Northern Heroes group read Jan 1 - Apr 1 2018

[S.W.]

Winter is coming! Would you possibly like to do a group read this winter? 3 authors would read and review you, and you'd read/review 3 different authors (avoids swaps) in the same broad genre of Northern Heroes from Arthur & Beowulf to Robin Hood & Hamlet. You'll get a full month per book. Updates soon!

21 previously uncontacted authors messaged today.

[S.W.]

This will be a group read by and for Goodreads Authors writing in the North Europe Heroes genres. It's not limited to just Arthur, but also borderline pre-gunpowder northern Europe, which could include Shakespeare, Robin Hood, Beowulf -- even time-traveling/space-faring knights. This is the 2nd of these groups, and this time VIKINGS are included!

Each author will read 3 books, 4 weeks given to each. In turn, you'll get 3 reviews back from these authors of similar interests. This will be non-reciprocal, to avoid those strange Amazon rules. In other words, none of the authors you review will be ones reviewing YOUR tome. If you can't finish the quota, let the MOD know: the usual procedure is not being allowed to join any subsequent group-reads. Nobody is forced to complete the group read, one just hopes as a matter of courtesy. You also will get 4 weeks per book, not all 3 books in a month. A Goodreads review is required, and also at Amazon if you've made the required min. purchase there. Social media and blog posts are appreciated too. By the end of each month, please post your review in the thread, using Goodreads and Amazon links (and any others like your social media sites). Example:
S.W.'s review of ______ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon _____________________
Optional Facebook/blog etc. _____________

Rating system is simple: "Stars of 4 to 5, your reviewing is alive; stars of 3 or less, offer first as notes instead." Some authors are fine with a "critical" review while others are beta-testing or polishing a new edition, so don't be afraid to message a few questions and if you feel best, offer your best advice if asked. So this rule will save my moderation duties so much time, as any misunderstandings can easily be solved in private messages. I also previewed all the authors queried, so the quality of books will be very high. And a .pdf copy should suffice for emailing. You may also Amazon "gift" to improve your sales rank: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/top... (Note for e-book gifting, you must have linked a valid debit/credit card. To review, you must have at least $50 in purchases thru that card, and not from gift cards or from linked-used-book-sellers. Giftees must also claim the gift thru email within 24 hours to count as a sale.)

Goodreads review etiquette is that of formal definition of the book as set in print. Example: "_________ is a _____ book in the Arthurian Aesthetic (and/ or) Alternate Ancient England genre [etc.].... Features it shows that help define that genre include________. Features I specifically liked or that tripped me up a bit include_______. [Done]. However, for this particular read, feel free to extend your definition a bit to include interrelated arts like film/plays/poetry, as well as any historical/etymological/archaeological background you'd like to share.

For posts on Amazon, a Goodreads member stated this eloquently: My reviews are not being deleted and I read at least 4-5 books per week. Remember to say at the end of your review: "I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of the book with me." This solves the two requirements from Amazon. 1) that you are not forced to leave a review in exchange for the copy of the book; and 2) that you disclose you received a free copy.

[Neil]

Will this be a read of the medieval versions or modern interpretations of them?

[S.W.]

Neil wrote: "Will this be a read of the medieval versions or modern interpretations of them?"

It's for Goodreads Indie Authors, so that would have to be "modern interpretations" unless they owned a time machine (or "rescued" rare tomes like Tolkien did?)

[Rusty]

I assume "Before Halloween, please post your first review in the thread, using Goodreads and Amazon links (and any others like your social media sites)" is an oversight from an earlier reading group?

[Rusty]

Absolutely. Sign me up (I'll choose a title in the near future).

[Petrea]

Thanks, S.W. As we approach the holidays, I'm going to have to skip this one.

[S.W.]

Petrea wrote: "Thanks, S.W. As we approach the holidays, I'm going to have to skip this one."

Thank you Petrea: I understand your third book from the fall read is HUGE and will keep you busy for a while. I trust the three reviews you received held a morsel or two for thought, and the slight criticisms were well-intentioned.

[M.L.]

I’m in! Sign me up!

[Petrea]

Absolutely, S.W.

[S.W.]

