E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 28

Reader Research #5 - What can we learn from our readers? (Female, 20-30 yrs)

I asked 6 readers what they shop for on Amazon.com when looking for e-books for their Kindle.Here's what reader number five had to say:BIO: This reader is a female, aged 20-25 years old and is an indie writer.The first question I asked this young reader was what she tends to look for most when shopping for books online. She advised cover designs, book descriptions and prices. She says that 'the book cover is the first thing we see along with the title. I think it's what lures you to click and read more. Then, I want to know what the book is actually about. In a shop you would pick up a paperback because you like the look', she continues to say, 'the last thing I look at is the price'.She advised me that she has no preference when it comes to indie or traditional books. 'I'm an indie author but I usually buy paperback books from traditionally published authors, mostly because indies tend to opt for Kindle only. Kindle books are different. They are usually much cheaper so I often download indie books to read when I have some time'.I asked this reader what her genre preferences were and she said those about disasters and 'end of the world' books. She likes to imagine what the end of the world will be like after her time or 'how the human race might react if something happened during my lifetime. I like zombie books because I am both terrified of them and can't get enough of them, so you could say I like horror books because they are equally as creepy and scary.'When asked to explain further, she said 'I'm picky when it comes to my fantasy genres. I like epic and dark fantasy but I'm not into shifter romances or things that look as though they should be categorised with 50 shades.' I asked if she's read the books. She admitted she had. 'I tend to pick up anything that looks good'.We moved on to discuss reviews and what might sway their decision to buy a book online. She sais that 'I think verified reviews are great because it shows that people are actually buying on Amazon but it doesn't mean to say they aren't legitimate if not. I've reviewed books on Amazon before having bought them elsewhere. I just wanted to share how good they were.' I asked her to again explain further and was advised, 'Amazon is a huge retailer and a lot of people who buy, do so on their websites. It makes sense to review on there.'I asked her how often she would recommend a book on social media and she said occasonally, when it's special. She likes books with morals behind them or that stay with her, emotionally. She recommends by word of mouth. 'When I've finished reading them and I'm still thinking it over several days later, I'll recommend it. I don't do so online often. i just re-tweet or share things that others have posted.'She prefers emotional books with messages to share and says she can tell if a book online is self-published when there is a poor cover, editing or the book is perma-free. This doesn't put her off buying one though.'Of course I think it's wonderful, however I do agree there are books out there that let the side down. Books where the cover is terrible are tacky and disappointing. They are completely unnecessary. I'm not overly bothered about prose or picky with characters etc because some traditionally published books are riddled with issues like this. I do think betas are important though.'To fix this, she advises, 'fix the cover. It should be difficult to tell the difference between traditional and indie books. I'd like to see less erotica and romance out there. I worry self-publishing will soon be associated only with those kinds of books.'We briefly discussed bad language and violent scenes, but she said they don't bother her. 'i don't like to see it placed in a book for the sake of it'. She agrees it's ok when the genre and circumstances require it.Finally I asked if she would leave a review in exchange for a free digital copy. She said she wouldn't expect her own betas to pay for a book as they are doing her a favour proofing it, but the reviews would still have to be legitimate and honest. 'I don't feel obliged to give the author good feedback because I didn't pay for a book - the author needs the truth.'What did I learn from this interview? What can indie writers take from this reader's feedback?I enjoyed reading through this because the reader likes the same genres I do, or near enough.This reader's interest is first drawn to the cover and she uses buying in a shop as an example, picking up the book because of the cover, checking out the description, then looking at the price. If everything fits, it's a sale. If not, the reader moves on. I think this is an interesting way to compare to online shopping. If you think about it, we do the same. We click on an item because the image looks good, then we read about that item, then we decide if it's worth the asking price. To me, a book is the same.This reader again has no problems with indie publishing but agrees some are letting the side down with poor covers, editing and perma-free, which give away the books that are self-published. She says it's not always a bad thing, but she wishes there was less erotica on the digital shelves.This might be something for writers of this genre to note - can you make your cover/s and your descriptions different? How can you make them stand out from the others out there to grab the attention of those with a similar opinion to this reader? I must agree to some extent (despite having just released a romance story myself) that the digital shelves are packed with books containing adult content, some of which do appear to be of very poor quality. However, there are also some stunning books out there. How can we make ours unique enough to squash this view?Prior to this, she said she likes books with emotional strength and morals that she's still thinking about days later, so she tends to recommend these more and shares things related to that on social media. This suggests if you have a book with such a strong lesson, create some marketing material and get it out there. Readers like this will force your voice out across their followers, but they may not create content for you. Quotes, inspirational paragraphs from the book and related photos are always a great way to engage readers and hook new ones.In every interview so far, readers have advised that bad language isn't an issue if it has a purpose - this one is no different. However, she says that indie and traditional books should be difficult to tell apart. Personally (based on the book I'm reading now that's indie), I have noticed a lot of violence and bad language and wonder if this is due to there being fewer moderators on the way to success. This does not by any means suggest a negative - I'm actually addicted to this book and have recommended it a lot in the past few weeks (it's a big book!), but it might be something to think about when releasing an indie book.Finally, another reader who feels free books in exchange for reviews are fine, so long as they are legitimate and honest. She herself agrees she'd have no problems doing the author this favour, but wouldn't leave good feedback just to protect their feelings. She says 'authors need the truth'.I hope this has helped all you indies out there. The final reader research interview will be live on my blog tomorrow (oct 4th, 2016), so check back soon!

