Simon Royle's Blog, page 14

Indieview with Indie Reviewer Adam Bourke of Review Haven

Adam has a really cool looking website, at Review Haven: Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and reviews, mainly as the title implies SF and Fantasy. A little bit unfortunately (coz his reviews are really good) he only reviews print books at this time. Here is his Indieview…

"It's not a good thing to "Argue" with the reviewer. But I don't mind discussing points in my review if it helps the author. Say if she doesn't understand why I've said something. In the end, it's up to the author to decide if the reviewer has any sway, but given that the point of a review is to get opinions, you should try to pay attention. Everyone gets bad reviews, Even JK Rowling got bad reviews, despite the rest of the world loving what she wrote."

Adam Bourke 28 April 2011

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I am a member of the fanfiction site harrypotterfanfiction.com. I've written a few things on there, and the review system is really good. In the real world, I don't think it's as efficient.

The idea of reviewing books came from my friend at University, who said that the people she lived with were quite major book reviewers and got loads of books sent to them to review. It just made sense to me that I should do the same. I love reading, writers need feedback, and I also thought that it might be a good way to make contacts when I need my own novel reviewing.



How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

To be honest, I can't imagine making notes. Unless it's a long book (400+ pages), I tend to read them in a single sitting, and I have the principle that if there's something I notice wrong with the book, but can't remember it when I've finished, it's not as big a flaw as I thought.

Besides, if I stopped to make notes, it would feel to clinical to me. As if I was dissecting something and reviewing it's internal organs, rather than the whole thing. part of a book is the experience of being somewhere else, and that doesn't happen if I make notes

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What are you looking for?

I'm looking for a good story. Mainly. And in general this is anything that makes you forget you're reading a book. If I'm disappointed to return to the real world when the book ends, then it's a really good book.

I'm  also looking for characters we feel real emotions about. A good writer can make you want to marry one of their characters and live a quiet life on a small planet somewhere with them. OK, that's the best case scenario, but I like to know the characters. I like them to be real to me.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

It really depend just how bad it is. If the odd sentence is grammatically incorrect, then that's fair enough. I don't judge that because my own grammar isn't perfect (I had a short story I wrote published once, and realised there was a glaring spelling mistake in the first line). But if the bad grammar distracts me from the story, if I'm constantly stopping to figure out what a sentence means, then I have to comment on it. A book with consistently bad grammar will tend not to excite me, and hence get a worse review than if that was sorted out.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

Hmmm, I tend to think in pages rather than words,but at say 250 wpp, that's 320 pages. Right. About three hours. I used to be faster, but then I used to read a book each night. Now I read roughly 100 pages in an hour. Or 25000 words per hour.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

Rating systems are generally useless. At least to me. I do have one, but it's terribly subjective. And I don't just mean that other readers would rate it differently, I mean that since every book is different (At least, one would hope they are), they can't really be compared on a number scale. I recently realised that if I were to read one of the books I had reviewed again, the most likely candidate had a rating of 7/10, despite there being many with full marks. It's because some things cannot be ascribed a value.

It's kind of hard to describe. The 10/10 books are all better than that 7/10. But, just being better doesn't make it a favourite. I also have a "How likely I am to read the sequel" rating, although not all books have this. I find this more useful than the rating system to be honest.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

Ask. And see if you can get people to post their reviews as widely as possible. I tend to post my reviews on at least four sites (my blog included) if I've been given the book. More if I can manage it. Also, research the reviewer. It shouldn't be hard, just look at their blog. If you are on a Science Fiction/Fantasy review blog, you're less likely to get that romance reviewed.

Oh, and at least use a spell-checker on the book. And the email, although I tend to ignore mistakes in emails, I guess it gives a bad impression to some people.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

No, but my email address has only recently been made available on my blog – and on the page for authors looking for reviews at that. I Have had emails from authors though. Both Indie and Larger authors.

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

Well. Sort of. It's not a good thing to "Argue" with the reviewer. But I don't mind discussing points in my review if it helps the author. Say if she doesn't understand why I've said something. In the end, it's up to the author to decide if the reviewer has any sway, but given that the point of a review is to get opinions, you should try to pay attention. Everyone gets bad reviews, Even JK Rowling got bad reviews, despite the rest of the world loving what she wrote. If you're getting more bad reviews than good ones, it just means you need to write more.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

I hope not. But I believe it probably is. Of the people that I live with (Three women, around 20yrs old) I've only seen one of them reading a novel. And that infrequently. My whole family reads, in varying degrees, but most of my friends don't. So in my experience, I think it is. My generation reads less than my parent's.

