Jason Zandri's Blog: The GUNDERSTONE GOODREADS Review, page 19

COVER REVEAL – AS LIFE GOES: THE END OF THE INNOCENCE

COVER REVEAL – AS LIFE GOES: THE END OF THE INNOCENCE

Part two of the AS LIFE GOES series.

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – (expected November 2015)

As Life Goes: The Reunion – (expected April 2016)

As Life Goes: The Wedding (expected July 2016)

As Life Goes: The Funeral (expected October 2016)

Book one ELEMENTARY is on sale now

BOOK REVIEW – “Jem” by Michelle Abbott

Jem by Michelle Abbott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an interesting character story; there are two main characters Jem (the title character) and Devon. Additional there are (basically) four secondary ones in Devon’s son, her ex, and her two neighbors.

The story has its setup in the past (so you have the foundation) when Jem and Devon are young. The friendship is as solid as can be (when kids are kids) but at the hands of parental abuse (of Jem) it becomes complex. The story then brings you to “the present”.

Jem is employed but sort of stalled in his life (basically set in his routine, such as it is) and Devon has recently relocated (to the same area where Jem now lives) with her small child in tow.

During a chance meeting, Jem recognizes Devon but she does not recognize him, despite the fact that she remembers fondly and regularly the little boy that meant so much to her from when she was young.

As with all “grown up” things, life gets in the way – Jem’s aggressiveness, a misunderstanding, Jem’s distrust with his emotions and feelings, Devon’s mistrust of men, the ex coming back into the picture, and other things, all hamper the situation.

Will they be able to bridge the gap that time and situation have brought or is it too little, too late?

I really liked the premise of the story and the author’s style; it allowed for POV changing (and it was easy to follow) and she gave you enough narrative details to set a stage but in a manner that allowed your own imagination to fill in the blanks the way your own mind sees fit (big plus for me).

Overall, a very solid “recommend” for anyone that enjoys a “people” story and one where peoples’ demons must be defeated in order for them to continue on as individuals, with, or without, the people that matter the most to them in their lives.

I recommend “Jem” by Michelle Abbott

* * * * Four Stars (out of five)

Please take a moment to review “My book rating system here on The GUNDERSTONE review”

Review on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/review/RM40VC9GH26RZ/

Review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1405820375

View all my reviews

Goodreads Giveaways: Don’t Do What You’re Told

Originally posted on CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD:

(UPDATE: This post was originally published in August 2014. Since then – I’m adding this in August 2015 – I’ve heard anecdotal evidence from other authors that Goodreads has committed to a complete crackdown on the sending of private messages to Goodreads users you are not “friends” with on the site. Therefore while my advice regarding the length and frequency of giveaways still stands, I cannot recommend that you ever send private messages to other Goodreads users – even to the winners to check they received their prize. From what I’ve been hearing, it could get you banned from using the site. )

This summer I’m working on revising and updating my self-publishing ‘how to’: Self-Printed: The Sane Person’s Guide to Self-Publishing . Edition #3 is scheduled for release in a few weeks’ time. (I will definitely be taking advantage of KDP’s new pre-ordering function, so stayed tuned for…

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Marissa Meyer – Scarlet

GUNDERSTONE:

Passing along this book review from BookOwly

Originally posted on :

Scarlet is the second book in The Lunar Chronicles, it is written by Marissa Meyer and according to the author’s website, there are going to be five books in the series.

This book was first published in 2013 and Winter – fourth book is expected to be published this year November. The Lunar Chronicles are tied to the classic fairy tales as you might guess from the titles, but the events are something new and fresh. To be honest the author does a really good job at explaining most important things that happened in the first book, so I actually think that you don’t need to read the first one in order to get to this one. The only problem a reader might have is the terminology, because it took me a while to get into all the robotics and computer things that were described in Cinder. I…

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How to Write a Book Review.

GUNDERSTONE:

I agree with much of the sentiment here, noting many of the same things on my prior post “My book rating system here on The GUNDERSTONE review”.