The Author Interviews, Round 2: #10: P.M. Mathis

The Author Interviews, round 2, come to a close with Interview 10!P. M. Mathisstopped by my site to tell us all about her writing and reading preferences.Where do you get your ideas from?My ideas come from needs I think I need to speak to.Why do you write?To help and inspire the next generation of ladies.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?There are writers who have helped me through their books, now I have the opportunity to do the same.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I realize everybody has an opinion and a right to it, and I have to have confidence in the fact I am called to write. I don’t necessarily spend too much time trying to understand their rejection of my work.What do you find difficult about writing?Making it a habit because there are times I just don’t write at all, so I am saying I don’t push out work like I could if I spent more time at it.Do you ever outsource your work?No I am just starting out so I do it all myself.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Being an indie author allows me to control everything which is not always good. Since I have not dealt with a traditional publisher I have not spent much time being rejected by them and that has kept me writing.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.For me I focus on one project at a time. I come up with the title which allows my cover to come into focus to give the idea to the graphic designer. I then create the outline for the content that will be present in the book. I use the 5 paragraph layout with ten chapters being my limit. Then I ask God to use my fingers to write His words through me. And I spend my time creating the frame work for my book not allowing other project to come into conflict with what I am working on. When I finish writing I let my words sit. After I allow my mind to rest from the book, I then edit. I read through out loud and make sure grammar is on point. Type out because I write with pen and notebook first because that says to me I am a true writer. I read over again and let it sit doing a final run through after I upload to lulu.com to create the layout of the book which says to me I am a published author, Hey Me!!! I then do another run through making sure it’s all on the up and up. Re-upload to lulu.com.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?That it takes longer than you think to build a platform. Studying the market it is a necessary evil. Write because you could do it even if you won’t get paid. Make sure your content is worth reading. Be a life-long learner.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Spend more time writing. Enjoy what you are doing and writing about otherwise don’t do it.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?I believe this, but I also believe in taking notes that way I have what I took away from this book.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title/ Author /Price / Description/ Publisher / Sample Chapter /ReviewsMy Start cover and title.Who is your favourite author and why?Joyce Meyer/ TD Jakes because of the learning factor that is present in their works.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?I shop by way of books suggested in what I am reading, but I just don’t always go looking for an indie author. I search for content and if I find out the content provider is an indie author that gives me a sense of proud parent moment.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If I believe a book is deserving, there would not be any reason not to rate it.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I like to learn the back story of writers whose writing I like or if someone invites me to visit and if I like what I see I will leave my email.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?If there is interesting info that I find a benefit to me I will sign up to the email list.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I do enter some giveaways. I have not yet signed up for a signed copy from an author.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If I was enjoy the book I have no problem recommending it.Thanks to my final author for round 2 of The Author Interviews. Please support all ten if you are able - downloads and reviews are everything to indies. Round 3 starts shortly - don't to submit your applications!Pew Partners: No one shall go unnoticed. Love Friendship Unity and Christ. If you have not signed up for my email list I would appreciate the support.

