Ed Robinson's Blog, page 18
February 17, 2014
My Thoughts On Reviews
As many of you already know, reviews are very helpful to an author. Having a ton of reviews really does increase a books exposure.
It also provides feedback from the people who matter most; the readers. Writing a review of a book you enjoyed is like giving a gift to the writer. (Hint, hint, if you’ve read either of my books please write a review at Amazon.com)
I’ve been fortunate so far with lots of good reviews. But what about those bad ones? My first book, Leap Of Faith / Quit Your Job And Live On A Boat has recieved 161 reviews in five months. They are almost all four and five star reviews. It does however, have some not so good reviews. One lady said that I wrote a “How-to for skin cancer and cirrhoris!” One gentlemen said that the idealic life I described sounded like Hell to him. No way he could sit on a beach, go fishing and drink beer all day. The most recent two star review said he didn’t like it because he likes sailing adventure stories, and there is little about sailing in the book. Well it wasn’t about sailing, and that is clear in the description. Fortunately, most of the poor reviews were written because it wasn’t what they expected. No one said it was a poorly written piece of crap.
You simply can’t let a bad review get under your skin. Don’t take it personal, the reviewer doesn’t know you. There is no book out there with a hundred percent positive feedback. The number one bestseller right now on Kindle is The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green. It has over 9600 reviews. It’s a smashing success. Guess what? It has 69 ONE STAR reviews. It has another 117 Two Star reviews. You simply can not write a book that will please every single reader.
My second book, Poop, Booze and Bikinis has only been “live” for just over a week. It’s gotten 11 reviews so far. Ten of them are great but one is not. I quote, “If you’re getting this book for the reason to learn about living on a boat, it’s not that bad of a book. It has some interesting stories that I actually enjoyed and I did learn something about living on a boat. But the book is not funny. At least to me.” All the other ten reviewers used words like Hilarious, captivating, Inspiring and Fun, etc. Methinks this fellow has no sense of humor. He gave me two stars even though he enjoyed some of it and did learn some things. You simply can not please everyone.
So? Don’t try. Write from your heart. Write for yourself. Write for the readers that you know will appreciate what you are trying to say. Steven King’s book Doctor Sleep has 89 one stars and 99 two stars. It sold millions. Take the good reviews and cherish them. Get enough reviews to help your books ranking. Get enough to qualify for those promotional sites that require a certain number. Just don’t dwell on every word, especially the bad words.
You can even laugh at some of the more hateful bad reviews. I had a fellow call Poop, Booze, and Bikinis a “tawdry POS low-life appeal to the caveman instinct.” This was on Facebook, thankfully not on Amazon. I laughed. Don’t sweat it writer.
Both my books are available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
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February 12, 2014
My Interview With Palmsnparadise.com
I like these folks because they are all about “Leavin’ the Grind Behind.” They have shown an interest in my books and contacted me for an interview.
Read all about it then browse their site. Good stuff.
http://palmsnparadise.com/2014/02/12/interview-with-ed-robinson-author-of-poop-booze-and-bikinis/
February 11, 2014
“Making Your Tropical Obsession Your Profession”
The fine folks at Rum Therapy put together a nice interview with me.
http://www.rumtherapy.com/2013/12/leap-of-faith-ed-robinson/
Check out their page for tropical vacation ideas, rum recipes, etc. 
Loss In The Leap Of Faith Family
Twice this week I’ve received news of a friends passing. Even while celebrating the early success of my new book, I was saddened by the news. Two different people, two different reasons to mourn.
First I learned of the death of the previous owner of our boat. As many of you know, our boat is also our home. Her name is Leap of Faith, which I also used in the title of my first book. Graham owned her for many years before we purchased her. He took tremendous care of it. The reason we fell in love with this boat was the fine condition in which he kept it. I sit on my boat right now and reflect. Before me, someone else had a deep relationship with her. Graham and I became friends during the buying process. We’d come and visit before the settlement was final. Then he would come back and visit after we became the proud new owners. I know he was sad to see her go, but I also know that he was happy for us and knew that we would love her like he did.
Graham and his wife Barb.
THOMPSON, Graham Ross (Retired R.C.M.P.)