As for why do people love reading… I think it's because it's engaging. It allows you to be someone else for a while, in a new place. Each book is like a holiday in a way, and most people enjoy holidays. It's more exciting than real-life. I'm sure everyone dreams of being a heroic knight, or private detective, or woman in a romance book. And books make it come true for those few precious hours.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

This is hard to answer, everyone makes their own mistakes. The most common is probably spelling mistakes (Spell-Checkers!). But the biggest mistakes happen with romance. I've read a lot of books where characters go from vague attraction to deeply, intensely in love with each other in a single scene. This generally isn't the case in real life. Vague attraction to lots of sex – maybe. But they shouldn't be calling each other "love" or "Darling" twenty seconds after the first kiss.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

I won't say that this isn't true, as the first five pages of a book CAN make me buy a book. But I won't say that they can make me put a book down. At least, not permanently. And especially if it's for review. I would think that agents should request the first chapter, at the least, but I'm not one of them. I guess they don't have that much time to read whole chapters.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

Well. It's an interesting idea, but I don't hold to it. I mean, say page 99 is a hot steamy sex-scene. That could make a lot of people decide to buy/not buy the book. But what if it's the only one in that 600 page book? Some people might be disappointed, some won't know what they've missed. What if it's a page explaining something important but quite complex that started on page 97? That's going to just make the book look boring and confusing. It's not enough data to go on. I have to admit, I often go on the blurb, which is also not enough information. But I think you have to read more than a page to make a well judged decision.

Is there anything you will not review?

Not that I can think of. But I'll only publish Sci-Fi and Fantasy ones on my blog, other reviews go to amazon and librarything. And the SFF ones get priority. If I have a pile of books, the non SFF ones will be at the bottom. Never reviewed Non-fiction before, not sure if I'd want to. Depends on what it was. Maths or Science, possibly. Fashion – I sincerely doubt it.

About PublishingWhat do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

I don't know. I know there are books online that could really use an editor. But editors often miss books. Again, Using Rowling as an example, she was rejected by several publishers who are doubtless still kicking themselves. So I'd say yes, the "Slush-pile" has moved online. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Not everything on there deserves to be on there.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

In some ways, yes, because the prices are cheaper – especially for those who can read eBooks. So people are happier to buy them. And I think that's the main problem people have with self-published books – they're more expensive than mass produced books.

To be honest, I think I'm the only person I know that looks at the publisher of a book before reading – and only then since I started reviewing. I don't think most people see a difference – except that self-published sometimes means less polished. But I personally don't really distinguish between the two either. Both Indie and Publisher-Published books can be good, and both can be bad. I think a lot of people realise this.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, asides from reviews?

Well, run a spell check on everything. If it says "5000" mistakes found, chances are that the writer hasn't looked at it since he first wrote it. It's probably nor going to be ready for publication. Obviously this is easy to get around, but it'll provide a first line of defence against really bad books.

The problem is that to do anything like filtering, you need an organisation to do it. And that essentially becomes a publisher. Which then defeats the object of Indie reviewers. Unless there was an independent organisation that everyone used. (Kind of like films having to be certified). It would be hard to implement in any case. Fictioncentral.net used to be a good place for Indie writing, within age-friendly limits, but is unfortunately closed now.

End of Interview

Thin Blood, by Vicki Tyley, now available in audio format

For those of you who read while driving and with a pair of earphones – here's a treat…

Vicki Tyley, bestselling mystery and suspense writer from DownUnder, has just released Thin Blood as an audio book. Here's the details:

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Narrated by Basil Sands

Running time: 7 hours, 38 minutes | Unabridged

Produced by Perfect Voices

Price: $34.95 $12.99 (save 63%)

You can buy it here and here.

An interview with Simon Royle about Tag

Tom Lichtenberg, an old friend of this blog, and once interviewed here, turned the tables on me here. In which I talk about Tag and explain some of the concepts behind the story.