The Author Interviews, Round 2: #9: Katie Masters

The Author Interviews mini-series continues with the wonderfulKatie Masters, author of Brenna Morgan and the Iron Key (#1 of 3).Where do you get your ideas from?An excellent question that has way too many answers! At least 30% of my book ideas come from my dreams. The other 80% percent happens when I'm doing or watching random things and then my little Writing Muse appears and says “here you go!” and throws an entire novel into my head. The other 10% is the few times I actually have to THINK and come up with an original idea on my own. I don't like that 10%.Why do you write?I write because I've never not written. Besides the fact that I've written since I knew the alphabet made words, I love writing because I love reading so much. But what made me want to become a writer was Tamora Pierce's Alanna Series. When I finished the last book I shut it, looked up at the ceiling full of emotions and said out loud, 'I want to make someone feel like this too.” Since that day I started writing story after story (when I wasn't reading) and never looked back!What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Ah, genres. Genres are a wonderful thing, and because I love reading pretty much every genre, I also write in a lot of genres, such as YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and yes, even romance! But the thing that I think binds them all together, the thing I find equally appealing for each one, is that I get to live in a different world and be a different person for a time. And I love that about ALL genres!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I'll say this about bad reviews and criticism right here: I grew up on the mean streets of FanFic alley where bad reviews and trolling is pretty much it's life's blood. From the ages of 12 to 16 I got ripped apart, chewed, and spat out. But I also received a lot of help and advice. I learned from them. I came to understand that you had to look for consistency. If I got 'bad reviews' that all pointed out the same mistake—I LEARNED FROM IT. If it was someone shouting “yer stori is crap!” I ignored it because it wasn't helpful. I spent those gruelling tear filled teenage years getting toughened up for rejection, which is literally half of writing.Rejection. Even the WORD kinda hurts, right? It practically tosses you aside with its tone! But if I gave up because of the number of rejection letters I've gotten, I never would have seen my book picked up and published! Rejection sucks. Always. But thanks to the beat downs I got as a teen, I learned to get back up and try again. I don't take rejection from publishers personally, because they're not rejecting you. Their assistant is. Their quota for the month is. And SOMETIMES if it's a small press, the agent does. And because of that I rarely let it get me down. Knowing SOME ONE will give me a chance keeps me going.What do you find difficult about writing?The most difficult thing about writing for me is learning to not use 30 words when 10 will do. It's a real problem if you haven't noticed by now! The writing proccess for me usually isn't too difficult. When I do have difficulties, its because the awesome writers on Twitter have distracted me. And I'm easily distracted! Oops!Do you ever outsource your work?I don't! I mean, unless you mean if I hire ad agents and publishing houses. Then yes, yes I do. But my actual writing? Yeah no. I'm too Virgo to let someone else try and write my ideas. My caveat to that (oh look, there's the too many words problem already!) is that I love writing comics but can't draw—so then I'd say I 'outsource' my work. But is a collab considered out sourcing? Let me know!What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Ah yes, the age old battle of old gods and new! Here's the thing (and if any one tells you different they're lying): Deep down every writer wants to be taken in by Trad Publishing. We want that recognition from our lofty peers and sharp-eyed agents that our book is BETTER. I thought that for a long time.....and I still do, I won't lie. But times they're a changing, and indie publishing (either with a small press, a digital press, or self publishing) is giving traditional a run for their money.Personally I think indie has A LONG WAY TO GO before it can be taken seriously—and that means that writers have to take themselves seriously (and the editors and book cover designers do too!). And I don't think a ton of them do. But the ability to have the freedom to make more money from your books as an indie author is really nice. (honestly, I wrote a huge post on this on my blog.)Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Um. This is going to very quick. Probably. You know problem with word count now! Basically I have a dream or idea fully dropped into my brain. I then go and begin writing it. I get distracted by Twitter. I write some more. I complain to my friends that my short story is becoming much more than it was supposed to be. I keep writing. Twitter distracts me, then I have tea. More tea. MORE TEA. Finish a novel instead of a sort story and cry. Drink more tea and then wine. Then MORE wine. You know, to celebrate. …...This wasn't quick. I'm sorry.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write because you love it. Write because you love reading. Write because you've realized you've ALWAYS written or made up stories. Write because you love making worlds and living through your characters. Never, EVER give up. It's cliché, I know, but it's true. You don't want to be 80 rocking a Hawaiian shirt wondering what life would have been like if you'd just kept pushing. KEEP PUSHING and learn from those who are offering you SOLID ADVICE (aka, they're not telling you that everything you write is wrong or horrible. People ask you the hard questions? THOSE are keepers!). And just know that you get what you put in. Seriously. You want a good book? Get a good editor. Don't cut corners, your characters and world deserve better than that.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Oh god. Um. Firstly, 1 year ago me, YOU DID IT. You're getting published because you didn't listen to the 4th glass of wine and give up! So here's my advice to my 1 year ago self: Just when you think you've hit rock bottom—some one will throw you a rope. You're feeling hopeless and worthless right now because your book isn't getting noticed by agents. It's gonna be okay. It will. Make friends with not just writers (every one always says make friends with other writers!), but with other artists in different fields. They're going to teach you a LOT. A LOT that will relate to the writing world in ways that you didn't even KNOW. So go learn. And don't give up.….Also maybe don't drink 4 glasses of wine in 1 hour again. Okay?Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?YES. All of the books on my shelves have been read at LEAST 5 times and I keep going back to them because I want to relive them over and over! A good book is one you want to read and not give to your friends (you tell them to get their own!)What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title /Author / Price /Description/ Publisher/ Sample Chapter / ReviewsWho is your favourite author and why?You know what, I'm gonna do you a favor! I'm splitting this into genres! YA: Tamora Pierce because she's a master story teller Literature: Jane Austen because she wrote Northanger Abby, which was a spoof book on all the gothic novels becoming popular and it's BRILLIANT. Fantasy: Terry Pratchett because he created Discworld. Romance: Julia Quinn (for historical) and Katie McAllister (for modern day paranormal). Both women are HILARIOUS and witty and excellent at ther fields! History: Lady Augusta Gregory (for her work on collecting and translating Gaelic to make sure the mythology and folklore of Ireland was preserved)Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?I do! Well, I'll look up a genre and if a book cover/ title grabs my attention and the writing is good, I'll buy it! I don't care if you're from a publishing house—I care if you did a good job with all aspects of your book!What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?Just be a good book. Which is subjective, I know. But if I enjoyed the book, I'll leave a review. Simple as that! (of note: I tend not to leave them on ones that already have like...60 reviews!)After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Sure, if it's good!Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I do! To see if they talk about their life, or write short stories I can view for free, or have fun spoilers for their book!What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?Really good writing content or useful info.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I do! I would LOVE to own a signed copy of SO MANY writers...and don't have them! Boo! I entered to win a signed copy of Rebels of the Sands, but didn't win. It was a day that will be remembered as the day I shouldn't have had tequila to drown sadness....What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?For it to be good! If I close a book and go “OMG I NEED SOMEONE TO BE GEEKED OUT OVER THIS WITH ME!”, then I will scream it to all my reader friends so we can geek out together. I'm a bit picky, and so my friends trust my picks. Wow. That sounded suuuuper condescending. But I can't take back the truth! …...drink anyone?Thanks so much for this excellent interview. Please support this indie author by visiting their social media and checking out their work online!