Author #1! Mercedes Rochelle Godwine Kingmaker: Part One of the Last Great Saxon Earls

#2 Susan Signe Morrison Grendel's Mother: The Saga of the Wyrd-Wife

#3 Nicholas Kotar The Song of the Sirin

#4 Rusty Rhoad kaffka, the holy grail, and a woman who reads: the quests of sir kay


#5 M.L. Mackworth-Praed Logres

#6 Kai Mjaanes replaced with Christy Nicholas Misfortune of Vision

#7 James Grant Goldin The Aesir Kids

#8 Brian J Lang The Knight's Journal I

#9 S.W. Wilcox A Poem for Britain

#10 J.M. Hofer Islands in the Mist

[J.M.]

I'm in! Unless you're full? Sorry, bit late to respond. As my books are a series, I will have to resubmit Book 1, Islands in the Mist (if you still have room). Thank you - happy thanksgiving, everyone!

[S.W.]

Ok, J.M. You're #10.

[J.M.]

Great! Thanks - loved doing this last group read.

[S.W.]

Assignments coming by Friday, Dec. 8.
First review and/or notes due by Jan 31.
2nd, Feb 28,
3rd, March 31.

[Brian]

Love the lineup, S.W.! Looking forward to it!

[S.W.]

ASSIGNMENTS ARE READY

Message these readers to get their contact email.
Ask if okay to "gift" a .mobi for Amazon sales credit (please redeem within 24 hours people, and must be in same country), or send a .mobi file direct, etc. Please try to review in order listed, rather than when they get the files to you. Then post GR, Amazon, misc. blog links for others to see.

MERCEDES your readers will be:
Susan Signe Morrison
Nicholas Kotar
Rusty Rhoad

SUSAN: your readers will be:
Nicholas Kotar
Rusty Rhoad
M.L. Mackworth-Praed

NICHOLAS your readers will be:
Rusty Rhoad
M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Christy Nicholas

RUSTY your readers will be:
M.L. Mackworth-Praed
Christy Nicholas
James Grant Goldin

M.L. your readers will be:
Christy Nicholas
James Grant Goldin
Brian J Lang

CHRISTY your readers will be:
James Grant Goldin
Brian J Lang
S.W. Wilcox

JAMES your readers will be:
Brian J Lang
S.W. Wilcox
J.M. Hofer

BRIAN your readers will be:
S.W. Wilcox
J.M. Hofer
Mercedes Rochelle

S.W.'s readers will be:
J.M. Hofer
Mercedes Rochelle
Susan Signe Morrison

J.M. your readers will be:
Mercedes Rochelle
Susan Signe Morrison
Nicholas Kotar

[M.L.]

I think you've linked to the wrong Brian J. Lang, S.W. Here's the correct link to Brian's page for all those who need it.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

[S.W.]

Fixed Bri's link.

[S.W.]

Slots filled faster than expected. Plus to beat holiday shopping, I posted the assignments early. First review not due 'til 2 months from now.

In reply to a question, reviews should be between 1 to 3 short paragraphs.

This one is a good model, giving a (1) summary, (2) genre example/definition through a quote showing notable character/dialogue (3) modest tips about things that were a bit confusing/easily improved to your eye. Then (4) A sign-off that the book was freely given and freely reviewed.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Feel free to ask your authors a few. private, interview questions before posting, treating the book as something never quite finished, and always subject to slight improvements.

[S.W.]

Nice "Viking House" pic-blog here: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Nice "Nine Worlds" pic-essay here: http://www.germanicmythology.com/orig...

[Eric]

Nice "Nine Worlds" pic-ess..."

The Germanic mythology site is a good one, I've perused it frequently.

[M.L.]

As agreed with the author, here is my 3* review of Kaffka, the Holy Grail, and a Woman Who Reads: The Quests of Sir Kay.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Kaffka-Holy-Gr...

Thank you to the author for sharing his book with me. On to the next read!

[S.W.]

Did everyone reach their contacts okay? I think Kai Mjaanes is m.i.a. and I might need to find a replacement.

[Mercedes]

great on this end!
Mercedes

[M.L.]

Yeah, I've not heard anything from Kai Mjaanes either. Otherwise my two other readers have received my book OK and I've got all three books from my authors.

[Mercedes]

Here's my review of Islands in the Mist. Thanks, Johanna! I enjoyed it:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/review/R15MMIK...

