A. Lynn Powers's Blog
July 2, 2016
Free book this weekend!
Hey everyone!
Now you can get my best-selling YA novel, Being Medusa: And Other Things that Suck for free!
Happy 4th of July!
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-O...
Now you can get my best-selling YA novel, Being Medusa: And Other Things that Suck for free!
Happy 4th of July!
https://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-O...
March 17, 2016
Retaliation reviews
An Introduction:
I’m A. Lynn Powers, but feel free to call me Amy. It’s no secret what the A stands for. Besides “awesome”... haha, I kid. Sort of.
I’m the author of the Being Medusa series, in addition to several other stand-alone YA novels. You can find me lurking around OnlineBookClub.org where I do a lot of official book reviews and occasionally some official author interviews. So, yes, I am a writer, but I am also a reader. In fact, despite having written more than 20 books over the course of my life (with only a fraction of those actually published... trust me! It’s better this way! Some of those books are just embarrassing!), I still consider myself a “reader” first and a “writer” second.
I do a lot of reading. Let me emphasize that. A lot. I’m not the fastest reader in the world, and I won’t admit to being able to pick up anything and enjoy it, but given the amount of time I spend doing other things (I’m a full-time teacher in a Japanese preschool system, teaching English as a foreign language to students ages 1 to 6, and my job requires a lot of travel, paperwork, and meetings), I even amaze myself at how much reading I can get done.
And I LOVE reading. My previous job left me with ZERO free time, and I couldn’t do any reading, but my current job is amazing. While I am traveling around on Tokyo’s subway/train system, I usually manage an average of an hour a day with my books. Last year I read 124 books. The year before (when I started my job in April), I think I read about 75.
Around that time, I started using Goodreads to keep up with the books I had read, after I started reading a new book only to discover that I had already read it before! Hahah! We’ve all done that, right?
A Goal:
This year, my goal is to not only keep up with the books I read, but to leave a rating and write a short review about each one. Mostly I just want to remind myself about the book and what I liked or didn’t like about it. Last year I left a rating for each book, but I didn’t write a review. This might have been a mistake. Maybe? Perhaps if I had left a quick sentence or two, I wouldn’t have received what I like to call “retaliation ratings.”
Do you know what I am talking about? When you leave a rating for a book, and then the author in return leaves the same (or worse!) rating for one of your books? Only you know in your heart that this person didn’t actually read your book, and the rating is merely retaliation against you and not an accurate reflection of their opinion – given that they shouldn’t have an opinion whatsoever, not having read the book and all.
A Rant:
I guess this is the rant that I want to make now. Why would an author degrade himself/herself like that? “You didn’t like my book? Well, fine, I’m just going to say that I didn’t like your book, either.” Two stars. What, seriously? Not only is that completely disrespectful, but it’s also petty and childish. If you were a REAL author, you would respect the opinion of another author who took the time away from his or her own writing schedule to read your book. If you want to return the favor and read their book and THEN offer an opinion, great. But just leaving a rating without reading the book is the most insulting thing you can do. But guess who it insults?? YOU!!! You’re a horrible, unethical author, and I can’t respect anyone who do this kind of nonsense.
I’m not stupid. I know how many of my books have sold. I know who has received free copies for review. I will know if you have read it or not. If you have read it, by all means, go ahead and tell me what you hated about it, but don’t expect any good to come to you or your writing career if you leave a juvenile rating to “get back at me” for not liking your book.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my pet peeve in the writing/reading world!!
I’m A. Lynn Powers, but feel free to call me Amy. It’s no secret what the A stands for. Besides “awesome”... haha, I kid. Sort of.
I’m the author of the Being Medusa series, in addition to several other stand-alone YA novels. You can find me lurking around OnlineBookClub.org where I do a lot of official book reviews and occasionally some official author interviews. So, yes, I am a writer, but I am also a reader. In fact, despite having written more than 20 books over the course of my life (with only a fraction of those actually published... trust me! It’s better this way! Some of those books are just embarrassing!), I still consider myself a “reader” first and a “writer” second.
I do a lot of reading. Let me emphasize that. A lot. I’m not the fastest reader in the world, and I won’t admit to being able to pick up anything and enjoy it, but given the amount of time I spend doing other things (I’m a full-time teacher in a Japanese preschool system, teaching English as a foreign language to students ages 1 to 6, and my job requires a lot of travel, paperwork, and meetings), I even amaze myself at how much reading I can get done.
And I LOVE reading. My previous job left me with ZERO free time, and I couldn’t do any reading, but my current job is amazing. While I am traveling around on Tokyo’s subway/train system, I usually manage an average of an hour a day with my books. Last year I read 124 books. The year before (when I started my job in April), I think I read about 75.
Around that time, I started using Goodreads to keep up with the books I had read, after I started reading a new book only to discover that I had already read it before! Hahah! We’ve all done that, right?
A Goal:
This year, my goal is to not only keep up with the books I read, but to leave a rating and write a short review about each one. Mostly I just want to remind myself about the book and what I liked or didn’t like about it. Last year I left a rating for each book, but I didn’t write a review. This might have been a mistake. Maybe? Perhaps if I had left a quick sentence or two, I wouldn’t have received what I like to call “retaliation ratings.”
Do you know what I am talking about? When you leave a rating for a book, and then the author in return leaves the same (or worse!) rating for one of your books? Only you know in your heart that this person didn’t actually read your book, and the rating is merely retaliation against you and not an accurate reflection of their opinion – given that they shouldn’t have an opinion whatsoever, not having read the book and all.
