Sage Nestler's Blog, page 71
May 18, 2016
May Go Indie Now! Fantasy Box Unboxing – Rep Cassandra Carpio
Hello Everyone,
One of our amazing reps, Cassandra, just posted an unboxing review of the May Go Indie Now! Box on her blog, “The Bookish Crypt”! I have supplied the link to the review below and urge you to follow her blog as well. She is also a book reviewer and very supportive of Indie authors. Take a look at her policy page to see what her policy on review requests is.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support Cassandra!❤
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 16, 2016
Weekly Update 05/16/2016 -05/22/2016
Happy Monday Everyone!
Now that my junior year of college is finished I will have more time to write, read, review and work on the “Go Indie Now!” Book Box! Hoorah!
Anyhoo, this week I will be reviewing:
Miriamne the Magdala by JB Richards
Bounty by J.D. Cunegan
This is also a reminder that the May Fantasy Go Indie Now! boxes will ship out this month, so for those who have subscribed be ready for a great adventure! I also just posted a page discussing the requirements for authors who want to inquire about having their novel(s) featured in the box since I have had so many authors asking. Please visit this page for all of the information that you need: Author Queries for Go Indie Now!
Also, coming this Sunday, May 22, I will be hosting a takeover from 12 – 1 PM Eastern Time (10 – 11 AM Mountain Time) on this Facebook page. Any of the funds raised from my novels that are sold during that hour will go to the Red Cross as well as 10% of all new Go Indie Now! subscriptions. So for those who have been wanting to join our book box or read my novels, that would be the prime time to do so. I strongly believe in charity and giving back and I want to raise as much money for the Red Cross that I can!
Thank you everyone, and have a great week!
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 15, 2016
The Inter-Terrestrial by Chad Descoteaux – 4/5
Title: The Inter-Terrestrial
Author: Chad Descoteaux
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
“An alien scientist has a half-human “inter-terrestrial” son on the primitive planet of Earth. Aliens from neighboring planets (Mars and Venus) think they own the Earth and are adamant that it not be used by higher species without their consent. For twenty years, this alien father has been trying to figure out a way to get back to this forbidden planet to see his son, desperately looking for an opportunity to present itself.
But how did this “inter-terrestrial” come to be? How has his human mother protected him on a planet where many people hate and fear what is different? And what role would this hybrid play in proving that humans are not inferior to our alien brethren?”
Review:
The Inter-Terrestrial is a science fiction novel, but within this book are current themes regarding discrimination and prejudice. Chad Descouteaux writes smoothly and his writing reads as that of an author who has worked on his novel and concepts for quite a long time.
I found it very interesting how in this book humans were deemed as inferior, which was rather brilliant. So many times humans see themselves as the upper class in terms of other species and beings,but by putting them at the bottom of the galactic food chain, Descoteaux opened up a new dialogue for readers to discuss our place in the galaxy. He also presented prejudice in a new way that allows science fiction fans to understand the concept in the format of a genre they admire. I thought that Descoteaux’s writing was knowledgeable and original and I thoroughly enjoyed his work. His novel is not only appropriate for science fiction fans, but for anyone who enjoys books that discuss prejudice and the crisis that is currently a major issue within our society. I love seeing so many novels examine this conflict and Descouteaux has written a novel that I feel is original and stands out in his chosen genre. I urge anyone who likes science fiction to read this novel as it is easy to understand and enjoy, and I have to say that it is one of the better novels that I have reviewed recently.
I hope that Descoteaux continues to write, because I would love to read more of his work and more about his stance on different topics.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 14, 2016
Go Indie Now! May Fantasy Box Unboxing
Hello Everyone!
I am excited to announce that one of our amazing reps for the Go Indie Now! Monthly Book Box has posted an unboxing video for our May Fantasy box. Her name is Tegan, and the video is of the first time that she opened her box. If you have ordered the box and don’t want to be spoiled, please don’t watch the video, but it is perfect for those who want to know more about the box!
She also has posted a photo of the May Fantasy Box that I have included below:
Another one of our amazing reps, Cassandra, has also posted a wonderful photo of her May Fantasy Box that you can see below!
