Carole’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2016)

Carole’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Theodore wrote: "Carole wrote: "It's arbitrary and calculated. Sorry, I'm over it. Please don't think I'm mad. (To our friends from Europe that's pissed, not crazy).

I am working on a way to move through it. I am ..."

The first time they made them all disappear- they said it was a glitch. I got crazy- I never thought they wouldn't restore them They did after a few days- But I got lazy. I should have copied all the reviews then. I just never thought they'd do that to me. Just stupidity on my part.

Yup!! While I love the authors I mentioned, I wouldn't leave a review and that might influence someone not to buy the book- everyone can have a bad "day." It won't stop me from buying their next book. and I don't want to be the reason it stopped someone else-

It's arbitrary and calculated. Sorry, I'm over it. Please don't think I'm mad. (To our friends from Europe that's pissed, not crazy).

I am working on a way to move through it. I am angry at myself because I thought they wouldn't to it to me- because I respected and followed their rules. I'm annoyed because I was not prepared and lost many of MY reviews. I enjoyed them. I liked to reread them- it was like visiting the book again. They destroyed my property. I copied my reviews all weekend - what I had on Goodreads- It equaled

259 Pages
Words 95583
Characters 551438
Characters excluding spaces 457383

That is five years worth of reviews and I had more on Amazon. It was a part of my history and made me feel as though I was witnessing Fahrenheit 451. They didn't give me a warning to protect my...words.
I'm angry because I thought it couldn't happen to me and now I wonder- what else could happen to me?

Go and read the fake reviews posted for Origin and Artemis. Now I know how to read a review and the fakes are obvious- just as the professional reviewers who make it a book report are obvious too. We were talking about it in the office. I read The Cuban Affair last weekend- how any trad publisher let these books go out is unfathomable. Yet, the gushing reviews overwhelm the truthful ones. Those are nothing more than fan mail. Anyone who read the book will tell you so. I loved Brown, Weir, and Demille- looked forward to their books- like cleared my schedule for them and I realized they are going to need all the help they can get to sell them. How about stepping on the backs of the indies by removing the chances that one of them will do better. The trad publishers, who pay Zon for real estate will be held accountable. Sure, take advantage of the guys who have no voice. I wonder how many of their reviews disappear compared to ours.

I get invitations to review items every day- I drew the line and stopped reviewing when they offered to pay me or refund the money- Yet, I see established, top Amazon reviewers reviewing the item.

Reconstituted humans that were devoured to feed the next generation.

It is strange. I have been both Amazon's and Goodreads biggest promoters. I have written only good things about them. I was an unpaid spokesperson for KDP and let them film me for a day while I had lunch with another author. All I showed was support because I believe in doing that. I think this is not a good reflection on them. Indies are going to have to learn that they were used and now they have to figure out a way to survive without becoming Soylent Green. (Look it up and if you can't figure it out- ask me.lol)

It feels like they are shooting for a certain profile. Many people I know have been shut down, while others who review things, perhaps that Amazon wants to be reviewed and pushed upward are allowed. I don't think Amazon hates indies, I don't think Amazon values us. There are too many and they don't need to care. They were warned about two years ago that the traditional pub houses were getting angry they were allowing indies to populate the good rankings. It took them about a year, but this is an elimination. They are eliminating the most viable methods for us to promote. The top ranks are populated- well, go look- you'll see. They need content that they can give away for free while the big guys and Amazon publishing clean up. How come no one sees a conflict of interest that they are selling books published by themselves. Does no one see the correlation of their place in the rankings vs other indies? Many of our books spent years in the top 50 and sold well. They tanked about eight months ago. I scrambled by doing everything I could. What I didn't realize- it wasn't us- it's them.

No problem, Judy. We are all family here.

I agree- That's why I'm keeping the Kindle but getting rid of the KU.

Kay wrote: "It’s grown so much already in one year, I just hope everyone is getting some new interest for their books from it! I’m already thinking of ways to make it even better next year ;)
I’d love to do s..."

I love that!!

Hugs- back- It's the least I could do- You have put so much effort into our Christmas event and it has become a wonderful tradition. I hope it grows three times next year or we do another one for the Spring holidays!!

My husband gets attached to them and makes it very hard to sell- But we have to turn them over often.

Well, I think it is!!!

Thanks, Rocio

I have a lot of cars, Alex, but not a Rolls. We had one for weddings about forty years ago. Now all they want is SUV's.

voted- good luck, Kay- Hope you win!!

Put on your seatbelt, Alex, we are taking you with us.

You are a marvel. I love how you dive in and fix things, RL_ very admirable.

Count me in, RL I'm drinking whatever Koolaide you are making!

No big name is going to take us on as a poster child, guys- They are holding on with their fingernails and hoping the focus is on us- so they don't get it too!
I am busy today- that's why I'm quiet- I am copying all my reviews so I can put them on MY blog and no one can take them down. If you need part of your review- contact me and I'll send it to you to put on the editorial section of your book. Guess what- you can add that I am an author and I liked your book. I am a founder of a magazine and I endorse your book, and finally, I am a blog show host of two shows that will read each and every one of these reviews on air.

https://gizmodo.com/amazons-review-po...