At Toronto East General Hospital on Friday, February 7, 2014, in his 67th year. Graham Thompson was the beloved husband of Barbara (nee Briggs) of Collingwood; the much loved father of Teri Hart (Eric) of Midhurst and Wendy Peterson (Jason) of Airdirie, Alberta; and cherished Poppa of six. Graham was a retired law enforcement officer, having proudly served six years with the Ontario Provincial Police and 23 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The second bit of sad news was hearing of the passing of Sailmaker John. I wrote about John in my first book. We met one sunny day in Marathon, Florida. John Rose was the only sailmaker in Marathon. We spent a fine afternoon drinking beer and swapping stories. he lived on his sailboat Trini at the city marina. That was one of his sisters names. Jamie Merkel reached out to me on Facebook to tell me of his death. John was Jamie’s brother. John had turned us on to the Reacher books by Lee Child. He gave us a well worn paperback and we ended up buying all the Reacher books. We meet a lot of people in our travels, many that we never see again. John stood out as a kind and genuine person. This incident also points out what my books have done as far as my reach and readership. Jamie Merkel found me, through reading my first book and seeing John discussed in print. RIP sailmaker John.
Sailmaker John on the left.
Death is a part of life. You never know when it will come for you. Take that leap. Live your life. Grab your dreams now.
Enjoy each day, each moment and each person.
Both of my books are available at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Poop-Booze-Bikinis-Ed-Robinson-ebook/dp/B00IA7JLFA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
February 9, 2014
A Most Successful Book Launch
I have to tell you, I’m overwhelmed by the smashing success of my newest book. Poop, Booze and Bikinis has quickly become an Amazon sensation. I never dreamed it would appeal to so many people. I also never imagined it would show up in so many different categories. It’s all over the place!
It’s the number 1 bestseller in Boating. It’s the number 1 bestseller in Water Sports. It’s the number 3 bestseller in Adventure and Specialty Travel. It’s the number 5 bestseller in all of Travel. It’s number 12 in Outdoor Recreation and number 13 in Sports. (all rankings as of February 9 at 10:00 a.m.)
As a “Hot New Release” it is currently number 1 in the following categories:
Boating
Adventure
Travel
Specialty Travel
Sports
Water Sports
Here’s a heartfelt THANKS to everyone who purchased the Kindle version. I’ll be finalizing the publishing on the paperback this week.
Get your Kindle copy here:
February 6, 2014
Poop, Booze, and Bikinis (What’s it all about?)
The Kindle version of Poop, Booze, and Bikinis should be live at Amazon sometime tonight. What is it? I know, strange though somehow catchy title. For you non-boaters, you don’t realize how important poop management is to someone who lives on a boat. It’s a common topic of discussion amongst liveaboards. It’s get it’s own chapter and several more references throughout the book.
I suppose you can tell that this is not a serious piece of literature. It’s something I did for fun, and to hopefully make you laugh.
I radically changed my pricing philosophy this time. The first book, Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, debuted at 6.99 for the Kindle version. This forced my friends to overpay. It sells now for 3.99, but was once discounted briefly to .99.
By starting off with the cheapest price possible, my friends and fans can grab the Kindle version cheap before the price goes up.
Paperback will take a bit longer to publish, but it’s in the works.
Synopsis:
Ed Robinson’s first book, Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, was an Amazon best seller in multiple categories. Now he’s back with this hilarious look at the nautical lifestyle. From Poop to Booze to Bikinis, he covers the funnier side of the issues encountered by boaters all of types. With chapters like Signs You Live on a Boat, Stupid People on Rental Equipment, and Zombies Can’t Swim, you’ll find plenty of laughs. There’s even a chapter for Tim Dorsey fans.
If you are a liveaboard, cruiser, weekender, wannabe boater, have boating friends, or are just a fan of Ed Robinson’s wit, you will enjoy this light hearted romp through many maritime topics.
Table of Contents:
Prelude
Poop
Marinas Versus Anchorages
Booze
Bikinis
Marine Critters
Boats
Signs You Live On A Boat
Rum
Weather
Nekkid People
Deflatables
Tits, Pits, and Ass
Things I Love (About Living Aboard)
Things I Hate
S.P.O.R.E
True Nautical Terms
Zombies Can’t Swim
The Tim Dorsey Chapter
The Jimmy Buffett Chapter
Pirates
The Beerfort Scale
Stupid Boat Names
Brass Monkey
The Stories We Could Tell
It’s Alive!
Weird Florida
Why A Boat?
Disclaimers and Acknowledgements
It’s a light read that I hope many will enjoy, certainly worth 99 pennies. Look for it tomorrow and this weekend at Amazon.com
Price goes up on Monday.