Testimonial For E. Rachael Hardcastle

I would like to: write a testimonial of services.“Rachael is hard working and a very responsive individual, as a writer and I suspect as an editor as well. I enjoyed talking to her and have gleaned quite a few insights from her site as well as from her well-worded questions. I look forward to working with her in the future.”Taylor Clark/ T.S. Lowe or Lowefantasy

The Author Interviews, Round 2: #8: Shakyra Dunn

The Author Interviews mini-series continues with an interesting interview withSkahyra Dunn, author of The One Left Behind: Magic.Where do you get your ideas from?-I draw my inspiration from my past experiences as well as dreams. More commonly, I also take inspiration from people around me. In terms of characters, I tend to have each one portray a trait of my own—I like to leave a part of myself in others. That has always been my rule as a writer.Why do you write?-I write because I have always wanted to inspire someone else to follow their dreams. As a child, my original goal was medicine, but writing was a talent I had always possessed. As a teenager, I looked back at my old works from around age seven and decided to try again. Plain to say, my mother wasn’t happy when I decided that I wanted to be a writer. But after convincing her, I took the plunge into this messy and amazing field. Through that strive and goal, I feel that no matter what stands before you, you shouldn’t abandon your dreams at any cost. It makes it all worthwhile.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?-I dabble in several genres, but I have settled myself into fantasy and coming-of-age stories. There are truly no limits with what actions you can take in fantasy—that’s the beauty of it all.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?-I think there’s a limit to criticism that I can handle, because some of it is blatant arrogance. I’m accustomed to bad reviews and rejection, and I’ve always seen the bright side of it. There’s someone out there that is reading my stories, someone telling me exactly what they think, and as a writer, that’s all that I can ever ask for.What do you find difficult about writing?-Right now, it has to be the writing itself. I work a night shift job to pay the bills, and it eats away a lot at my motivation to work on my novels. So in the meantime, I’ve been keeping up with a lot of side-projects, working on reviews, reading more until I can gain the momentum again. Or quit my job. Whatever comes first.Do you ever outsource your work?-Nope, but it sounds like a curious topic.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?-I’m currently self-published, but after all of the stress of trying to promote my novel, I think that I’ve done myself more harm than good, so I plan to polish up my novel better and try to seek traditional publishing.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.-Ooh, that’ll be fun! Normally, I begin my structure with characters. They tend to scream at my brain, aching to tell the story that has yet to be shaped. I take great passion in making sure that they are understood as accurately as possible. From those characters, their world shapes, the place where they were created, and where they want to make their journey’s end. And in between all of that comes the plot. Simple, complex, the range matters not, as long as it is something born.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?-It might sound cliché, but never stop trying. Writing and putting yourself out there is terrifying. The process of writing in any form is stressful. But let me tell you this: the instant that you start and finish those sentences, hear the voices in your head… the moment that you hold that document in your hands, the moment that you hit submit, the very second that you see your first novel in front of you… it makes it all worthwhile. That is the passion that exists within you. Seek it out with open arms. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks of you, or says of your work. That dream is yours alone.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?-Personally, I don’t regret publishing my book earlier than I should have. But I feel like I could have done better planning in advance with more research. I know more now about what to do for a novel in nurturing your marketing than I ever could have imagined. I guess I would have told myself to do more research.I was also lucky enough to find our about this author's reading habits.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?-I wouldn’t say that’s true. There are novels that have stuck in my mind as an inspiration that I can only gather from one read. Like “Catcher in the Rye.” I read that book in high school, and I can still remember the details of it that made me find such resonance in the story. There are some books that only need one read to stay with you forever.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / Reviews-I find myself most drawn to the descriptions of the novels I search for, but I also see myself peering more into certain genres over others.Who is your favourite author and why?-This might sound silly, but Lemony Snicket is my favorite. His novels from “A Series of Unfortunate Events” are the spark that ignited my passion for writing from a young age. I found myself drawn to the aura of mystery behind his characters, and I devoured them.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?-I do! I prefer it that way!What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?-I try to review everything that I read these days in some form or another because, for one, I’d like the same treatment. And I’d like for other authors to know of their thoughts on their novels.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?-I think for me it depends if I like the novel or not. If I’m not thoroughly interested by the first novel, rarely do I try the second and hope for an improvement.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?-I do, mainly because I want to see if it is of any interest. It also gives me some interest on how to structure my own website.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?-I sign up for mailing lists if the media presented on the website intrigues me.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?-I’ve entered a few giveaways on Goodreads and also hosted my own before not long after my debut. I’ve only won once in a giveaway there, the first one that I ever entered. I generally order signed copies if the series interests me too. Actually, my first signed copy of anything came from a friend of mine that has been getting pretty popular in her field.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?-I recommend any book that I like to friends that I know would be into reading (which is actually rare for me, I have few friends that read as extensively as I do), but what I tend to present more would be the plot and characters. Reading in hindsight still exists, guys! There’s a lot of great stories out there!Thanks so much for this interview and we wish you all the best with your work. To find out more about the author and to offer your support, please find them on social media. Thanks!