Thanks, Tom, for the great questions.

Breaking News!!! Amazon drops International wireless delivery charges on eBooks

For anyone living outside the USA or Canada, it used to cost about $2-00 to get the book delivered by wireless to your kindle or reading device. That meant a .99 cents book was 2.99. Even when you "gifted" your own book to someone living in the USA, using Amazon's services, it still cost you that $2-00.

I always thought that was a bit harsh, reminded me of phone charges in hotels in the eighties and nineties.

The good news is that Amazon appear to have stopped charging and now, "Free International delivery", now really does mean free.

Thanks, Jeff.

IndieView with J.R. Tomlin, author of, Freedom's Sword

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"It is mostly about real people. There are a few fictional characters but most lived and really did much of what I tell in the novel. I'm fussy like that about historical fiction."

J. R. Tomlin 4 April 2011

The Back Flap

Before William Wallace… before Robert the Bruce… there was another Scottish hero…

1296, Scotland: newly knighted by the King of the Scots, Andrew de Moray fights to defend his country against the forces of the ruthless invader, King Edward Longshanks of England. After a bloody defeat in battle, he is dragged in chains to an English dungeon.

Soon the young knight escapes. He returns to find Scotland under the heel of a conqueror and his betrothed sheltering in the hills of the Black Isle.

Seizing his own castle, he raises the banner of Scottish freedom. Now he must lead the north of Scotland to rebellion in hope of defeating the English army sent to crush them.

When did you start writing the book?

I started the writing about two years ago, but the research went a lot further back than that.  I've always read about Scottish history, about 4 years ago I started studying it in depth with the view of writing historical fiction.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took about six months.

Where did you get the idea from?

Part of the idea came from my admiration for the people who fought against overwhelming odds to regain their liberty. However, some of it was spurred by much I hate the way Braveheart twisted Scottish history. There isn't any need to lie about the amazing stories that took place during those bloody years in Scotland. The real story is more amazing than anything you'd make up.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The end was very hard for me, but I don't want to talk about why.

What came easily?

Because the story was so fixed in my mind and I could see it all so clearly, most of the novel came pretty easily. It was one of the easiest novels I ever wrote, one of those rare times, for me anyway, when it flowed.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

It is mostly about real people. There are a few fictional characters but most lived and really did much of what I tell in the novel. I'm fussy like that about historical fiction.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Sure, I'm an omnivorous reader. Early on Alexander Dumas gave me a love of adventure novels with his novels, such as Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. I learned to love historical novels from authors such as Victor Hugo and his Hunchback of Notre Dame. And I learned to love fantasy from, need I say, Tolkien. But also from current writers like Martin and Gaiman.

Do you have a target reader?

Ummm… People who like to read?  Actually, myself. I try to write something that I would love to read myself. I can't imagine that a writer does well  writing a story they don't love. I rather visualize myself as the village storyteller setting in the middle of the square.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Mainly just BIC. I don't outline. Characters are generally lurking in the corner of my mind somewhere or stomping around demanding a story. If they're fictional characters, I dump them into trouble and see what happens. If they are historical characters, I let them tell me their story.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Nope.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Edit as I go. I tend to get into the story again by going over what I wrote the day before.

Did you hire a professional editor?

This was professionally edited as well as critiqued by beta readers.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Depends on what I'm writing. I can't listen to anything with lyrics while I write, but I listen to a wide variety, everything from the LotR soundtracks to Chopin to Tchaikovsky. It's hard for me to write without  music playing.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. I went through the whole miserable, humiliating process.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I had published several novels with small publishers, and then I signed with an agent who pitched one of my novels for a year.  It didn't sell, and in the meantime, the whole indie thing started. I had these novels on my hard drive. I had to make a choice. I'd read all the stuff that people like Konrath were saying, read as Kris Rusch changed her mind, and watched Vicki Lieske have a tremendous success. Eventually, I felt it was the only logical step for me.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I had it professionally done.  JT Lindroos did it for me and I am extremely pleased with how it came out.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I'm not quite sure it rates being called anything as formal as a marketing plan, but I have a strong idea what I need to do.  At the moment, I'm a bit frustrated by a glitch with Amazon. I know it's only slowing things down for a while and it's a long-term game plan, but having interviews and reviews come out for something that isn't priced on Amazon is frustrating.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

The best thing I can advise is to read what Joe Konrath and Kris Rusch have to say. Talk to some indie writers at places like Kindleboards. Indie publishing isn't for everyone. It is a lot of work. It's not going down the easy road. But it is one of the most satisfying things I've ever done.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Mostly in Texas, but I spent summers in Scotland with family too.