Follow Cassandra on Instagram!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 12, 2016
From A Cold Dark Place by Michael Tavon – 4/5
Title: From A Cold Dark Place
Author: Michael Tavon
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
“From a Cold Dark Place is a collection of short stories and essays by Michael Tavon. The twenty four year old author shares stories and thoughts about his comically awkward sex life, police harassment, coping with loneliness and his resentment towards the blue collar lifestyle. Tavon does a brilliant job at evoking emotion while implementing his quirky humor. If you enjoy thought provoking essays and entertaining short stories this collection is perfect for you.”
Review:
One thing that I can say about this collection of short stories is that they do indeed come from a cold, dark place, and that is not bad. In fact, it is good. Tavon is brutally honest throughout the stories and shares his life as it is, without sugarcoating. And honestly? We need so much more of that in the world.
However, if you are sensitive to negativity, then this collection is not for you. Crass language is used, as well as disturbing scenes, but they are both used as necessities to portray the author’s life and experiences in detail.
“From A Cold Dark Place” is a very quick read. Each short story is only a couple of pages long and there is a poem at the end that I found to be beautiful. My favorite short story was “Because I Look Like Donald Glover”, which made me laugh out loud and sympathize for Tavon, but I also deeply admired “A Beautiful World”. This short story in particular discussed the sensitive topics of racism and police brutality in a raw and real light. Being a social work student and an advocate for equality among all, I found this short story to be one that can be educational for anyone looking for a new perspective. I also have extensive experience interning in jails and prisons and see this injustice on a daily basis. The part of this short story that made me so aggravated was when he wrote:
“A black woman goes to jail for leaving her child in a car during a job interview, but Casey Anthony and Zimmerman are still shopping for linguine recipes at local grocery stores.”
Those words could not be truer and should awaken the reader to understand just how deep this injustice and prejudice runs. Many people are unaware that racism does still indeed exist, and we need more people like Tavon to erase that myth.
Tavon is a talented author and he clearly has the eye of an observer which is important in order to be a successful author. I hope that he continues to write for as long as he lives, and I look forward to reviewing his other works.
Writing Tip #5 – Know Your Genres
Hello everyone!
For writing tip #5 I wanted to share with you something that you will definitely need to memorize and understand if you are entering the publishing world and trying to determine your target audience. This is also particularly important if you are going to query literary agents, because there is nothing an agent hates more than if an author doesn’t understand what sector of writing their work belongs to.
And what are these sectors exactly? BOOK GENRES
There are many book genres in the world today, and new genres show up all of the time. To be a successful and knowledgeable writer and reader, you need to understand what the genres are and how exactly they are defined. That is why I have collected for you the definitions of the biggest genres in today’s market. They will help you to define your work in terms of genre and to understand the audience for each genre type. And remember, if you are planning on querying literary agents, make sure that you know what genre your book falls into so that you can query agents who are looking for books in your chosen genre.
Major Genres
Classic Fiction = fiction that has become a part of an accepted literary canon.
Crime/Detective = fiction about crime, how criminals get caught, and the repercussions.
Fantasy = fiction with strange, other worldly settings and characters which brings a suspension from reality.
Historical Fiction = fictional characters in a historical setting.
Horror = fiction that evokes a sense of dread and fear in the characters and the reader.
Humor = fiction that involves fun and is meant for entertainment.
Legend = stories of folk heroes that involves facts, but includes imaginative material.
Mystery = fiction dealing with the solution of crime and unraveling secrets.
Science Fiction = actual, imagined or potential science set in the future or on other planets.
Short Story = fiction without subplots.
Suspense/Thriller = fiction about harm to befall a person or group and attempts to evade harm.
Western = American old west set in 18th/19th centuries.
Young Adult = written for ages 12 – 18, involves perspectives of characters in this age group.
I hope this helps!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 10, 2016
Weekly Update – 5/9/2016 – 5/15/2016
Hello Everyone!
This week, I will be reviewing:
Bounty by J. D. Cunegan
The Inter-Terrestrial by Chad Descoteaux
Reminder:
Today, May 10, is the LAST DAY to order your Go Indie Now! May Fantasy Box. Any subscription orders after today will begin receiving the box with the June Historical Fiction Box. For those of you who are subscribed, there is no need to re-order for the June box, your subscription will automatically renew. You do not want to miss the May box, it will take you to another world, and both books included are beautiful and written by an amazing indie author. Snag yours today!
I also wanted to thank each and every one of you for being part of this community. I have planned the Go Indie Now! Box for so long and am amazed by all of the love it has received in only its first month of being live! My goal was for this box to bring us all together, authors and readers of all kinds, and it warms my heart to see that actively happening. You are all a dream come true. I am so happy to be working with all of your for this blog, as well as the box.