Reader Research #4: What can we learn from our readers? (female, age unkn)

I asked 6 readers what they shop for on Amazon.com when looking for e-books for their Kindle.Here's what reader number four had to say:BIO: This reader is a female and a writer. She reads fantasy.. I was not able to gain her age.The first question I asked this reader was about online shopping, and what she looks at first when buying a Kindle book. She said cover design, book description and price. When asked why, she said 'a cover often reflects and purposefully echoes what sub-genre it is. You can spot a romance or black-covered vampire YA book a mile away. A good description, non-cheesy with no obvious cliches makes the reader interested. Price - everyone has a budget.'Although a writer herself, this reader said she shops mostly for traditionally published books because 'KDP seems riddled with unedited, first drafts piled out without much skill.' When asked to explain further, she said, 'Published books always seem more finished and professional with better pacing and less character problems.'I then asked her to tell me why she likes fantasy. She identified 'worlds and exploring, unusual characters and adventure'.We moved on to talk about reviews and this reader said she recommends almost every one she buys if she likes it. It has to be interesting, 'have fabulous thematic elements and no sudden romance/ sexual chemistry'. She also likes to see a range of reviews. 'All low is obviously a put off point. Low numbered five stars do seem a little off putting if it's a KDP Createspace and it's pretty easy to do with friends/ family/ sockpuppet accounts.'She did not provide me with her favourite author's name but said she reads books that have an emotional theme with important messages to share.I gave five ways in which some readers identify self-published books and asked if she agrees. She not only chose all 5 (poor formatting, poor cover, editing, off price, perma-free' but she added a 6th, 'cheesy women grasping flowers often in black and white whilst blood trickles out the corner of their mouth or grasping half-naked buff men on a beach'.From there we discussed indie vs traditional, to which she replied, 'if the vast majority of the fruit is bad, the chance you'll keep eating bad fruit is pretty low. It's always a good chance that the first few are bad. Statistically bad. But you can't blame some readers for being put off.' To change her opinion, athors need to 'spend a lot of time learning editing and not just editing it. Also learning pacing, themes, foreshadowing, character development etc.'She agreed that bad language and violence is ok as long as it's in character.Finally regarding free books in exchange for honest reviews, she said 'nope. If I don't like a book I don't want to finish it and often don't so wouldn't be able to give it a fair review'.What did I learn from this interview? What can indie writers take from this reader's feedback?From re-reading and analysing this interview, I got the impression that traditionally published books are still this reader's preference despite the improvement in self-publishing methods over the years. Further along she states that KDP is riddled with unedited works that lack in skill and structure, and that if you've eaten a lot of bad fruit, you can't be blamed for your negative opinions.As an indie author I feel saddened that such a view still exists amongst the writing community when so many are trying hard to change the face of indie publishing. This interview shows me that even other writers are struggling to identify more with indie books than with those of large publishing houses.I feel disappointment in those who do self-publish get rich quick books and unedited manuscripts. They seem to be letting the side down. If you're considering indie publishing, I would suggest, as I have before, editing through your manuscript at least six times and asking BETAs and critique partners to help you out if you're unable to outsource to an editor. After six times if you don't catch typos and plot holes, you never will.Also, if you are new to writing, spending some time researching and studying how to write well is important - is your first completed book after its first draft really suitable to be published, or does it require more work? Natural talent exists in my opinion, but I still believe all writers need to let their books sit for a while between drafts. Let's aim for professional bestselling indie books with 4-5* reviews.Moving on from the divide between each publishing method, this reader chose fantasy for the worlds, adventures and exploration, suggesting they read perhaps to escape reality and to visit new places/ meet new people, even if only in their minds. This is a great point to identify - we need rich descriptions with imagery and stories with incredible depth to satisfy readers like this.Of course, always aim for legitimate reviews only. It's not uncommon for friends and family members to leave their feedback having read the book/s cover to cover. I feel this is legitimate, so long as the reviewers are fair and honest. I do agree it can be difficult not to rate below 3* when you know a person, but Amazon's policy is strict and best adhered to, so let's try to be as honest (but gentle) as possible.I also got the impression this reader can identify self-published books easily and quickly. If we can get our books to blend with the traditionally published ones so it's difficult to ID them from cover and formatting, we're already half way there. Let's do everything in our power to camouflage the indie published behind our work.Need a professional cover? Use Canva - it's free.Need great formatting? Research how to set up your Open Office - it's free and easy!Need a marketing platform? - social media makes this easier than ever these days.That's it for today indies, but I'll be back tomorrow with reader research number 5!