February 3, 2014
Top Ten Boating Pages on Facebook
There are many great resources and fun pages on Facebook that are boating oriented. This is my list of the ten best. If you are a liveaboard boater, planning on living aboard, a liveaboard wannabe or just a plain boating enthusiast, you should “Like” these pages.
Check out their websites too if they have one listed.
(No particular order)
Youboats
https://www.facebook.com/yboats
YouBoats is a yachting social network.
http://www.youboats.com/index.php/welcomepage
Boat Porn
https://www.facebook.com/BoatPorn
Eye candy for boat addicts, boat builders, sailors, dreamers, and lovers.
(No, it’s not that kind of porn . . . )
Living Aboard Boats
https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingaboardboats/
Living Aboard Boats is an open group. A place to share with other group members the lifestyle and experience both good and bad of living aboard a boat. Both those who are currently living aboard boats and those who want to are welcome.
Yachtworld
https://www.facebook.com/boatsforsale
The single best place to shop for boats, anywhere in the world. I could spend hours just looking.
Boating Lovers
https://www.facebook.com/BoatingLovers
Based in Brazil, but plenty of English language boating stuff.
The Boat Galley
https://www.facebook.com/TheBoatGalley
One of my personal favorites. Chock full of useful tips about life aboard, not just galley stuff.
Discover Boating
https://www.facebook.com/discoverboating
Discover Boating is a public awareness effort powered by the North American recreational boating industry.
http://www.discoverboating.com/
I’m A Boater
https://www.facebook.com/iamaboater
Fun boating pics and products
Active Captain
https://www.facebook.com/groups/activecaptain/
If you travel on your boat, or plan to . . . you MUST sign up for Activecaptain. Too many fantastic resources to mention.
Active Captain is an online nautical resource providing marina, anchorage, hazard, and local knowledge data. The data is integrated into more than 20 navigation products and can be access on the ActiveCaptain website. There is no cost for using or contributing to ActiveCaptain.
Plenty of pages to look at to feed your boating fix. Give them a Like.
Also consider Liking the official Facebook sponsor of this blog:
https://www.facebook.com/quityourjobandliveonaboat
Available at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
January 29, 2014
A Different Kind Of Key West Tale / Living Proof, by Kevin May
As some of you may know, I read a lot of books. If I’m not writing, I’m reading. (I have a lot of time on my hands). I really love to read books set in the Keys and Caribbean and am always on the look out for the next one.
This book was recommended to me by Key West Chris Rehm. I follow his blog and Facebook page and trust his opinion.
Living Proof isn’t your typical flying bullets action thriller. Here’s the synopsis:
CIA since the age of twenty-one, by no choice of his own, Agent Jake Lander had long dreamed of the day he would finally be free from the life they had provided him in their finely-tuned world of deception. After a twenty-five year career with the Agency, Jake knew far too much to simply walk away. Escape was his only option. Once that day arrived, he was designated a national security risk––his Protocol: Capture or Kill. Jake chose the quaint and quirky island of Key West to begin his new life of peaceful anonymity. However, his serenity would be short-lived as he discovered that his island paradise was too small to get away with anything. Faced with that reality, Jake knew his escape could easily end up costing him his life, yet it was the only way get it back.
My take:
The rogue CIA agent gets into no gun battles, no fights, and no real adventure until the end. What he does is figure himself out.
There is some deep introspection from inside the mind of a unique man. His long hidden feelings and life of deception come to a head on the sunny tropical isle of Key West. The author’s descriptions of local haunts are excellent. He walks you around Old Town in a very realistic manner. The tension may not be flying bullets, but it’s tense nonetheless.
You will not know how it ends, until you turn the last few pages.
The writing is simply very well done. It has style without being flowery. Rarely does a man write about his inner thoughts the way May does in Living Proof. The runaway agent spends a great deal of time grappling with his own thoughts. You want him to run away with the new girl, a seemingly free spirit with a bounty of ill gotten cash. You want him to remain true to his previous lover, whom he left without even a goodbye note. You are as conflicted as the hero. You’re not sure what he is going to do, or what you would do in his shoes.
May really does a great service to Key West not only in his descriptions of people and places, but by somehow capturing the spirit of the place in words. Highly recommended for all lovers of Key West.