I hope you all have a great week, and much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 8, 2016
Second Chances by Lincoln Cole – 3/5
Title: Second Chances
Author: Lincoln Cole
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
“Nichole, a young intern at a prestigious law firm, is caught in a tough position. She is juggling too many responsibilities as her world falls apart around her. After her mother goes missing while performing an errand, Nichole is left picking up the pieces of her shattered life and taking care of her younger siblings. She isn’t sure where she can turn to for help, and she is facing a lot of harsh realities about how life works and how much prejudice can hold her back.
Richard is a lawyer who lost his identity in corporate law. He wants to help Nichole through this heartbreaking situation, but he makes mistakes and loses her trust. He discovers that he’s been doing the right things for the wrong reasons for a long time and it has cost him a lot. Everything begins to fall apart as he realizes he’s swept problems under the rug for so long he might no longer be able to fix them.
After meeting an alcoholic who is struggling to take control of his life, Richard wakes up to just how far off-course his life has become and attempts to right it. He asks Nichole for a second chance to help her overcome her obstacles, and he hopes it isn’t too late.
Can Nichole and Richard overcome their differences and get a Second Chance?”
Review:
I was very excited to read this novel. Based on the reviews and awards that it has won, I was expecting a treat and a perfectly executed novel that examines racial inequality and sheds light on the topic. Being a student going to school for social work, and someone who has had multiple internships and careers working with minorities and the impoverished, I have been around a lot of the problems and experiences that were presented in the novel. However, I am sad to say that this novel was poorly executed.
First, I would like to say that Lincoln Cole is a talented writer. His writing is clean and interesting to read, but based on his novel “Second Chances” I could tell that he had very little experience with the situations that he was writing about. Reading this novel made me feel that I was reading one of the many novels trying to portray the female experience, but from a male perspective. His dialogue was forced and unrealistic, which made the characters seem fake. I didn’t see them as real people, I saw them as minorities that an author was trying to create with what little knowledge he had about the minority experience. If he were to write novels about his own personal experiences, or things that he is more educated on, I know for a fact that he would succeed. I just feel that he was a little out of his element with this novel. One of the biggest tips that I give to authors is to write based on what they know (their own experiences and memories) because this technique will make sure that the writing is likable and realistic. I am not sure what went into “Second Chances”, but I would suggest that Lincoln Cole go back and interview people who have gone through the experiences that he wants to write about. Having that information will intensify the story and bring a much needed light to racial inequality and give a voice to the silenced. Until then, I wouldn’t suggest this book if you don’t know very much about the experiences of minorities. I feel that it could wrongly taint your perspective.
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
May 7, 2016
Meet Go Indie Now! Rep @thebookishcrypt
Meet Go Indie Now! Rep@thebookishcrypt!
Her name is Cassandra and she has been a part of the bookstagram community for almost 2 years, which is the book community on Instagram for those of you who are unaware. She is very passionate about Indie books and has worked with Indie authors constantly. Most of her posts are about Indie novels and she absolutely loves them!
Follow her beautiful account on Instagram and take advantage of her personal code for 10% off your first Go Indie Now! Box.
Thank you for being part of the movement, Cassandra!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
Meet Go Indie Now! Rep @bookishwonderland
Meet @bookishwonderland, one of our wonderful reps for Go Indie Now! Her name is Rachel and she lives in the UK with two dogs who are her babies, and is an avid reader. She also has a book review blog that she is active on, and loves to write letters. Please follow her on Instagram for Go Indie Now! Box sneak peeks, as well as other beautiful pictures that she posts. Her blog is also wonderful and a great place to view more reviews: http://www.bookishwonderland.co.uk/
She also had her own personal code for 10% off your first Go Indie Now! Box if you follow her.
Thank you for being a part of this movement, Rachel!
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEW REQUESTS FILL OUT FORM: Book Review Request Form
IF BOOK REQUEST WEBSITE IS DOWN EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR GO INDIE NOW! MONTHLY BOOK BOX: Go Indie Now!
WOULD YOU LIKE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF MY BOOKS? REQUEST HERE
*Donations are more than welcome and help me to keep my reviews and marketing services free. Please help me to keep my blog going! All donations will receive a gift.*