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-...

[J.M.]

Thank you so much, Mercedes - I'm so happy you enjoyed it!

[Christy]

I understand you have an author MIA - I would love to add my book, Misfortune of Vision!

[S.W.]

Christy wrote: "I understand you have an author MIA - I would love to add my book, Misfortune of Vision!"

Okay Christy. Here's the authors who will read/review you in order. I provided their email via message to send a .mobi to:

CHRISTY your readers will be:
by Jan. 31 James Grant Goldin
by Feb. 28 Brian J Lang
by March 31 S.W. Wilcox

In turn, message these authors to send their .mobi's to you to read/review
by Jan. 31 M.L. Mackworth-Praed (this is thick, and starting late, take an extra week or two if needed)
by Feb 28 Rusty Rhoad
by March 31 Nicholas Kotar

Thanks, and best of luck promoting your newest Brooch book.

[Christy]

Excellent - .mobis sent and messages sent! Thank you for including me!

[S.W.]

My review for Brian J. Lang's

Knight Evident (Knight's Journal #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
which is a bit of a runover from the last read, to cover for authors who didn't finish the read, then here is a separate review for the trilogy, for this group read:

The Knight's Journal 1 (Collection #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[S.W.]

My almost finished review for James' The Aesir Kids:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

REMINDER: to get instant updates when group members post reviews, please follow the author (click the tab under their profile page pic, top left).

[Brian]

My review for M.L.'s Logres (The Future King #1):

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've also posted to Amazon but it hasn't popped up yet. I know they've been a little wonky lately about their reviews (I've seen them take down reviews of authors who follow one another on Twitter, for instance), so we'll see if it gets through whatever review process George Milton has them employing (inside joke; M.L. will get it).

[Christy]

It took them three days to post one of my reviews the other day. They're being very wonky.

[Brian]

Amazon posted it:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1A8DM8...

Yay!

[S.W.]

Really bizarre as well is I didn't receive notice of these last 3 posts. That's never happened before. Neither did I get a notice of Brian's GR review, and I'm following him.

[S.W.]

Jan 31 review due date is coming. 4 have posted and 1 sent notes instead. I need to know the status of the other 5. If someone is missing, Kai wrote today and I can plug him back in somwhere, but I'll wait one more week.

[J.M.]

Just posted my review of Bards of Fantasia - on to Brian's book, now!

[James]

Reviews are posted on Goodreads of "Kaffka, the Holy Grail and a Woman Who Reads," "Misfortune of Vision" and "The Future King" -- reviews have been submitted to Amazon US and UK...and we'll see whether they pass muster with the Amazonian authorities. Thank you to all and happy almost-Imbolc!

[S.W.]

Now we're cooking! Just need to hear from...

-- Rusty (Review for Mercedes coming, then he'll do the other 2 in order, Nicholas and Susan.)
-- Susan, 1st review below
-- Christy: 1st review below

[Christy]

Reviews are posted on Goodreads and Amazon for Logres! That was fun - looking forward to the next one!

[S.W.]

Susan's review for "Godwine" on GR and Amazon:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Brian]

I have completed my reading of Misfortune of Vision and provided Christy with comments. I will wait for her to determine whether she wants me to proceed with posting my review.

Okay, heard from Christy and posted my 3* review:

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Amazon will be posted whenever it gets through the Amazon maze of approval.

Amazon link added: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1T3BZX...

[S.W.]

Thx Bri.

[Rusty]

My Amazon and Goodreads review of Godwine. A delightful read.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R351DNK...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(Sorry I reviewed out of order, but it was the only one I had when it was time to start reading.)

[M.L.]

I have finished all three reads and have just posted my notes to the final author. I'd like to thank the authors for sharing their works with me and wish them the best of luck with their projects in future!

[S.W.]

This is the 2nd promo-poster I've made based on theme (the 1st was time travel, for my first book, this is for #2 in the series). Feel free to share on your social media or book backpages.

[S.W.]

Freyja's cart drawn by cats? http://www.germanicmythology.com/orig...

[James]

Hey, Freya! Don't whip those kitties!

Always a question, pictorially, of how big the cats should be. Those seem a little small--though double-size...although I suppose they're as big as some sled dogs.