Erin’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2017)

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

Make me One with everything. I know, I know! Happy Friday, peeps :)

Steven wrote: "No worries. A rising tide lifts all boats. 😊"

*chews cookie thoughtfully, tries to think of something deep, gets a headache*
Screw it, thanks dude!

Steven wrote: "nice! Thank you so much Erin! Congrats on your new book too! I don't think it's my cup of tea, because I'm not into romance but I bought it and I will get you a review in a week or two as a thank y..."

:O :O :O
Holy generosity, Batman!
You're, like, more awesomerer than I even thought - you're totally going to fit in great with this group!

Steven wrote: "This is good advice! I will look into a giveaway and uhh, I just glanced at fiverr... They have book promotion folks on fiverr as well. Do you recommend any of those?"

Yes and no. I don't think you'll see any sales from those promotional efforts but if you focus on promoters that are chiefly bloggers you will do wonders for your SEO ranking. Not bad for $5. Also check out promo vids, artwork, banners, fb ads, custom web graphics etc. I used them to get mockups of my book covers so at least I knew what would and would not work for me when I approached my actual designer.

Trailer one hands down no question for me! It was honest and accessible and the nervous giggle was everything lol! Your thoughts seemed to follow a more natural progression of motivation, backstory, genre history, thematic exploration and reader motivation. It was organic and enjoyable. Trailer two seemed a little more disconnected, almost more of a concerted effort to get everything in without comfortable segue ways. It was good but not great, imo.

I love your story and I'm excited to see how this journey goes for you. I def recommend you do some Amazon giveaways, which Carole can tell you more about. There's a feature that let's you make watching a youtube video a requirement for entry. Also take advantage of the win and lose message feature. You can tell both winners and losers ways to still get the book and engage with you as an author. I did this on my last giveaway and actually ended up trading broiled salmon recipes with a new fan. That's far more important than selling her a book.

I always tell authors on a budget, i.e. all authors, to check out fiverr. Sometimes you have to weed through some stinkers but it's possible to find people who do amazing work for pennies on the dollar for what the pros charge. I needed a custom gif for my website and my graphics designer wanted to charge me $240 with a three day turnaround. I found a graphics designer in Asia on fiverr who did it for me in 12 hours and charged me $25.

Anyhoo, best of luck and go get 'em!

Steven wrote: "Nicole wrote: "I got a review today that said "I liked this book but it could do with a good edit. Also fleshing it out with a few more details, storyline etc wouldn't hurt."

And they gave it FOU..."

I'll see and raise your 50!

Julie wrote: "Just ordered on Carole's recommendation. Can't wait to read it!"

And I am *not* chair dancing right now. Not me. Nope.

Becky wrote: "Coming in way late--this is a truly invaluable thread, Erin, and while I wish it didn't have to happen to you in the first place, this is all such great perspective, and clearly we're all in this t..."<

Completely agree. Lemons = lemonade

Gisele wrote: "Got my copy Erin! Make sure you post to interracial romance free and cheap thread. Hope you get lots of sales."

*sniffles* *blows nose then gives Gisele a hug*

Yayyy! My debut novella Blaque Beauty and the Billionaire is on sale today through Friday for 99c!

When billionaire property developer Marc Ross meets the beautiful, charming design assistant who will help renovate his ski lodge he doesn't tell her who he is. He decides he has four and a half billion reasons to hide his real identity. Why not prolong the magic of being with someone who actually likes you for who you are? But his bitter ex-wife has no intention of seeing either Marc or Marlee ride off into the sunset. Will deception be the deal-breaker for Marlee or is happily ever after written in the fine print?

"A refreshing novella within the billionaire genre."
Verified purchase, Amazon

"Charming and sweet, Blaque Beauty and the Billionaire is a romance that will leave you smiling."
C. Roman, Goodreads Moderator

"Three cheers for a believable billionaire romance!"
Blake, Amazon Customer

"Absolutely charming...a well-written, error-free, lighthearted romance without unnecessary drama between the main protagonists."
A. Wills, Goodreads Member

"I loved it! Read it in one sitting!"
Donna, Amazon Customer

"The characters are likable, the the intimate scenes are tastefully written, the inner dialogue is expressive and engaging."
Dru9875, Amazon Customer

Steven wrote: "I know it's a bummer but honestly, it shows that you're getting yourself out there. You could just wind up with the friends and family echo chamber where you have 15 BEAUTIFUL reviews because they ..."

Absolutely!! *high five*

C.L. wrote: "Erin wrote: "C.L. wrote: "Three stars? That's a good review still, so I wouldn't worry. What is incorrect about it that makes you think she didn't read it?

My favourite bad review was from the per..."

These great conversations have made it totally worth it!

C.L. wrote: "Three stars? That's a good review still, so I wouldn't worry. What is incorrect about it that makes you think she didn't read it?

My favourite bad review was from the person who said that my book ..."

Well, nothing she commented on couldn't be found in the blurb. She said the heroine was unsophisticated when the first chapter tells you that she actually graduated with a top design portfolio, works for a prestigious firm, is the only child of affluent parents, spent her grad school years museum hopping and enjoying good food and wine with her friends and spends summers at her parents' summer home in Negril so yeah, she's a real peasant. Also she said that the male lead falls for her "against all odds" when he actually fell for her at first site when he met her in the ski lodge he owns. What odds? So that is why i suspect she did not read the book. There were only generalities in her review and tropes that could be applied to any romance novella, basically. It's not proof but it is my firm suspicion. That is what bothered me, not how many stars she gave it. I actually got two three star reviews that discussed the merits of the book as well as what the reviewers felt were its deficiencies and I was totally okay with that. As everyone has pointed out it's no biggie and it will not stop anyone who really has an interest in the book. I just find this kind of behavior particularly galling from another author who voluntarily participated in a review round where you accept the possibility that you will not always be assigned books that you, yourself, would normally choose to read.

R.L. wrote: "lol I guess the troll and the handsome billionaire trend isn't dead after all then"

*quietly puts away hammer and nail*

Watts wrote: "My "favorite" negative review on a book was from someone disappointed because they thought it was going to be a graphic novel."

Ha! I got a finger wag from a reviewer because my leads were too good-looking. A beautiful woman and a handsome man in a romance. Go figure.

R.L. wrote: "I feel you Erin. I got a review that I felt the person hadn't even read the book. I felt justified in that because no one else who reviewed mentioned any of the quite obvious things that everyone w..."

All day long lol. Thanks, R.L :)

Carole wrote: "That is our next project. Right now I had the brilliant idea of turning all my books into hardcovers as well. We are in ISBN hell."

Oooh that is going to be one bad-arse edition, though. I'm excited!

Carole wrote: "Thanks Erin. It sound almost trite to say that our books are like our "babies," but they are. We hover over them, nurturing then like helicopter moms, worrying and obsessing over anything that is s..."

Nobody puts Carole in a corner!
That story was so...*sobs*

Oh Carole, I feel both sympathy pangs and buddy elation for you! I can't imagine...looking forward to updates. Quickquestion...would you ever consider a special edition hardcover boxed compilation? I've been wondering if anyone has done this...

Carole wrote: "Thanks Erin, you make me feel so special. ;)

Okay, Giselle- regarding voting down- I always checked Amazon first for the neg review- I only look at reviews on Goodreads after Amazon. I tend to thi..."

This breakdown is borderline fascinating. Carole this really sounds like a great blog post for you...

And you're so right. I came across a review once that I thought was interesting and funny in a snarky way so I went to the reviewers' page and sure enough she had an auto-message indicating that she could no longer accept friend requests as she was swamped with them but feel free to check out her book review blog...hmmm