Where do you live now?

Oregon. It's even rainier than Scotland so that makes me feel right at home and gives me something to complain about.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I hope that the most important thing about me to my readers is my stories. Sure, I'm a great person, or so I tell people, but it's the story that counts.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on two novels now. One is another historical novel set in Scotland about one of the most important followers of Robert the Bruce, James Douglas, and one is an old-fashioned fantasy.

End of Interview

You can buy Freedom's Sword at Amazon US, and Smashwords.

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IndieView with Nick Spalding, author of, Life… With No Breaks

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"I went indie with LWNB because it would never have seen the light of day otherwise."

Nick Spalding 1 April 2011

The Back Flap

Nick Spalding tried to write a book in 24 hours. Turns out that's impossible… it took 30!

He had a dull, drizzly weekend to kill, so made a start on the book he'd been promising to write all his life… and had it finished by midnight Sunday.

You'll laugh out loud reading his odyssey of non-stop writing, in a selection of anecdotes, asides and stories… all dredged up from an over-stimulated brain functioning on caffeine, nicotine and the occasional chocolate biscuit.

The book is a conversation with YOU and with Nick you'll venture into the thorny topics of love, life, sex, horribly timed bowel movements and a deathly fear of sponges (among many other things).

After you've read Life… With No Breaks, you'll never look at the world the same way again!

About the Book

What is the book about?

It's an observational comedy book about my life. A series of anecdotes, stories and funny asides on any subject that happened to pop into my head over the time of writing it. There's no real plot, except the device of writing the whole thing in one sitting!

When did you start writing the book?

6pm on a drizzly Saturday evening.

How long did it take you to write it?

30 hours!

Where did you get the idea from?

As I explain at the start of the book, the idea just came to me when I woke up that morning. This was just as well as I would have succumbed to writer's block!

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Around the 5am mark… Trust me, writing a coherent narrative gets a bit difficult when you've been awake for twenty hours.

What came easily?

Erm… the sleep I fell into straight after writing 'The End'.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Heh. All real people – only some names have been changed to protect the innocent J

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Style wise I guess Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin have been important. Also Stephen Fry for his brilliant wit. I try to be as funny as possible when I write, and those three authors do it better than anyone else.

Do you have a target reader?

YOU!

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Meh. I'm not really one for over thinking this kind of thing, if I'm honest. I guess my process goes:

1. Buy alcohol. 2. Consume alcohol. 3. Worry I've consumed too much alcohol. 4. Consume more alcohol to make myself feel better. 5. Spend twenty minutes wondering what I was planning on doing before consuming the alcohol. 6. Decide I was planning on consuming alcohol… and consume more alcohol. 7. Completely fail to write anything. 8. Write a book in thirty hours… and consume alcohol.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Nope. Seat of the pants for both Life… With No Breaks and everything else. I figure the first person I get to tell the story to is me, and I don't want to ruin the ending for myself, do I?

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I edit when finished. Then edit again. And again. And again. Then worry that I've done too much editing. Then edit again. Then consume alcohol.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. I'm lucky enough to work with pro copywriters and proof readers, so providing I can catch them on a sober day, they look through my work for me.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Bavarian Oompah music and death metal.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not Life.. With No Breaks, but as a writer I have of course put myself through the torment of the slush pile submission process.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I went indie with LWNB because it would never have seen the light of day otherwise.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

All on my lonesome. That Adobe Photoshop course I did a few years ago is really paying dividends! I can even put my head on Bradley Cooper's body.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I've been winging it up until now, but I think I've come across a marketing strategy that's a sure fire winner. Two words: Indecent Exposure.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Wear comfortable shoes and eat at least five portions of fruit and veg a day. Keep your arms in the vehicle at all times, never rub another man's rhubarb, and never stroke a cat backwards. Also, please don't write an observational comedy book that's better than mine. I will cry. And consume alcohol.