Living Proof is available in paperback and Kindle editions at:
Living Proof: A Novel of Key West: Kevin May: 9780615615905: Amazon.com: Books
January 27, 2014
The Latest News from me and Jamie Brown
I have completed the manuscript for book number two, Poop, Booze, and Bikinis. I have some light proof reading to do and then off to a real editor to fix my typos. In this digital age it should be ready in just a few weeks. My first book, Leap of Faith/Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat, had a real message that touched a lot of people.
This next book does not! Nope, it’s just plain fun. I tried to inject some humor into every day boating situations. I get to experience the nautical life every day and I thought some of my observations might make you laugh.
On another front, my best bud Jamie Brown is about halfway through his six week radiation treatments. He’s looking pretty good and doing well. The only side effect seems to be serious fatigue, so far. We are all pulling for him, praying for him and looking forward to his full recovery.
For those who don’t know him, this is his sixth or seventh go-round with surgery for brain tumors. Kemo, radiation, etc. all over again, and again, and again. He lives aboard his sailboat full-time and makes the most of every moment when he’s not in a hospital. He is a unique individual and really has a story to tell about surviving cancer.
To that end, I’m announcing my next project. I will be writing Jaime’s story. I’m deeply honored and touched that he has the confidence in me to express his thoughts and memories. His goal is for his story to help others in some way. That’s the kind of guy he is.
Sometimes people meet and become friends for a reason. He’s been my closest confidant for the past three years. I mention him (not by name) in both of my books so far. We sat and had a long, very personal talk this past Friday night, over beers of course. He seems enthusiastic about helping me put his story to words. I don’t know how long it will take. We will start when he completes his current treatment. I’ve begun some research into his previous treatments and the type of cancer he’s dealing with. Some of what I’ve learned blows my mind. You’ll be surprised to find out some things. Experimental treatments, FDA battles with his doctor, more bullshit with his insurance company, etc. (He’s losing his coverage February 1).
If the media ever got wind of all he’s been through, his case would be a famous one. That’s not what he wants. He wants to say his piece, in his own way without being bothered or harassed by anyone.
That’s also the kind of guy he is. Wish us luck as we work together to bring this very important story to light. I am dusting off my old journalism skills right now. This will be a challenge for me, but nothing like the challenges Jaime has faced and continues to face every day.
Jamie Brown with one his many friends Grace Swinford.
Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat is available at Amazon.com in both paperback
and Kindle versions.
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Look for Poop, Booze and Bikinis in early 2014
January 24, 2014
Best Facebook Pages To Warm You Up
As most of the United States suffer from extreme cold, here’s a way to feel a bit warmer. Spend some time on Facebook perusing these pages full of sunsets, beaches, islands, and resorts. Clicking “Like” on these high quality pages will go a long way towards warding off that dreaded Polar Vortex.
In no particular order, some of my favorite Facebook pages to warm you up:
Island Sunrises and Sunsets
https://www.facebook.com/IslandSunriseAndSunsets
Great photography from Amelia Island, Florida
Key West In Your Face
https://www.facebook.com/KeyWestInYourFace
A wide variety of upbeat, sunny pics from Key West
Sunsets
https://www.facebook.com/WeLoveSunsets
Stunning photos from around the world
Walking On Sunshine With Flip Flops on and Drinking Sweet Tea
A place to kick off your flip flops, relax, dream and enjoy the simple things in life
The Florida Keys and Key West
https://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Everything that’s happening in the Florida Keys
Peace of the Beach
https://www.facebook.com/MariannesPeaceoftheBeach
Awesome beach memes
Down By The Sea
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-By-The-Sea/324756687660260
Beach photos and memes
Sunny Ocean Waves Beach Surf Adventure
https://www.facebook.com/SunnyOceanWavesBeachSurfAdventure
Everything Beach
Beach Cottage Life
https://www.facebook.com/BeachCottageLifePhotography
Professional photos and posters
Islands Magazine
https://www.facebook.com/islandsmag
Stunning photos from tropical resorts
Fort Myers Beach Florida
https://www.facebook.com/fortmyersbeachflorida?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser
This page will convince you to move to SW Florida
And finally, my own page full of sunsets and sunny places.
https://www.facebook.com/quityourjobandliveonaboat
This page will make you want to quit your job and live on a boat!
You can purchase the book at Amazon.com in paperback or Kindle versions.
http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Faith-Quit-Your-Live/dp/1478720921/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
