Helping Readers Help Amazon Authors - resource

[Andrew]

MOA is a bit of a ghetto, but yes it certainly seesm to be fairly civilised so far.

[Will]

Andrew wrote: "Which are the pleasant places, Will? I've dabbled in the Amazon forums the last few weeks, but still finding my feet."

Andrew, on UK look for the Meet our Authors.

The treads there are all welcoming for new authors. Just try to differentiate between the pure promo threads, and those where a discussion is going on.

Or MTM's thread, where GL gangs up on me...

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Its just so much fun Will.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I've just had a bruising on the Village idiot thread - apparently its ok to liken people who don't agree with them to 'Followers of Hitler" I lost my rag and responded. Its settled but has left such a nasty taste and the 'last word syndromers' are out in force. They are welcome to it. I'm out of it, still shaking with rage but not making the mistake of biting the bait ever again.

[Kath]

I never take part in the 'general' chat' type threads. They are dominated by rudeness. I stick to 'Just started, just finished' and occasional requests for book recommendations if I can help. People would not speak to one another like that in real life. There's no excuse for hiding behind a screen and doing it. Don't let them upset you Lynne. I so wanted to dive in with DM Andrews' thread and back him up but I know it would end in tears.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I baled out of the Village Idiot thread when they started being nasty to Damaskcat and I knew it would get worse. I only post on one or two threads there but I do read quite a few of them. Until they go nasty.

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Don't worry - I posted it on a half dozen forums, and two of them were nice (here and at kuforum.co.uk) ;) It's got quite a few shares on facebook, too!

[Kath]

I noticed people passing it on on Twitter too.

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Yup! (it's called tweeting / retweeting ;) )

[Kath]

Stop telling your granny how to suck eggs! Some people copied your link from here and tweeted it themselves. That's what I mean!

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

you suck eggs on Twitter??

[Kath]

You don't know what you're missing GL!

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Hehe.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

the eggs or the Twitter?

[Kath]

Scrambled tweets!

[Paul]

Thanks, D.M. - certainly can't hurt to spread that around.

I've just Tweeted the link with automatic relay to Facebook - https://twitter.com/PaulLev/status/25... - and I'm going over to Amazon to disagree with your detractors ...

And here's a link to what I wrote on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle%20...

Keep up the good work. As Kris Kristofferson said to Sinead O'Connor years ago - don't let the bastards get you down.

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Thanks so much, Paul.

I shall go in and take a look later - though my email client just notified me of about 30 replies to that thread overnight so I'm a bit scared to do so! :)

[Paul]

About half are from me, keeping up my/your side of the argument against the onslaught ... not to worry, you'll at least definitely enjoy what I had to say :)

It's highly unlikely any of the 4 or 5 on the other side will ever buy a book from me - but, then again, it was likely highly unlikely that they would before I set foot or hand in the place ... and we don't live by bread alone :)

In any case, it's 3:30 in the morning here, I'll be turning in soon ...

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Just finished reading them all. Thank you for defending my post. I honestly thought they'd say something like "thanks for the details, now we can help make quality books we've read more visible and support our favourite authors"

Guess I was wrong! I agree, there is some intensity there!

[Patti (baconater)]

*shakes head in dismay*

Those four or five posters have their heads so far up their own arses, there is no point arguing.

The point is, if you love a book, Darren's suggestions are great ways to share the joy.

I don't think of it as promoting an author. I think of it as sharing a great book.

I have never and will never recommend an author.

I have and will always recommend their stuff, if I've read and enjoyed it, because I want others to enjoy it too.

[Jamie]

I struggle to gain reviews. I don't think it's personal, it's as others have said, a lot of folk are happy to compliment someone but not write a review.
A lady that works with my wife asked to meet me the other week to say how much she enjoyed my book. I asked if she'd done a review. Nope.
Folk on GR are pretty good with a review and at spreading the word on this site which is great. I find that Twitter is a waste of time and Facebook merely okay in terms of feedback.

[Patti (baconater)]

I'm always surprised by how many people say they've downloaded books I've posted about on Facebook.

Oddly, they rarely say they have on Facebook, though. Seems to be when they see me in person or in an email or whatever.

[D.M. Andrews (author)]

Well, the debate on the Amazon thread continues (last time I checked) ;)

In more positive news, the article has been mentioned and linked on Hugh Howey's blog - Hugh is the massively successful author of the "Wool" novelette and series (optioned by Ridley Scott for a film)...

http://www.hughhowey.com/win-a-hardback/