About You

Where did you grow up?

South coast of Great Britain.

Where do you live now?

A three bed semi detached… on the south coast of Great Britain. Which shows a marked lack of ambition on my part, I'll concede.

What would you like readers to know about you?

That they were all lies and rumours, and I never inserted anything anywhere. Also, that I have all my own hair, teeth and neuroses.

What are you working on now?

Currently proofing a humorous fantasy novel and have an idea for a sequel to LWNB that will come to fruition sometime in the next few weeks with any luck.

And consuming alcohol.

End of Interview

You can buy Life… With No Breaks, at Amazon US, Smashwords and Amazon UK.

Milestone: One Hundred Blog Posts

[image error]This is the 101st post to the blog and six months since I started at the new host. To celebrate they sent me the following email yesterday…

"The Bluehost System Administrators will physically move your server into the new data center between 9 PM, March 24th and 5 AM March 25th (MDT), during low traffic periods. We will work to ensure you experience as little downtime as possible and, to that end, we will take the opportunity to perform any needed hardware maintenance or upgrades.

We expect the process to take 1 to 3 hours."

Gee – thanks guys ; meanwhile, we've had 36,594 Pageviews via 87 countries/territories.

IndieView with indie reviewer, Barbara Hightower, of Bab's World of Books

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"When I am asked to do a review I always tell them up front I am honest and I never fudge – if I like it great, if not, I am still posting a review.  That being said, I have never and will not write something so derogatory that is makes the author look bad.  It is the book you are evaluating not the author."

Barbara Hightower 23 March 2011

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I started back in 2008.  Most of my friends are out of state and we always emailed back en forth what I was reading and what I thought.  It occurred to me one day why not start a website.  This is before I knew about Blogger and blogging for that matter.  Then in 2010 a writer friend of mine Cleo Coyle introduced me to Blogger and I have been on ever since.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

It all depends on the book.  Some of the funny scenes or a favorite part of the book, I may take notes as I go along.  If it is a book I have read in a series I read and then make some notes.

What are you looking for?

I am looking for several things, first I want a book that will make me go to a different place and forget about the real world.  I like a book that will take me in and I feel like I am there with the characters.

I am also reading the book to share my thoughts and let my readers make up their minds if they think they would like the book.   I always tell why I like the book or why I did not care for it.

I feel if I share my thoughts it always helps the author know what worked and what did not work for me.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

If the mistakes are bad enough to distract me from the book it can slow me down quite a bit.  I had one children's book which was bad.  Most of the book was missing periods, commas and there were a lot of run on sentences.  I couldn't finish the book.

Now on the other hand, if there are just a few here and there through out the book it does not bother me at all.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

If real life is going well It can be a day to 2 days.  If it is a book that is not grabbing me and holding my attention it can be 4 days to a week.  I have 2 older kids and 2 very young kids and they are factored in as well with various things going on.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

At first I did not have one.  I thought the review would speak for itself.  Then I had a few followers ask me if I had to rate a certain book what would it be. Then the rating system began.  I rarely gives 5 stars or polar bears in my case.  The book really has to stand out a for several reasons, ie emotion, what I get out of the book, how I feel overall etc.

I honestly thought about giving the system up.  What I might think is a 5 could be a 3 to someone else and vice versa.  We each have our own opinions.  I feel as long as I write up my review and tell what I do or do not like about the book, that should be all that matters.  That will be a decision down the road a bit.

What advice could you give to author's looking to get their books reviewed?

First follow the reviewing rules for that particular reviewer.  Most of us have certain rules we go by.  Second, look at what types of genres the reviewer reads.  Not all of us read the same books.   I always answer the authors that ask me to review their books.  Each ones gets an email back from me saying yes or no.  I always communicate with the author through out the book as well.  Especially if I see it is taking me longer to read the book then I thought.  The authors really appreciate you taking the time to correspond.

If you ask someone to review your book be prepared for several things, bad review, comments you might not like, it might take longer for someone to read the book then they thought.

It really is a two way street, they took the time to seek you out. So give them the same courtesy and respond back.  I am from the South and we are strict when it comes to manners and respect.  I give it and request it back.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

Yes, I do.  I have several people contact me  to explain if I would not have posted the review they would have never knew about the book.  They tell me how much they enjoyed the book as well.  I have even had other author's say the same thing.