A Rant:
I guess this is the rant that I want to make now. Why would an author degrade himself/herself like that? “You didn’t like my book? Well, fine, I’m just going to say that I didn’t like your book, either.” Two stars. What, seriously? Not only is that completely disrespectful, but it’s also petty and childish. If you were a REAL author, you would respect the opinion of another author who took the time away from his or her own writing schedule to read your book. If you want to return the favor and read their book and THEN offer an opinion, great. But just leaving a rating without reading the book is the most insulting thing you can do. But guess who it insults?? YOU!!! You’re a horrible, unethical author, and I can’t respect anyone who do this kind of nonsense.
I’m not stupid. I know how many of my books have sold. I know who has received free copies for review. I will know if you have read it or not. If you have read it, by all means, go ahead and tell me what you hated about it, but don’t expect any good to come to you or your writing career if you leave a juvenile rating to “get back at me” for not liking your book.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my pet peeve in the writing/reading world!!
December 28, 2015
Free book: Achieve Your Dreams
My friend Scott Hughes from Onlinebookclub.org has just released a new eBook, and I am credited as the editor!
Get it now! It's short, it's free (for a limited time), and it's all about achieving your dreams!
http://www.amazon.com/Achieve-Your-Dr...
Get it now! It's short, it's free (for a limited time), and it's all about achieving your dreams!
http://www.amazon.com/Achieve-Your-Dr...
October 18, 2015
New release!
Volume 2 in the Being Medusa series, Being Medusa: And Other Nightmares, is now available for Kindle pre-order on Amazon!
Only $2.99! Check it out!
After the success of the fall musical, Medusa's life appears to have changed for the better. Having friends for the first time in her life, she finds herself keeping a pretty busy social calendar. In addition to landing her first job, Medusa's new friend Paul, who makes it pretty clear that he wants to be more than just friends, convinces her to join the school art club. There she becomes an instant hit, all thanks to her curious snakes.
If only life at home were just as easy. Tension builds between Medusa and her sisters as they continue to disrespect and degrade her. Medusa reaches out to her father and uncovers a few family secrets in the process. In this second volume of Being Medusa, the drama in Medusa's life continues to escalate. With jealous friends, secret boyfriends, school protesters, and ultimate sibling rivalry, Medusa's life is turning into one big nightmare. It's no wonder her snakes have started falling out!
http://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-Ni...
Only $2.99! Check it out!
After the success of the fall musical, Medusa's life appears to have changed for the better. Having friends for the first time in her life, she finds herself keeping a pretty busy social calendar. In addition to landing her first job, Medusa's new friend Paul, who makes it pretty clear that he wants to be more than just friends, convinces her to join the school art club. There she becomes an instant hit, all thanks to her curious snakes.
If only life at home were just as easy. Tension builds between Medusa and her sisters as they continue to disrespect and degrade her. Medusa reaches out to her father and uncovers a few family secrets in the process. In this second volume of Being Medusa, the drama in Medusa's life continues to escalate. With jealous friends, secret boyfriends, school protesters, and ultimate sibling rivalry, Medusa's life is turning into one big nightmare. It's no wonder her snakes have started falling out!
http://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-Ni...
September 21, 2015
What am I up to?
Hello!
I think I am blogging now.
I thought I would talk about what I am working on at the moment.
1. The sequel to Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck is complete!
2. Medusa Part 2 is titled Being Medusa: And Other Nightmares.
2. I am working on getting the series published by one of my favorite indie publishers!
4. Being Medusa Part 3 (title not yet revealed) is in the works and almost complete!
Wow! I feel like I have been productive.
Stick around and maybe there will be more from me!
I think I am blogging now.
I thought I would talk about what I am working on at the moment.
1. The sequel to Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck is complete!
2. Medusa Part 2 is titled Being Medusa: And Other Nightmares.
2. I am working on getting the series published by one of my favorite indie publishers!
4. Being Medusa Part 3 (title not yet revealed) is in the works and almost complete!
Wow! I feel like I have been productive.
Stick around and maybe there will be more from me!
September 1, 2015
Limited time free book: Secret Memories
Hey everyone!
Seriously, if I just HAD to recommend one of my own books, it would be this one. This is the book that started my journey into becoming an official "author" several years ago.
My mom passed away from leukemia very soon after being diagnosed, and writing this story is what helped me cope with such an unexpected loss.
It's free for one more day, so please download, read, and let me know what you think!
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Memories...
Seriously, if I just HAD to recommend one of my own books, it would be this one. This is the book that started my journey into becoming an official "author" several years ago.
My mom passed away from leukemia very soon after being diagnosed, and writing this story is what helped me cope with such an unexpected loss.
It's free for one more day, so please download, read, and let me know what you think!
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Memories...
August 22, 2015
Free Kindle book!!
In honor of my mom's birthday, I'm giving YOU a present! #freebooks #Kindle version of Being Medusa!
http://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-Ot...
http://www.amazon.com/Being-Medusa-Ot...
July 30, 2015
Another freebie!
I completely forgot about this one! Another free book this weekend. Starting now! My first book, Relationships, Pie, and Other Complicated Stuff, is free for Kindle for a limited time! Grab it while you can!
http://www.amazon.com/Relationships-P...
http://www.amazon.com/Relationships-P...
July 25, 2015
Free Kindle book this weekend!
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to let you know that my book Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck is free for Kindle this weekend!
Get it now!
Tell your friends! How can you resist a free book?
Just wanted to let you know that my book Being Medusa: And Other Things That Suck is free for Kindle this weekend!
Get it now!
Tell your friends! How can you resist a free book?