The Author Interviews - Round 2: #7: Dawn Chapman

Round two of my Author Interviews series continues withDawn Chapman, author ofBries Results. I spoke to Dawn to gain an insight into her writing processes.Where do you get your ideas from?My ideas come from many things, real life, in talking to the TSK team we have brainstorming sessions and they are really good. After all the TSK world is mine, but it is also a huge collaboration effort from the other writers and artists who are onboard.Why do you write?I write because if I didn’t, I’d start to implode. All those tiny details in my head about my characters would just keep building and building and I couldn’t cope. I’ve had times where I’ve really struggled to write. Broken bones suck when you want to do things with your hands. But, I used dictation instead. If you are born to do it, you just have to do it. No matter what.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I love the Sci Fi genre, because there’s just so much room for using your imagination. To create whole worlds and civilizations.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I look at all reviews as what they really are, one opinion on your creative piece. Not everyone will love what you’ve done, and not everyone will hate it. With every review there is always something to learn. Take the best from it, thank the reviewer (or not) and just keep on going.What do you find difficult about writing?The most difficult thing for me is remembering that not everything I have in my head makes it onto the page the first time I put it down. For me editing is paramount, and using the correct review system to make me work as hard as I can to get the details in that others really want.Do you ever outsource your work?In what sense, the writing? Yes, there are others on the TSK team who are writing in my world. And I hope that in the future there will be more people who will contribute to the vastness that is TSK.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?There are pros and cons for both. I chose to go indie because I wanted the best out of my world that I could get for the whole team. And that meant having stronger control over my options.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Oh wow.1. First Draft.2. Typo and Editing pass.3. Alfa crit stage, with my team in the Ubergroup on Scribophile.4. Re-write.5. Content editing with EJ Runyon.6. Beta Reading, again with the Ubergroup.7. Re-writing and tweaking.8. Final read through from ‘fresh eyes’9. Copy editing.10. Leave a while.11. Re-read for typos.12. Typo Party.13. Publish…..What advice would you give to aspiring writers?The same thing that was said to me. Practice, practice. Find the right people to work with and practice some more. Never give up on your dreams.I was also lucky enough to gain some insight into the author as a reader. Here's what she had to say.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Yes.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / Reviews. To be honest, everything. I’m part of a few author groups and I always say the whole package is very important. First we all look at covers and if it doesn’t grab us or looks amateur, then no one looks past that to the blurb or reviews.Who is your favourite author and why?I have a good few authors who I like, mostly because I’ve turned to audiobooks and I’ve come across some amazing writers through them. Nathan Lowell. Nick Webb. S.E Smith. M.R Forbes. Mostly I look for the narrators, and will listen to most books they narrate. Greg Tremblay, Ray Greenley, Joe Hemple. Jeff Hayes.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Mostly audiobooks, but they’re also indiebooks.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I write reviews for the audiobooks. I rarely have time to read ebooks at the weekends.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?I do - depends on the author. I’ve recently been given copies of a few books that I can’t get in the UK from Nick Webb's universe as they’re by different authors with the kindle worlds program. Because I’ve been given these copies, I review them, but I also go back and buy some books from the author as well.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I do, because some I like to follow, and sign up to.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I like to follow authors who I enjoy. And learn from them or their narrators when new books are out.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Yes, and sometimes I’ll promote for them as well, on my blog or social media.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?It takes a lot, my recommendations come on my blog with the reviews I write and sometimes in conversation.It was great to gain another author's insight as a writer and a reader. Please help to support this author by sharing the post with your friends or visiting their website/s to shop for books.Thanks for the interview, Dawn Chapman, and good luck with your work!