My advice to authors on getting a "bad" review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author's point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to "argue" with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

Yes, I do agree.  When I am asked to do a review I always tell them up front I am honest and I never fudge – if I like it great, if not, I am still posting a review.  That being said, I have never and will not write something so derogatory that is makes the author look bad.  It is the book you are evaluating not the author.

I know of one incident where a person attacked the author for what one of their characters said in the book.  It was within that character to say what they did and how they acted not the author.  Some people can't understand there is a separation from each.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly enough about reading, which is after all why we're all here. Why do you think people love reading. We're seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a past-time is dying – do you think that's the case?

I would say no.  People love to read to escape their every day life.  Some want to escape reality for a brief period.  In some cases it lets the person learn about another country or era they knew nothing about.  It allows a person to see how some cultures act in certain situations or learn other things.  A person rather it be an adult or child has to use their brain to comprehend words and what is going on in the story.    I rather my kids read a book than stay in front of the TV [ed. note: "Hear, hear"].

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see author's making?

Proofreading!  Most of the author's do a great job editing their work or getting someone else to check behind them.  Then there are some that do not.

We're told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel, what do you think about that; if a book hasn't grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

No, I don't put the book down.  Some books take more time to get grabbed so to speak.   I personally think you have to give it more time.  Five pages isn't enough to gather if you are going to like the book or not.   The first chapter, I still move on.  If I would have put down a book just after the first chapter that I did not care for, I would have missed out on some great reads.

Amazon and other places offer samples to see if you like a book or not.  I never read those.  I got by the blurb on the back of the book to see if I am going to be interested.  I also read a few reviews of the book.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

I just found out about this a few weeks ago and thought it was an interesting idea, but I differ as for me it takes more then just one page to see if I am going to like a book.  Now, it is good for seeing what style the writer has.

Is there anything you will not review?

I am open when it comes to reading.  At one time I would only read mysteries and I have sense branched out quite a bit.  I prefer not to read books pertaining politics and some non fiction.

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the "slush-pile has moved online"?

There are some books out there that would not get published otherwise.  There are some great book that have gotten looked over for not being published in the main stream way.  Another reason why I like to post my reviews, I BELIEVE It does help YOU TO make a decision if you are going to read it or not.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?

I would like to think so and feel it is changing for the better.  There are so many good author's out there.  I would have missed out on some books if I did not take the chance on reading author's I have not heard of before.  I really  enjoy the indie author's and reads.  I for one am glad to be helping as much as I can as a reviewer to get the world out.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can "filter" good from bad, asides from reviews?

The readers have more options in my opinion then main stream publishing.   There are some wild books out their.  Different people like different things and this is a great way to satisfy everyone.

End of Interview

Barbara's site is great – lots of good reviews and book choices (and the occasional yummy recipe…), books and food – who can resist?

IndieView with SM Jonas, author of, Crimson Leaf

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"I enjoy a wide range of writers, styles and genres. As such, I've never been particularly influenced by any one writer or style, but have instead built up from my own very lean prose into something of more depth and substance. Writers I've admired over the years, particularly for their originality and imagination, include CG Cherryh, Orson Scott Card and Isaac Asimov."

SM Jonas 20 March 2011

The Back Flap

Orphaned by a double murder, Crown Prince Travis celebrates his freedom from a loveless and strict upbringing by running riot with his teenage friends. Travis doesn't curb his behavior until warned by his elderly guardian and then threatened by the Lord Chief Justice.

Following the coronation, much stranger Guardians concern themselves with the young king as a new sword master and a maid start work at the palace. Not long after, Travis' brothers and sister are subject to murder attempts. It seems that a complex plot threatens the entire royal family.

In a race to find the murderer before he strikes again, the Guardians and the king's advisors become dangerously at odds. Meanwhile, Travis goes on a clandestine mission that will lead him to the unimaginable truth.

About the Book

What is the book about?

Crimson Leaf is a murder mystery set in a distant place and time.

It is the coming-of-age story of seventeen-year-old Crown Prince Travis who only wants to enjoy his newfound freedom, but who instead has the weight of ruling a country laid upon him, along with the responsibility for his younger siblings, and the horror of someone trying to kill them all.

