Ingrid Hall's Blog, page 2
April 4, 2016
Review of Meet me at the Gates by Kelly Wyre
Reviewed by Carlton Rolle
Kelly Wyre enjoys reading and writing in all manner of fiction, ranging from horror to romance. She used to work in advertising but is now happily chained to her writing desk and laptop.
Kelly relishes the soft and cuddly and the sharp and bloody with equal amounts of enthusiasm. She’s a coffee addict, a workaholic, a chronic night owl, and loves a good thunderstorm. Currently Kelly resides in southeastern United States.
Meet me at the gate is a story about the power of love. It follows the main character Hyacinth and her two friends Lynne and Adir. For most of her life, Hydee has had dreams about past her past lives. In each one, she meets her soul mate and figures how to live with or without him. In the present life, Hydee owns a store in her small community called the Silver Fox. Her soul mate is a successful movie star named Theodore Monk.
Hydee tried several times to get close enough to Theo to introduce herself and meet him, but wasn’t successful. As time kept going, Hydee began to lose faith in herself and the dreams. She thought that she wouldn’t be able to reconnect with Theo and it was becoming too much of a strain on her. In a huge cosmic coincidence, Theo runs away from his celebrity life in California and walks into Hydee’s store. Hydee shifts gears to help Theo with his life issues and guide them to love.
The two quickly fall into a comfortable habit. They notice how at ease they make each other and how the situation could change. Lynne and Adir keep Hydee grounded as she works things out with Theo. As with nearly everything in life, the good times come to an end. Theo’s girlfriend and assistants find him and throw the entire process off track.
By the end of the book and their lifetime, Theo comes to understand the power of love and decision. He states, “[Hydee] Saved my life by showing me that the path to happiness is through my own choices.” I love this statement. In many ways, I feel it was the dominating theme of the story. One thing that I would’ve like to see more of though is character development. Theo was the only person who was flawed and constantly making changes. Hydee seemed to be the one who was relatively perfect. When people in the story learn from their experiences, I grow more attached to them. While the lack of learning didn’t hinder the storyline, it would have made it more compelling for other characters.
All-in-all I think this was a great book. The concept of soul mates and reoccurring love was interesting. I connected with both Hydee and Theo on different accounts. While the situation was playing out, I felt a sense of depth and willingness to sacrifice. It’s as powerful idea that few people understand and even fewer experience. Maybe my time will come but until then, Meet Me At The Gate will have to suffice as the love that I strive to achieve.
More information about Kelly Wyre at: http://www.kellywyre.com
March 29, 2016
Are you ready to publish with Lightning Source?
Like many indie authors, I am guilty of relying heavily on Amazon for the publishing of my books. Why? Because it is
* Convenient
* Relatively easy and straightforward to do
* There are no costs. (Apart from having your book cover professionally designed, and your book edited, both of which I would STRONGLY recommend. Click here for details of my affordable editing plans.
Last week, I ran a comparison between Amazon and Smashwords. However, like Amazon, Smashwords has become a default setting for a lot of indies, and I wanted to start looking at what else was out there…beyond the comfort zone. However, having never used Lightning Source and only having heard of one anecdotal experience, I don’t feel qualified to spell it out!
Luckily, I stumbled across Killian McRae’s incredibly informative article. So, if you are curious, check out what Killian has to say about Lightning Source. Don’t forget to stop back at my blog and leave me your comments/thoughts. Is Lightning Source a route that you would consider? Have you already published with them?
Love
Ingrid xxx
Review of A Decent Bomber by Alexander McNabb
Reviewed by Carlton Rolle
Alexander McNabb has been travelling around and working in the Middle East for almost 30 years. Formerly a journalist and magazine publisher, he spends his time advising companies on communications strategies, focusing on digital media and online publishing. When he’s not writing books, he’s posting half-thoughts and snippets on his blog, Fake Plastic Souks. Alexander’s first published book was a comedy thriller in 2002. From there, he wrote books specific to his knowledge of the Middle East.
‘A Decent Bomber’ – is set in Ireland and the UK. Pat O’Carolan has worked for the last 20 years as a farmer on his family’s plot of land. One day, he is forced into his past profession as a bomb-maker. Pat is given instructions to pick up cache and make bombs for his past organization, known as IRA.
Once the process begun, Pat’s visiting niece Orla was kidnapped by the new group to ensure that he would cooperate with them. The leader seems to be a Somali terrorist turned extortionist known as The Accountant. This was a warning, among other subtle things to Pat showing that the group of people were not from his own organization. Taking matters into his own, he killed the men watching him and rescued his niece. Together the two sought to trace the men who had the bombs.