The Author Interviews, Round 2: #6: Ellis Logan

I'm thrilled to share interview number six with you today. I spoke withEllis Logan, author of Gifts of Elysielle about writing and reading. Here's what I found out.*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?Most of my stories come to me when I am relaxed – the best ideas have come through dreams and meditation. Once I have a character in my head, they dictate most of the story to me – I barely have to think or plan at all, the words just flow. At night, I’ll dream with the characters and see new details and events in the story, or sometimes we’ll just explore their world. My first book, Shades of Valhalla, came to me one morning when I woke up. I heard the story title and the first few paragraphs, playing over and over in my head. I keep a journal by my bed so I wrote everything down, and the rest of the story came easily after that.Why do you write?I’ve been writing stories since I was a small child. When the inspiration hits, it’s not something I can deny. I have to write it out, or else the story will just play in my head on an endless loop. After a while, I get drawn into the story myself, and I can’t stop writing – I want to see how it ends as much as any reader! I wrote Heart Ward, a companion novella to the Inner Origins trilogy, because I just wasn’t ready to give up hanging out with one of the main characters.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I write mostly paranormal fantasy these days. It allows me to play with science and metaphysics in a way that is most satisfying, like food for my brain. Plus, fairies…Vikings…need I say more?How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?It’s a bit of a jolt when someone doesn’t like your work, and if you let it, it can ruin your day. But everyone likes different things, that’s the beauty of the world we live in. I hate pumpkin spice ale, coffee, really anything pumpkin flavored. No one makes me drink it, and I don’t force other people to hate it, too. I don’t really see the point of reviews that go out of their way to be nasty (I’m more of “don’t say anything if you haven’t got something nice to say” kind of girl) but honest critiques with constructive feedback are very useful and help you grow as a writer.What do you find difficult about writing?I have kids and a day-job, so there isn’t always time to write. That’s probably the hardest thing. That, and when my computer decides to automatically update itself and takes itself out of commission for two days. It’s like someone is sitting on my hands when that happens. When I’m really in the swing of things, I can’t go more than 48 hours without writing or I get twitchy and grumpy. That makes life difficult for me and my husband!Do you ever outsource your work?Never. I have a small indie publisher, and they do all the cover art, editing and hook me up with beta readers, but I do all my own writing.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?When I was in my twenties I spent a lot of time trying to find an agent and submitted to many smaller publishers. The process was so exhausting, expensive and mundane that after 100 or so very nice rejections, I was too worn out to even continue. I did blogs and articles, but stopped fiction entirely for over a decade. Then the drive to create stories came back. My imaginings demanded to be written, and this time finding a publisher was easy – literally the first place I applied! I guess it was just time.Indie and self publishing can be very rewarding, because you make more per book sold and the marketing is more about you and what you want to put into it. I have friends published through big houses, and many of them have turned to self-publishing because they still had to do all their own marketing and they were barely getting paid anything in royalties. Indie publishing puts the power (and the royalties) back in the author’s hands. I think it’s really revitalized the publishing industry.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Every story starts with an idea. I am IN the story in that moment when the idea comes. Then I sit down and write that initial idea down. After that, I usually always have two word docs open on my laptop: one for the plot outline, which I add to as ideas come, and character summaries; and one with the story in a pre-formatted file for print. Having a doc with all the character descriptions and world details helps me keep the story together, so I don’t mix up details. I write whenever I have some free time and my mind is clear – on the couch while my kids play Minecraft, in bed while my husband is sleeping, or at work when things are slow (Shh!)What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Don’t worry so much about if your writing’s any good or not. Just write about something that excites you, something that makes your brain go wild. That’s when the words come easily. Read the classics, and then immerse yourself in your genre. You can learn more about good writing from Vonnegut and Dostoevsky than a grammar book. Your writing is going to get better with every book you write, and the more books you read. That’s just what happens. Don’t let fear or self-doubt stop you from starting. Writing is a process, and it never really ends.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?12 months ago I had just been signed to Earth Lodge, and was mid-way through my first book, Shades of Valhalla. Now I’ve published four books in the Inner Origins series, Shades is permafree on Amazon and iTunes and getting tons of downloads every day, and I’ve started a whole new series. Everything has come so fast and so easily. I guess I would just tell myself to hold on and enjoy the ride! And to buy more chocolate.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?I don’t know if it must, but certainly I have read my absolute favourites a multitude of times.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any more important to you than others?I often read a book a day, sometimes more. So I tend to stick to free books, unless I already know and love the author’s writing. If I love the first book in a series, I will buy the follow-ups. The exception to that is non-fiction, which I always prefer to have on hand in print.Cover/ Title / Author /Price/Description/ Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsWho is your favourite author and why?I really do have a thing for the classics. I love Dostoevsky, Robbins, Vonnegut, Fitzgerald, Hugo. My favorite fantasy writers at the moment are Vera Nazarian and Meghan Ciana Doidge, both of whom build amazing details into their worlds and weave complex characters that really draw you in.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?A lot of the authors I read are indie authors – I don’t go out of my way to look for them, but we are legion. You can’t avoid us these days!What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If I enjoyed a book, I review it. It’s not really worth my time and effort to leave a bad review.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Definitely. If the book is well written and the story really hooked me, then I need more! If it’s just “okay” then I don’t bother – I’d rather find a different series or another story to feed the reading monster.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I do. Mostly to see when the next book is coming out, if they haven’t completed the series yet. Also, as a writer I like to see what elements other people are using in their site designs.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I’ve signed up for a few, but mostly I avoid them. I’ve been burned too many times with promises of giveaways that never materialize and links that don’t work.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Sometimes.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?I recommend books all the time if the conversations veers toward the same theme, especially any book I can’t stop thinking about.Thanks for this interesting interview! Please support this indie author by downloading the perma-free book Shades of Valhalla (I have my Kindle copy!) and don't forget those all important reviews.

Reader Research #3: What can we learn from our readers? (Male, 20-30 yrs)

I asked 6 readers what they shop for on Amazon.com when looking for e-books for their Kindle.Here's what reader number three had to say:BIO: this reader was a 20-30 year old male with an interest in military and history books. I did not gain any further information.When asked what this reader usually looks at online, he advised cover design, book description and book reviews, stating 'whatever looks good' when asked why. 'Usually I pick up a book by how it looks and the description, I don't look at the publisher.'He then went on to advise me his favourite genres are Military or historical. 'I enjoy this particular subject due to hobbies', he said. He does not have a favourite author because he reads more reference and non-fiction books.He also said that he is 'not bothered about verified reviews as long as they seem genuine. I feel like you can tell when a review is fake'. However, he will only occasionally recommend a book on social media when it's something special or 'has something out of the norm'.I then brought up the subject of self-published books and their appearence online. He said he can tell when a book is indie because the price is odd or the book is free/ always very cheap. He had nothing further to say when asked how indies can change a negative opinion of self-publishing.To end the interview, I asked if he would be put off by bad language and violence in a book, to which he replied, 'No, long as it's not just for effect and over used. Bad language is a part of life as long as it's in context.'What did I learn from this interview? What can indie writers take from this reader's feedback?I wasn't sure how much of this interview I could use, as at the moment I am only writing fiction. However, in the near future I hope to write a book on how to write fiction, so when re-reading, I imagined that book was already on the shelves and here's what I learned.This is another reader who shops by what looks good rather than who is behind the book's production. Book cover design, description and reviews are the first things this reader sees and goes by, mentioning nothing about sample chapters or publisher/ author name.Although he isn't usually bothered if a review shows 'verified' on Amazon, he does feel that fake reviews are easily identifiable, which stresses the importance of legitimate reviews when it comes to indie publishing. Personally I still feel that verified purchases tend to receive more attention, but that doesn't mean to say the reader didn't purchase the book elsewhere and decide to review on Amazon - after all, most buyers go there these days. I also think verified reviews don't necessarily mean the reader paid for the book (free downloads are included). This, to me, doesn't seem any different to sending out free copies in echange for honest reviews. However, always keep Amazon's policy in mind.Again, it was pointed out to me that indie books are identifiable by the price. If the price is odd, perma-free or always at a low price, this is a giveaway. For those who aren't aiming to blend in with traditionally published books, it may not matter if the book is still selling, however for those of us struggling it may be worth amending that price to match some other traditionally published prices in our genre.Finally, this reader again said that bad language isn't an issue, but he did state that it needs a purpose which I agree with. Personally nothing puts me off a story more than random violence and inappropriate language. If it fits, by all means include it. I suppose this might one day raise the topic of whether books should receive ratings like television programmes and movies... is your book a PG or an 18?That's it for today. Although a shorter interview, I still pulled out plenty of useful infirmation to help indies on their path to success. Stick around - tomorrow, there will be another!