It is also the story of the Guardians: Lyssia and Albion. They have returned from a self-imposed exile to try to secretly help Travis, while avoiding the terrible mistake they made with a previous king. They take employment at the palace as a junior sword tutor and a scullery maid.

Lord Chief Justice Oakley comes to suspect that Lyssia is not who she says she is, while Lyssia and Albion are increasingly convinced that Oakley is the killer. When yet another murder takes place, Travis fears he can trust no one – and those fears prove dreadfully justified.

Crimson Leaf is about innocence and experience, trust and betrayal, friendship and love.

When did you start writing the book?

It would be nearly ten years ago – my first novel. I have now written three others. During all that time I reviewed and edited Crimson Leaf in the light of what I learnt.

How long did it take you to write it?

About a year in total.

Where did you get the idea from?

I always liked the notion of writing a murder mystery with plenty of genuine clues, but still to keep the reader guessing throughout.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There were areas where I had to do quite a lot of research, including talking to an expert in falconry, and developing a theoretical knowledge of swordsmanship.

What came easily?

The characters – they very quickly came alive for me and for each other, and they altered the plot, making it far more interesting than it might have been.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

In this case, entirely fictitious.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I enjoy a wide range of writers, styles and genres. As such, I've never been particularly influenced by any one writer or style, but have instead built up from my own very lean prose into something of more depth and substance. Writers I've admired over the years, particularly for their originality and imagination, include CG Cherryh, Orson Scott Card and Isaac Asimov. The book that most recently impressed me was The Time Travelers Wife.

Do you have a target reader?

I try to write for as wide an audience as possible, including older teenagers, but I find that the different genres I have written tend to attract different readers.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I tend to set down the basics of the plot and dialogue then go through the work gradually adding layer after layer of detail.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I have a beginning and ending planned, and a few milestones along the way.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

Both – I spend more time editing than writing – in fact, I can't really separate the two.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. I've trained myself to be a careful editor, and I'm lucky enough to have a number of sharp-eyed beta readers.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No. I find it too distracting. Even music without words will impose its own mood on me.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I did, to many, and have now found one who loves my contemporary thrillers.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Crimson Leaf, being multi-genre (fantasy, murder mystery, romance, coming-of-age) would be very difficult to place with conventional publishers or bookstores. It took a few years to accept that fact.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

Myself – I love making covers and trailers.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Work – get as much publicity as possible from as many sources as possible.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Make sure that your work is as good as possible, and that it isn't a lack of some important quality that is blocking your access to conventional publishing. It usually takes several years of writing to go from ambitious to professional.

About You

Though I started out writing fantasies such as Crimson Leaf, I now write contemporary thrillers. I'm currently a freelance web designer who also proofreads and edits for other authors. I live in Yorkshire in the UK and enjoy reading a wide variety of books, primarily fiction.

Where did you grow up?

Sheffield

Where do you live now?

Sheffield (are you seeing a pattern?)

What would you like readers to know about you?

Not a great deal. There is very little of me (aside from my imagination) in my novels.

What are you working on now?

My next thriller, and revisions of an earlier fantasy.

End of Interview

Before this becomes an issue. I'll tell you up front that I am extremely biased when it comes to this writers stories – thriller or fantasy – I care not; they're beautifully written and executed.

You can find out for yourself, at Amazon US, Amazon UK,  and Smashwords. SM's website for Crimson Leaf is here.

IndieView with David Hammons, author of, The Bean Straw: Non-Flying Objects

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"I edit all the time. I don't think I actually create new cartoons. I just edit old ones to the point that they turn into new ones. "

David Hammons 16 March 2011

The Back Flap


This is a cartoon book with 125 single panel illustrations of the strange and fanciful. You will see the mundane twisted into the quirky; the rational gives way to the hypothetical: What if Dracula bit a bear? What would a cat prefer for a scratching post? What happens if you have an apple-shaped head, and you walk into an archery club meeting? How do slugs discipline their children? How can Jedi mind tricks best be used in an office meeting? What would dogs have in their reading library? What kind of music do cows listen to? If you have spent your life searching the earth for the answers to these questions, then welcome to the bizarre and funny world of The Bean Straw.


