constructed read. There are little touches throughout which caught my interest, and have no doubt referenced events in the main book. I thought the conclusion of the book made the perfect ending to a tightly-knit tale. I look forward to seeing more work from this author.

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Book review: The Emissary – Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio (@OneGreatYear )

Atitalan Emissaries had been sent to guide humankind in evolution. They had been [image error]selected to leave their land, to die and be reborn for the span of a Great Year Cycle. They were to guide Humankind, but they should not have been aware of their identity, their mission. But Quinn was, he remembered his time as Marcus, just as he remembered each of his past lives. He also remembered his soulmate, Theron, and sought to find her so they could once more be reunited. Just as there were those sent to guide the world into a new golden age, so too were there those whose skills and purposes were turned to darker purposes. All things in balance, and yet the scale still seemed unequal. Marcus’ childhood friend moves against the Emissaries. He too possesses past life memories and the darker force aiding him will stop at nothing to quash the emissaries and their attempts to guide fate.

The Emissary is the start of Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio’s The One Great Year Series. It acts as a foundation, allowing the reader to be drawn into the present day situation before reliving parts of the past which brought the main character, Marcus aka Quinn, to the point he now finds himself. This book sets a great background and starting point for what could be a gripping series. There had been clear attention paid to detail, characters, personalities, and rivalry. There are some good ideas which can be viewed as both historical and futuristic, and some interesting play om myths and legends. I enjoyed the steady pace and rising tension as the understanding of what is to come becomes clearer. Alternative history meets low/ urban fantasy to create a battle of light vs darkness that spans the reaches of time.

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