Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
IX. Currently Reading?
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What are you currently reading (or just finished)?
If you are looking for a spicy thriller full of intrigue suspense humor and romance try Two If By Sea by rick McCann! A great read you won't want to put down! Check out the Amazon reviews as well as the GoodReads reviews!
Richard wrote: "Hope you all try Two If By Sea by Rick McCann a great spicy thriller you won't want to put down!"Rick,
The purpose of this particular discussion group is for members to post books they are reading or have just finished reading, not self-promotion.
There are other discussions within most groups specifically designated for promotion. You may wish to utilize them.
Read The Midnight Man by Caroline Mitchell - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5591823286and
Outback by Patricia Wolf - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5607490057
Just finished The Key to Circus-Mom Highway. LOVED it!! Such a fun read.The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
I'm about to start Memory Man.
Memory Man
I just finished The Selection by Kiera Cass. Next I'm reading the next book in the series, The Elite.I've read 52 books out of my 100 books in a year challenge.
I just read another solicitation for a review of my book and ran into a new term; "Review Beggars." It is used to describe someone who won't pay for a review. What is one to think when someone approaching them to do business uses pejorative terms? Thinking about the issue is even harder when one hasn't asked them for the approach they have made. And they haven't even mentioned the title of the work they want to review for money. I do believe anyone who has read my book has the right to have a view of it. They also have the right to express an opinion about it. I have faith that most readers and writers will be capable of sorting the wheat from the chaff in opinions. Perhaps one should be grateful that the weakness of the proposal being made is betrayed by the approach that has been taken. Is it true that one cannot get a review on Amazon without the author paying them to be allowed to provide one? I have paid good money for the review and editing of my work by talented professionals to help in creating it. They have been honest and very competent. I have benefitted from the relationship and have been willing to pay for it. Judging from the comments made here on Goodreads there are a number of people who, if they decided to review my work and express their opinion of it here, would make me feel honoured by their attention. I would go to the extent of providing them with a copy of my book because we are members of a group interested in similar activities.
Larry wrote: "Tell them to kiss your ___! You should never have to pay for a review."Fred; Yeah, I was upset by the shaming implicit in the approach too, Larry. I just didn't want to get into a slanging match. Besides, I am a bit new to this kind of publishing and am unsure about what is going on. At first, I felt an offer to review my book was positive. OK, maybe I was naive, but I did try to explore each one I received. Then, I realized that those people weren't interested in the book, and just phishing. Not one of them even mentioned the title of my book, for example. So, they became a nuisance, much like unsolicited advertising you get in the mail. Then, I read that such phishers had to pay Amazon to post a review. I dk if it is true, but the whole thing began leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
I just finished reading the 2nd. installment of Geroge R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series titled A Clash of Kings and have begun reading the 3rd. installment titled A Storm of Swords.This is actually the 3rd. time I am reading the series. It has been 10 years since Mr. Martin published the 5th. installment, so I believe that it is highly unlikely that the final 2 installemtnts will be completed and published. The TV series, based upon the books, created its own followup and ending.
Fred wrote: "Larry wrote: "Tell them to kiss your ___! You should never have to pay for a review."Fred; Yeah, I was upset by the shaming implicit in the approach too, Larry. I just didn't want to get into a sl..."
Paying for reviews is against the Terms and Conditions on Amazon - they can suspend/terminate your KDP account. Basically, people approach writers all the time with inflated claims about getting loads of reviews to your work or whatever, offering to review it bla bla, but they are basically scammers.
Catch-up on a number of reviews:Georgia Sallaska's Priam's daughter - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1345962413
The House in the Woods by Mark Dawson - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5643046204
Hidden in Snow by Viveca Sten - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5645193429
Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J D Barker - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2585509612
The Lost Notebook by Louise Douglas - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5510566605
The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2753549688
Warrior Girl UnearthedI just finished https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Started reading another 2 books
The London Séance Society
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
The Rooster House: My Ukrainian Family Story, A Memoir
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Pam wrote: "Fred wrote: "Larry wrote: "Tell them to kiss your ___! You should never have to pay for a review."Fred; Yeah, I was upset by the shaming implicit in the approach too, Larry. I just didn't want to ..."
Pam, "Paying for reviews is against the Terms and Conditions on Amazon"
Fred; Your post finally inspired me to look at becoming an Amazon author. Yup, my book is listed there, but I must not be an Amazon author. It looks like one pays Amazon to sell your book there. It all seems a bit magical to me. So far. :-) Ignoring social issues, I suppose how legit it all is rests on the value of the service they provide. There have been times that I have been glad Amazon existed. They deliver the goods (literally) when you buy there. This is a real benefit if one's mobility is restricted. Sigh, I wonder if my publisher paid to list my book there? Maybe, I better ask? Here comes "beetle bomb." It wouldn't be a race without beetle.
Eva wrote: "I'm reading The Marriage Solution by Stephanie Rose. It is something I would never think about picking up. But since I am considering writing romantic comedy fiction for my next book, I figured it ..."Fred; I haven't chosen a topical area so far but write short stories about just about anything that strikes my fancy or my experience. So, I have been reading literature across a wide range. Right now I am almost finished "The Great Gatsby." Next on the list is Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Buried Giant." There used to be a pulp fiction category in writing, and these two books would fit what might have been called "good" writing or literature. Like most dichotomies, this could be unfair, and you don't hear it used much today with its emphasis on marketing. The stories are what matter, of course, and pulp could have a very broad appeal because of the stories they told. But I am intrigued by what good writers do, and good writers are where you find them. It would be good to hear if you find an excellent read in the romantic comedy section Eva. Rock on.
Ratings and reviews are merely subjective opinions. One reader's Best book ever! may very well be another reader's Worst book ever!, which is why most avid readers do not base their purchasing decision upon ratings or reviews.Truly professional authors focus upon striving to continuously improve upon their basic writing, narration, promotional, and marketing skills rather than obsess over the number or types of reviews received.
Contrary to what some believe, sales drive reviews, not the other way around.
Jim wrote: "Ratings and reviews are merely subjective opinions. One reader's Best book ever! may very well be another reader's Worst book ever!, which is why most avid readers do not base their purchasing deci..."Fred; Good, encouraging points made here. Two things seem important; allowing people a chance to decide if they are interested in a book and providing some information concerning what it is about. Once I am aware of a title, I find myself looking for a brief summary to help make up my mind about reading it. Hype doesn't affect me all that much. Then there is the name of the author I have enjoyed, or learned from, before. To me, editing and seeking opinions are part of the writing process itself. I am willing to pay for editing and opinion then, and I have, and I do. I am usually looking for ways of making a story better. Sometimes I am trying to understand something better, too. No, this isn't sour grapes. I like being liked, I just don't expect it until it happens. It is important if my wife likes a story I have written. Things get changed very quickly if she doesn't. LOL :-)
Catching up on a few reviews:The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5662672579
Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5645502739
and
The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5578107450
Two more:Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie M Holmberg - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5666963802
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5516706265
Books mentioned in this topic
The House in the Pines (other topics)Track Her Down (other topics)
Twenty Years Later (other topics)
Chasing Perfect (other topics)
Remain (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charlie Donlea (other topics)Susan Mallery (other topics)
Nicholas Sparks (other topics)
Kelly Moran (other topics)
Kevin O'Brien (other topics)
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I think I'd rather have an unfinished series as opposed to one that ended like season 8