About the Book

What is the book about?

"The Bean Straw" is a single-panel comic strip. It is reminiscent of Gary Larson's "The Far Side." The humor is surreal, quirky, and downright bizarre. I take the mundane and familiar, and turn it on its head. Each panel twists the everyday event into the outrageous. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but the humor will stretch your imagination beyond its comfort zone.

When did you start writing the book?

I just started drawing cartoons as I thought them up, beginning about 2005. It wasn't until 2007 that I thought of actually putting them together in a printed book. I put the book in Kindle format in December, 2010.

How long did it take you to write it?

It is hard to say exactly how long. As I mentioned above, I did not initially set out to put the cartoons in a book.

Where did you get the idea from?

I started writing "The Bean Straw" in response to comments from family and co-workers about my unusual sense of humor. At first, I didn't know how to channel this talent. Since I was a fan of Gary Larson's "The Far Side," I decided to try cartooning. I would describe my cartoons as light on the art and heavy on the humor.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The art is definitely the hardest part for me. Since I am not really an artist per se, I can redraw a portion of a cartoon many times before I like it. Sometimes, I never get it the way I would like it.

What came easily?

The intial idea and the text for the cartoon, whether it is a caption or dialog, come pretty easily.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

A lot of my ideas come from real-life people, situations, or conversations. I just add a little twist to them to make them humorous.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Among cartoonists there is Gary Larson (The Far Side), Scott Adams (Dilbert), Johnny Hart (BC, Wizard of ID), Brant Parker (Wizard of ID), and T.K. Ryan (Tumbleweeds). Honestly, I haven't read very many humorous novels or shorts, but my favorite writers along those lines are Steve Martin (Cruel Shoes) and Patrick McManus (Column for Outdoor Life Magazine). I think the influence is obvious.

Do you have a target reader?

Anybody who loved "The Far Side" will have a deep appreciation for my book. Also, those who like the comedy of Steve Martin or Stephen Wright would really relate.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Generally, an idea for a cartoon can come to my mind at any moment.  It may occur during conversations with friends or co-workers, walking around the mall, shopping at the grocery store, etc. The moment I have an idea, I will jot a note down on a post-it note, scrap of paper, or anything immediately available. When there hasn't been anything to record the idea with, I have, on occasion, asked my family to remember a catch-phrase to help jog my memory when I get home. Once I'm in front of my computer, I enter the ideas into a spreadsheet.

Do you outline?

Once the ideas are in the spreadsheet, I describe the scene in the cartoon and possible captions and/or dialog. The idea may sit in the spreadsheet for months or years before actually being drawn.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

I edit all the time. I don't think I actually create new cartoons. I just edit old ones to the point that they turn into new ones.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I have a great editor. Fortunately for me, my editor is my wife. She majored in English and has worked for a newspaper. So, she is really good, but she sighs with grief every time I ask her to edit something – like when she reads this interview.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I sometimes do listen to music, but not very often. If I do, it has to be music without lyrics. I find lyrics distracting.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I submitted samples to some syndicators, but was turned down by all. I must admit that I was not very persistent. After the fourth or fifth rejection, I turned to self-publishing.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

As I mentioned above, I went indie after a few rejections.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I did the art myself. The cover for my book is just a colorized expansion of a cartoon found within the book.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

A plan?? What's that? I feel like I am just floundering around in this area. Given my limited knowledge of marketing, I can only tell you what I have done so far. I have been active on web sites like Kindle Boards, Twitter, and blogs like this one to get the word out. I also created a book trailer on Youtube. It seems to be working, as I am seeing my sales slowly increasing.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I still feel like a newbie myself, so I don't feel qualified to answer this question. However, I can tell you what seemed to work for me. I have learned some things from other indie authors, and this applies to novels as well as cartoons:  First, have a good editor and have great cover art. Get involved with discussion sites with other indie authors. Those people have a lot of experience. Get a Twitter account and tweet about your book. Approach people like Simon Royle to do an interview and feature your book.

End of Interview

You can buy David's book, and a few belly laughs, for yourself, here.

Just for the record I think David's story pretty much exemplifies the beauty and spirit of indie publishing. David's current ranking is #3 in Amazon Cartoons and Humor – how cool is that .