Awesome to see I am aligned with others out there!

Originally posted on :

Everyone has their own way of doing a book review and in a way that is how it should be. Always remember a book review is an opinion. That being said and out of the way, I do think there needs to be some common considerations taken.

I don’t believe published book reviews on volunteer sites should:

Be for tearing down an author and that author’s work.
Nor do I think a poorly written book should be praised.
And being paid for a review just doesn’t cut it, unless you work for a site that has ads and also gets paid for the service of book reviewing like major newspapers or magazines. But that’s a job, not a volunteer thing. And even then, honesty is the best policy. For most of us, receiving a good book to review is a nice perk of book reviewing.

Poorly Written Books

Yes, I’m…

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Kindle Unlimited Pages Read Rate for August, 2015

Originally posted on chrismcmullen:

Image from ShutterStock.

KINDLE UNLIMITED PAGES READ

Amazon paid $0.00514 per KENP read in August, 2015.

Compare that to the $0.005779 pages read rate in July, 2015.

That’s a drop of 11%. If you had 10,000 pages read in July, would earned $57.79, but for the same 10,000 pages read in August, you only earned $51.40.

On the one hand, an 11% drop is significant, but on the other hand, unless you had a million pages read through Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime, that 11% doesn’t amount to a whole lot.

And if you had a million pages read, you’re thriving in the program (compared to most authors).

But the concern really isn’t over one drop in the payout of 11%.

The concern extends beyond that. 11% is a pretty sizable change. It’s not a small fluctuation.

So one concern is stability.

If it drops 11% in August, another 11%…

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“I, Hero: The Beginning” Kindle version breaks all prior sales records.

With a number of new reviews in, bringing the total now to 41 and an overall rating of 4.5 stars, “I, Hero: The Beginning” Kindle version, has set all new records for the title itself and my overall author standing.

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,809 Paid in Kindle Store

#4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mythology & Folk Tales > Mythology

#21 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Superheroes

#22 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Fairy Tales

This is helping lift the second release of the series, “I, Hero: Nathan Returns”

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,482 Paid in Kindle Store

#11 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Greek & Roman

#11 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Greek & Roman

#177 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Superhero

These were great peak numbers for both titles and I am excited to see where the series will go in the future.

I am also very excited to see my overall author ranking climb as well; these are the best numbers I have even had. My first title “Another Sunset” released at the end of November of 2014 (ten months ago).

“I, Hero: The Beginning” ON SALE for $0.99; “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” released in KINDLE version format

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday September 16, 2015

Jason Zandri

Jason@Zandri.net

PRESS RELEASE – “I, Hero: The Beginning” Kindle version is on sale for one week only at $0.99 (through Tuesday September 22, 2015) as part of the Kindle version release of “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” the next book in the “I, Hero” series.

Paperback book release and signing event for all of Jason Zandri’s titles is planned for the weekend of Celebrate Wallingford – Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th.

“I, Hero: Nathan Returns” has formally released for the Kindle and is now available for sale; “I, Hero: The Beginning” Kindle version is on sale for one week only at $0.99 (now through Tuesday September 22, 2015).

WALLINGFORD, CT – “I, Hero: The Beginning” and “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” are both available to order via Amazon.com for the Kindle versions of the titles. Author Jason Zandri is direct selling paperbound versions of each of his titles independently.

“The books are available via Amazon.com in the KINDLE format for $2.99 or less per title. The pricing for the paperback editions are $15.00 each via direct sales.

I will be at Celebrate Wallingford, Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th to sign copies of all of my titles. “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” is shipping and is expected to be available for Celebrate.

If anyone wants copies ahead of Celebrate, they can contact me directly and I would be more than happy to follow up with them.”