Pat left clues in the bombs and so that the police would be able to notice the situation and follow accordingly. With intentions of setting a bomb off every couple days, the new group made a ransom to the government. When the first bomb was discovered, it lead the police to follow the same clues as to who the terrorist cell was.
Pat realized that the terrorists were using information gathered from his old team to be able to secure weapons and materials for bombs. He attempted to connect with various buddies that were still alive to get information or protect them, but many times he was too late. Pat had to ensure that he was ahead of the police so that he wouldn’t be caught.
McNabb brings many nuances and messages to light within this book. He shows the brutally and psychological scars of terrorism. In many cases, the innocent ones are effected most. A lot of people involved in the story, had layers of pain and guilt that stemmed from the broad effects of terrorism. Those who survive violent attacks are left with memories and scars that can never be healed. This really hit home for me and allowed me to further connect with the characters and the story.
McNabb combined action and crime investigation skills into a suspenseful story. He delves into love, family-ties, karma, LGBT, and cultural issues without steering too far away from the main story line. I enjoyed reading this book. ‘A Decent Bomber’ is a fast-paced story that sure to keep many readers involved until the very last page.
You can find more about Alexander McNabb here
March 25, 2016
OVARIAN CANCER: TWO WOMEN, TWO CONTINENTS, ONE DISEASE…AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
Ovarian Cancer: two women, two continents, one disease: an honest account of how two women’s lives have been affected by cancer is now available for pre-order on KINDLE. The paperback will be available when the book is released on 30th April 2016. As well as aiming to educate, and raise awareness the book tells my mam’s story as well as Deborah Davidson’s. Please show your support by reserving your copy today! Please share this post and help raise awareness of “the silent killer.”
Ovarian Cancer: Two Women, Two Continents, One Disease
I stared the cancer down and accepted the inevitable; that it was going to kill me.”
Meet two remarkable women…
BOTH have been told that they have terminal cancer
BOTH have had to come to terms with their fate
BOTH have been brave enough to share their experiences
These are REAL women with REAL lives and powerful stories to tell.
They are NOT just another statistic.
Their stories, coupled with the honest truth about Ovarian Cancer have been brought together to raise awareness, educate, and provide support to those who are battling this silent killer.
Forewarned is Forearmed.
50% of the royalties will be donated to Target Ovarian Cancer, registered charity number 1125038 (England and Wales) and SC042920 (Scotland)
Ovarian Cancer: What to look out for
[BOOK EXCERPT]
It is important that ALL women understand the symptoms to look out for and seek the advice of their GP at the earliest opportunity if they are at all concerned.
The following list of symptoms may appear too subtle to worry about, particularly at the very early stages. They could also just as easily be linked to another form of illness. However, if they are new and occurring regularly – say on a daily basis for three weeks or more, it is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor.
Early ovarian cancer warning signs (Stage 1)
• Pain in the lower abdomen or side
• Abdomen feeling full or appearing bloated
Mid ovarian cancer warning signs (Stage 2 & 3)
• Irregular periods or vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Tummy pain (particularly in the lower part)
• A sore or painful back
• Frequent passing of urine
• Constipation
• Painful sex
• A swollen tummy
• Feeling full / loss of appetite
Late ovarian cancer warning signs (Stage 4)
• Feeling full / loss of appetite
• Feeling nauseous / vomiting
• Constipation
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Noticeable swelling of the abdomen
March 21, 2016
Amazon vs. Smashwords – which is best for Indie Authors?
It is fair to say that when it comes to books, Amazon has it covered. They have dominated the market for quite some time now, and there has to be a reason for this; they must be good at what they do, right?
But does being ‘good’ mean that they offer the best deal to authors or just to the customers who buy from them? When it comes to pleasing their customers, who are Amazon primarily looking to delight?
Having self-published my own books on both platforms over the last few years, I can tell you that it is not as easy as it might first appear… Amazon’s algorithm logic takes some getting your head around! The pond is also so big that if you are not careful, there is a danger that you could end up just a tiny minnow aimlessly swimming around! There is also the fact, that while most authors have heard of Smashwords very few readers are even aware of its existence and often resent having to register for an account.
So, what is an Indie Author to do?
Is there a viable alternative that will provide a better level of exposure?
Perhaps Smashwords has the answer…
This article sets out to compare and contrast the two in order to help you decide which one is right for your book.
I sincerely hope that you find it helpful and if so, share it with others who may be facing a similar dilemma.
Okay then, so let’s get to it…
How easy is it to self-publish my book?
Amazon
With Amazon, you have three choices for self-publishing: CreateSpace, Kindle Direct Publishing, and ACX (for audiobooks). It is free to publish on each of these and Amazon has made sure that they are as easy as possible to use. However, for those that require some additional support, they also have publishing experts on hand to offer additional advice.
