Proud to be an Indie Writer

On 30 August, I started a thread on the Amazon Kindle Forum entitled:  Do you REALLY want an honest review?

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

Writers almost always say, yes, they do want and really appreciate honest reviews, but do they mean it?

Here's the plan. E-mail me the link to your book on Kindle and I will download and read your sample. You do the same for mine.

You tell me exactly how you feel about my sample, and how far you read.
PLEASE BE TOTALLY HONEST. Say what you like and what you don't. I'll do the same for yours.

I'll tell you whether I am buying your book. You do the same for me.

If I do buy your book, you will receive a positive review on Amazon. If you buy mine, you do the same for my book.

e-mail me at: info@elizabethjasper.com

Here's my book link: http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/ref

 

 

So there I was, waiting for a few e-mails to drop through my inbox. 

 

While I waited, I thought about what I'd been reading on my Amazon Kindle since I was given it as a birthday present at the end of May and whether I missed holding 'real' books in my hand. I got up and looked at the newest books I have on my shelves by some of my favourite authors.  Then I realised something.  I had enjoyed their earlier books, but often their latest offerings were not as good.  Why?

 

Something clicked at the back of my mind.  I'd read quite recently about how well-known writers end up writing for their publishers rather than for their readers.  Because the publishers want/need to make a return on their investment, they want their authors to keep on repeating a successful formula.  I am a big Kate Atkinson fan, but didn't enjoy her last book quite as much as previous ones because she seems to be following a formula based on the previous two books, rather than writing something fresh.  Her originality was what drew me towards her books in the first place.  You never quite knew what the next book was going to be about.  I feel the same about old favourites like Jilly Cooper.  Who didn't love Riders, or Polo?  But when, several years later, the same formula is applied to different subjects,  the outcomes are predictable and the books sometimes a chore to read.  It's more a labour of love for an author you've admired forever rather than a fresh, new reading experience. 

 

I picked up this week's Sunday Times and flicked onto the Sunday Times August Bestsellers page.  Hardbacks:  Katie Price (for God's sake!), James Patterson and someone, George R R Martin (OK – I love that one, have it on my Kindle), Tess Gerritsen, Julian Barnes (good - sometimes a bit hit and miss), Karin Slaughter, Danielle Steel, Gerald Seymour, Mark Billingham, Peter Robinson.  Hmm.  Quite a lot of familiar names there.  It reminded me of the last time I was in an English book shop.  I live in the middle of nowhere in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Spain, so don't have that pleasure often.  I always enter the book shops filled with eager anticipation.  Yet again, I came out empty-handed and disappointed.  Maybe I've become too picky - jaded, even.

 

Some e-mails popped up. 

 

People did seem interested in having an honest review of their Kindle sample.  Now, I can hear you asking, who is this woman who thinks she is qualified to review other people's work, and what makes her reviews more 'honest' than anyone else's reviews? The answer, I'm no more qualified than any other person who loves to read, takes writing seriously and is prepared to take a little time and trouble to offer help to other writers who would like an opinion on their writing.  As a member of a couple of well-known on-line writing sites, I have actually reviewed the opening chapters of more than 1200 books, with few complaints. 

 

I started reading.  The first one - an adult vampire story.  Not my usual fare, but it was different.  And it raised some excellent issues in my mind about how far people are prepared to go in order to escape their everyday lives.  How easy is it to be sucked into believing in vampires?  You could ask the same questions about religion.  Good one.  I bought it.  Next - a wide-ranging fantasy story.  I read the longish sample.  I had to buy that one, too.  Then - an excellent historical novel about a soldier in Napoleon's army.  Beautifully written, exactly in keeping with the historical context and in a wonderful, semi-formal style I admired.  Another purchase.  I read a couple that were OK, but didn't excite me enough to buy.  Since 30 August, I've purchased seven books I learned about through this single thread.  I'm writing private reviews direct to all of the authors about their samples and I'll be writing reviews on Amazon for the books I've purchased once I have finished reading them.

 

Before I started this process, I had looked at and rejected many Kindle books solely on the basis of reading sample downloads.  Many were poorly written, filled with typos and mistaken in concept.  Some were just dreadful.  I did wonder whether publishing on Kindle was right for me.  Many indie writers have to do everything, and I do mean everything for themselves.  Editing, covers, formatting, marketing.  It's not easy.  Mistakes can and do occur.  But, they also often occur in traditionally published books these days so I'm not holding the odd typo against anyone. 

 

So, today, having come across so many great stories out of a relatively small sample by a varied cross-section of talented writers I am proud to stand among them  and proclaim myself An Indie Writer.

 

Link to my book:  http://www.amazon.com/Lying-in-Wait-ebook/dp/B0055T772K/