For additional information on each of the titles you can follow the links below:

AS LIFE GOES: ELEMENTARY – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/

ANOTHER SUNSET – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QD2FQU8/

I, HERO: THE BEGINNING – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/

I, HERO: NATHAN RETURNS – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64/

Excerpts to the titles are available via THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/

You can keep up with Jason on Facebook via his author page via https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
You can FOLLOW Jason on Twitter via https://twitter.com/gunderstone
You can ADD Jason to your circles on Google+ via https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
You can read Jason’s current updates and writing activity on his writer’s blog – THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/

You can reach Jason online via any of these social media sites or via email at Jason@Zandri.net

– END –

“I, Hero: Nathan Returns” has released in KINDLE version format

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday September 15, 2015

Jason Zandri

Jason@Zandri.net

PRESS RELEASE – The KINDLE version of “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” has released.

Paperback book release / signing event planned for the weekend of Celebrate Wallingford – Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th – for “I, Hero: The Beginning”, “As Life Goes: Elementary”, and “Another Sunset”.

WALLINGFORD, CT – “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” went into formal release today, Tuesday September 15, 2015

“The Kindle versions are available via Amazon.com for $2.99 or less per title. The pricing for the paperback editions are $15.00 each via direct sales. Presently “I, Hero: The Beginning”, “As Life Goes: Elementary”, and “Another Sunset” are available in both formats and I am working on getting “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” set up for paperback release as well. If I can get a few copies advanced for Celebrate Wallingford, I will have them with me for the event.

Celebrate Wallingford is set for Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th. I will be there to sign copies of all my available titles.

If anyone wants copies ahead of Celebrate, they can contact me directly and I would be more than happy to follow up with them.”

For additional information on each of the titles you can follow the links below:

AS LIFE GOES: ELEMENTARY – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/

ANOTHER SUNSET – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QD2FQU8/

I, HERO: THE BEGINNING – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/

I, HERO: NATHAN RETURNS – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64/ 

Excerpts to the titles are available via THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/

You can keep up with Jason on Facebook via his author page via https://www.facebook.com/jzandri
You can FOLLOW Jason on Twitter via https://twitter.com/gunderstone
You can ADD Jason to your circles on Google+ via https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/
You can read Jason’s current updates and writing activity on his writer’s blog – THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/

You can reach Jason online via any of these social media sites or via email at Jason@Zandri.net

– END –

Paperback versions of “I, Hero: The Beginning” and “As Life Goes: Elementary” are now available for direct ordering.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday September 10, 2015

Jason Zandri

Jason@Zandri.net

PRESS RELEASE – Paperback versions of “I, Hero: The Beginning” and “As Life Goes: Elementary” are now available for direct ordering.

Paperback book release / signing event planned for the weekend of Celebrate Wallingford – Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th.

WALLINGFORD, CT – “I, Hero: The Beginning” and “As Life Goes: Elementary” have been available in KINDLE version format since early summer and are now available in print directly from the author.

“The books are available via Amazon.com in the KINDLE format for $2.99 or less per title. The pricing for the paperback editions are $15.00 each via direct sales.

I will be at Celebrate Wallingford Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th to sign copies of the titles, as well as versions of “Another Sunset”, my first release from November 2014.

If anyone wants copies ahead of Celebrate, they can contact me directly and I would be more than happy to follow up with them.”

For additional information on each of the titles you can follow the links below:

AS LIFE GOES: ELEMENTARY – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/

ANOTHER SUNSET – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QD2FQU8/

I, HERO: THE BEGINNING – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/

I, HERO: NATHAN RETURNS – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64/ is due for KINDLE release on September 15, 2015. A paperback version is expected in the November time-frame.

Excerpts to the titles are available via THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/category/excerpt/

You can keep up with Jason on Facebook via his author page via https://www.facebook.com/jzandri

You can FOLLOW Jason on Twitter via https://twitter.com/gunderstone

You can ADD Jason to your circles on Google+ via https://plus.google.com/+JasonZandri/

You can read Jason’s current updates and writing activity on his writer’s blog – THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW at https://gunderstone.wordpress.com/

You can reach Jason online via any of these social media sites or via email at Jason@Zandri.net

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