Smashwords
Smashwords works a little differently as they are not restricted to just one e-book platform. Once you have uploaded your book, it is made available in a variety of formats according to the retailer preference. They claim that no technical experience is necessary although they do require that you download their Style Guide and follow the instructions within. I have attempted to “Go nuclear” myself, and it was a NIGHTMARE. As such, I would recommend using a Smashwords approved formatter. (Smashwords will provide you with a list) Prices will vary, but you should find one that will work for around $30. The beauty is that if for whatever reason the files then fail Smashwords process, your formatter should rectify any issues free of charge.
How quickly will my book be available to purchase?
Amazon
Amazon states that publishing on Kindle takes less than five minutes to do and that the book will appear on Kindle stores within 24-48 hours. While for a novice publishing in less than five minutes might be a bit of a stretch, it is not a difficult process. Publishing on Kindle via KDP is certainly less time-consuming than publishing in print. I will look at the merits of publishing in print in a future article.
Smashwords
Providing you do not have any errors in the formatting, your book will be added to the Smashwords home page within a few minutes of file conversion. After this, your book will go into a queue to be reviewed to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Style Guide before being submitted to retailers. The reviews typically take one to five days to be carried out.
How much money will I make from each sale?
Amazon
Amazon offers the following royalty options for Kindle direct publishing:
70%, providing the list price satisfies their [list price requirements], is at least 20% below the lowest price for the physical book and, the title is available in all geographical locations where the author has rights.
35%, where the royalty will be 35% of the list price without VAT for each unit sold.
Smashwords
Smashwords offer the following royalty options for their e-books:
Up to 80%: Smashwords Store
Up to 60: Sales from distribution to leading retailers
Up to 45%: Library sales to OverDrive and Baker & Taylor Axis360
How restrictive is the Review Policy?
Amazon
Amazon is very clear that reviews must be from genuine readers. They will not accept paid reviews, promotional reviews, author review swaps or blogger reviews. You are permitted to purchase an Editorial Review, and this must be posted in the specific section that Amazon provides for this purpose.
Smashwords
Whilst all of your reviews appear in the same place on Amazon (good or bad), with Smashwords you have the potential for wider distribution, depending on where your book was purchased from. At the time of writing this article, I could not find any specific restrictions with regards to the Smashwords review policy.
So there you have it, Smashwords does open up a completely new market to that offered by Amazon but is it worth the extra effort required in order to reach it? Only you can decide that! On a final note, Amazon is incredibly strict when it comes to offering promotional discounts and the like, IF you enrol in KDP Select, (choose to market your book free of charge for a maximum of 5 days) then you will be prohibited from making your digital book available on other platforms for a 90 day period. By contrast, Smashwords positively encourage offering promotional discounts. You can even make your book permanently free of charge.
Do you need a blurb or synopsis? Find full details of my affordable service here
March 18, 2016
Review of Nine-Tenths of the Law by Glenn Mitchell
Reviewed by Carlton Rolle
Glenn H. Mitchell studied journalism and scriptwriting before producing and writing programs for the ABC, Foxtel, and SBS. In addition to his first novel, ‘Nowhere’, Mitchell has written science fiction, horror, and literary fiction for magazines. Most recently this was seen in The J.J. Outré Review and Crack the Spine Literary Magazine.
Nine-tenths of the Law takes place out in the suburbs of Australia. It is a story revolving around the criminal case of police officer, Ben. When called in to his first homicide, Ben and his partner T.J. come across a gruesome scene. A person has been murdered with blood and entails all over the place. Ben and T.J. are left to find out what happened and who did it.
While exploring the house, T.J. becomes ill and increasingly gets worse. The two contact the rest of the Lecanto family. They keep to themselves in the neighborhood. But occasionally work with people performing a service. This was the case for the Lecantos.
The following day, T.J. calls out of work and ends up taking a medical leave. Ben is assigned a new partner for the case called Megan or Megs. The new duo start interviewing members of the family and suspects in the case. The case and details are centered on Anthony Perugino and his family. Anthony is the CEO of a company that many people in the town are connected to.
Ben and Megs interview Anthony, his wife Melissa, the house handyman Mitch, and Anthony’s business partner Claire Haskell. While some of their stories fit together, much of it doesn’t. Most of them are not being forthright with information. After a while, readers find that there is a complex story behind the Perugino family. Anthony believes that he is being haunted by the ghost of his childhood girlfriend. The girl Alice, has made appearances throughout the last 30 years of Anthony’s life. Through the various interviews, small details begins to add up and take form.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mitchell did a great job creating a story with a strong plot and kept it interesting. You didn’t know what was going to happen nor how anything was connected. I really connected with Ben’s character. Mitchell showed the good/bad side of being a cop and how it affected his relationships. It also played a huge role in Ben’s outlook on life. Mitchell also displayed emotion that came through Ben’s character. While the story was solid all the way through, I wasn’t expecting the ending to be so sudden and open-ended.
