Need help on review bell curve: too many positives!

[John]

I'm humbled by all the reviews of my book, how kind and glowy they are.
I'm especially glad it's getting into the hands of people that enjoy it... that's the main thing.

I wrote the stories with the idea of writing a story that *I* would like to read. I'm glad others like them.

Now, here's the challenge: So far, this is NOT a bell curve. Everyone is liking it. On the one hand, fantastic, on the other, its not believable. So that means I need more people to review it and maybe even not like it. Otherwise, this is looking weirdly nonstatistical (no such word, I know).

SO, if any of you want a free review copy so you can add to the bell curve, and give an HONEST review, even if you don't like it, please message me and I'll get one to you somehow. I'm out of paperbacks at the moment, I need to order some more, but ebooks are easy to send out. Thanks! This doesn't mean you should TRY not to like it, it just means I want a wider statistical sample.

Or else, god forbid, I just got lucky and on my first jump out of the gate made a universally likable book (which so does not fit my usual karma, so forgive me if I'm suspicious)


ok, this is probably the weirdest request ever, but here's the deal. I'd like to get at least 10 more HONEST reviews so I personally can feel better about the sample.

I won't be ordering in more paperbacks for at least a couple of weeks due to my own logistics, but I can send ebooks in any format, .mobi, .doc, ebook, you name it. Just message me with an email to send it to you.

thanks for even considering this bizarre experiment!

[John]

please read my blog:

ok! my bell curve is now FIXED!

Thank you so much to my most recent reviewers, who've reset my reviews to a more normal looking bell curve. MUCH appreciated.

I realize it was just happenstance, and I was NOT trying to get less than stellar reviews, necessarily, I just wanted honest ones, that hopefully spread out the stars a bit.

A weird experiment, to be sure. I'm not entirely certain anyone's ever asked that before.

As a friend suggested: be careful what you wish for!

So, just a note to anyone who reviews from now on, do not feel any pressure to overly laud or overly trash my collection of stories, just enjoy them, and if so compelled, share your reviews.

thanks!

[Judy]

If you're interested in one more review (keeping in mind that I rarely give five stars), I'd be willing to take a look at your book. I have a couple of short story collections that I'd also love to get a review for--I could send you Smashwords codes to get them if you're interested.

[John]

Judy wrote: "If you're interested in one more review (keeping in mind that I rarely give five stars), I'd be willing to take a look at your book. I have a couple of short story collections that I'd also love to..."

ahh... well, I'm inclined to avoid the idea of reciprocal reviews. If I understand correctly, I think they're frowned upon here as well. I think they have a point, in that it has the appearance of an agreement to rate the books a certain way. the other way it can be bad is if the author who finishes first rates the other's book too negatively or too positively, it can do naught else but skew the second review, at least a little.
However, I would never discourage you from purchasing and reviewing mine, and I possibly will take a look at yours, but I will not enter into a reciprocal review situation for the above reasons.

I hope you understand. ;)

[Amy]

*sticks nose into other people's business*

Avoiding them is very wise, John.

I did reciprocal reviews once and will never do it again. Everyone I spoke with was very nice, but the pressure to give a less than honest review--not from the authors, btw, they were all wonderful about it, but from the fact that they were nice enough to review my work, and I felt obligated to give them a glowing review in return--is intense.

I want to stress here that everyone involved gave me no pressure whatsoever. It was all me.

Now, I just hand out free review copies and wait to see what comes back.

BTW, this is the most unique self-promotion thread I have ever seen. :)

*having said her piece, she quietly leaves*

[John]

Amy wrote: "*sticks nose into other people's business*

Avoiding them is very wise, John.

I did reciprocal reviews once and will never do it again. Everyone I spoke with was very nice, but the pressure to giv..."

thanks for sticking your nose in. Yes, I think reciprocal reviews have been frowned upon for good reason, in enough cases to make it a good practice.

and, I'll say this is the weirdest thing I ever did, whether its self-promotion is another question!