The Author Interviews: Round 2, #5: T.S. Lowe/ LoweFantasy

Today's author interview is an awesome read, withT. S. Lowe / Lowe Fantasy. Her book “Out of Duat” is already on the shelves and “Erase Me” is temporarily available now for free on Inkitt.com until 03/10/2016). She also has a series of fanfictions for free under the penname of LoweFantasy.*images from author*Where do you get your ideas from?To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I think it's when I start craving a certain story that I can't find, so I just decide to write it myself.Why do you write?Because I am obsessively in love with stories, and writing a story is twice as fun as reading it because I get a say in what happens. Also, it's therapuetic for me.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I write both in Fantasy and Contemporary with romantic elements. What I find most appealing about those are the elements I am able to explain a conflict or trial in everyday life in a fantastic or beautiful way that helps me and others learn how to live through it without wanting to bawl our eyes out—but instead laugh. Or I get the opportunity to deal with horrors and monsters that depict subjects that trouble me or others, yet is hard to talk about.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?They're just as important, if not more so, then the good reviews. They help me to improve. Mostly I'm just happy someone took the time out of their life to read my story.What do you find difficult about writing?The discouragement that pops up all the time asking me if what I'm doing is all in vain.Do you ever outsource your work?Besides the necessary help for an editor or illustrator, never. That would be like paying someone to go to Disneyland for me. This is my labor, my work, and if I'm to have any pride in myself and what I do, I'll do it myself.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Personally, it kind of saddens me that traditional publishing seems to be failing because marketing is the pits. Also, in order to find the well done gems in independent publishing, one has to work through all of the...not so well done stories in order to find it, and that's rather discouraging to me in regards to my own work.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Usually ideas hit me while I'm busy with something else, like driving or cleaning. Once I start writing the character's dialogue in my head, I try it out on the page. I have a time set aside every day to write, and I try to write at least 2,000 words. Keeping in mind what I want to happen, I let the story tell itself to me along the way, keeping the end goal in sight to keep it on target. Because I look forward to the endings, and because the whole story revolves around certain key points happening, ending books for me has never been an issue.Once I've finished the first draft and have reached the envisioned goals I had in mind, I let it sit for a few weeks or longer. After I've let it sit, I take a look at it and decide whether or not I'd like to try publishing it. Then, if I decide 'yes,' I hand it over to someone I trust as critical and educated enough to read it and point out the weak parts of the plot and character developments. With those points, I completely revise the manuscript, often times taking out and rewriting p or more of it (that's often the case when you're a discovery writer like myself). Then I hand it over to those willing to help me copy edit it. Only then do I look into querying or self-publishing.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write everyday. Write till your fingers bleed. Write, and don't ever stop.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Don't worry so much about what others think or want. Just write and enjoy it.I also managed to gain an insight into this author's reading preferences.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?No. I have found many stories that are creatively well thought out and express a deep understanding of human nature from the author, but the weaknesses of the writing hamper that on further readings. A brilliant book, on the other hand, must withstand more than one read.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author /Price/Description/ Publisher /Sample Chapter/ ReviewsWho is your favourite author and why?Oh gosh, that depends on the day. Please don't make me choose.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Yes, mainly because I live 45 minutes from town and have a two year old, so getting out is just plain hard.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?Not much. I know what it means to authors to have a review.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Oh yes! But only if I love it. I'm not much of a series junky.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?Yes, because I want to see if there are any articles on writing that I can learn from. Also, I'm not a series junky because I hate having to wait to finish the story, so I often visit author's websites to see if the next books are out so I can binge read.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?I'd have to like the book or know the author personally.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I've entered giveaways because I love books, but I've never been one for signed copies.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?I have an excellent memory for anything I read, so all I'd need is for my friend to be looking for a particular book, and whether I liked it or not (unless it was awful), I'd recommend it. However, if it's so good I'm almost in hysterias, everyone hears of it.Many thanks to T. S. Lowe for this interesting interview. To find out more about the author and offer your support, please visit their website or purchase a book. Many thanks.