‘Nine-tenths of the Law’ is a great crime/mystery story with a paranormal twist. The book had my spine tingling until the last page.
More information on Glenn Mitchell can be found at: www.glennhmitchell.com
March 16, 2016
Proofreading for just £100 ($140)
I have had several enquiries lately asking whether I offer a “proofreading only” service. Rather than a full edit, many authors want only a thorough read through, with the emphasis on correcting issues with grammar, spelling and syntax. I am more than happy to do that for £100 ($140). If your work is of a very high-standard, or you, have already been through the editing process elsewhere then this service could be perfect for you. It is also an option if you have published your book and reviewers have flagged issues. However, having your book proofread is not the same as having a full edit. Here are the main differences:
Proofreading
This involves a simple line by line read through of the manuscript during which spelling, grammatical and contextual errors will be corrected. Minor issues with syntax (the way in which words are arranged in a sentence) will also be ironed out. Rather than use traditional, and often confusing proofreading “symbols,” I will simply use the “Track Changes” feature on word.
Editing
The editing service that I offer is intensive. You can find full details here. However, in a nutshell, I will go through your manuscript with a fine tooth comb and will pick it apart. In addition to everything that you would get with a proofread, I will also where necessary rework sentences, and if I identify sections of your manuscript that simply don’t fit or work, I will highlight these and have a discussion with you. In some instances you may decide to expand upon them, rework them, or remove them entirely. During the editing process, I will take a look at your book as a whole and ensure that there are no gaps in the plot and that everything flows neatly. This may involve numerous revisions and re-edits. I will also provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provide an “Action plan” of things that you need to do to bring your book up to a publishable standard. Rather than being a negative, this is actually an essential process. Patricia M. Jackson Author has said the following about my service “Ingrid Hall is a great writing coach.”
I also offer FREE Skype consultations to those authors that are looking to take their writing to the next level.
Whatever level of service you require, I am happy to help! Contact me today, and let’s get started!
[contact-form]
March 14, 2016
March 9, 2016
Review of Growing Pains: Kendra’s Diaries by K.P. Smith
Reviewed by Carlton Rolle
K.P. Smith loves to read. It was the love for reading that ignited her passion to write. When not reading and writing Smith occupies her time with hobbies. She loves football, basketball, tennis, golf yeah basically all sports. Smith also enjoys watching TV, specifically soap operas. These are enjoyable and a perk also helps her creative thinking/writing process. The only thing better than watching her favorite shows is watching it with millions of others via Twitter!! Smith is a professed social media junkie but it can’t replace some good old conversation.
“Growing Pains; Kendra’s Dairies” is a story following the life of a girl named Kendra Foster. Kendra lives with her parents and little sister in New Orleans, Louisiana. The family has their share of struggles and attempts to keep going. Finances are the biggest stressor for the family. Relationships and change are the main focus of Kendra’s life.
The author weaved different relationships in the novel. Much like life, everyone had their own issues. These relationships influenced Kendra differently. Kendra’s relationship with her mom was important. While a burden at some points, other times it created a sense of understanding. Interacting with her father was awkward or at times extremely difficult. The aggression and frustration between the parents was impactful as well. Kendra’s relationships with her grandparents is also a significant part in family dynamics.
Kendra was protective and comforting to her sister. The reverse was also true. The sisters helped each other get through turmoil in the house. When it came to life outside the house, Kendra relied on Katrina to be a support system. They bonded through school, cheerleading, boys, and family strife. All of these relationships created more stress and eventual growth on Kendra.
The book also touched on prejudice within the Black community. While not necessarily a prime factor in their family, it was an issue that came out through several characters. I appreciated the various topics that were mentioned in the story. Smith introduced topics like: emotions, finances, love, self-worth, gender norms, race, death, divorce, and confidence. In some ways, I wish Smith would have elaborated greater detail in the situations. Yet in other ways I understand giving room for thought for the readers.
“Growing Pains” gives people a chance to be empathic to others. It was mentioned a couple times how Kendra came to see people in her life from a different perspective. While it is clear that this book is geared at the youth, I believe it to be important for adults as well. This is a way of showing how the actions of older generations affect the younger generations; including the seemingly small things and life-changing events.
Strong messages are present throughout the story. You get a sense that “hard work pays off” and “If at first you don’t succeed, try again.” The story ultimately left me feeling conscious of my actions and appreciative. All that glitters isn’t gold. You must find a way to navigate and appreciate your life.
Follow K.P. Smith on Twitter
