ILL READ YOURS, IF YOU ...

[James]

Hi All

I need Reviews. Happy to review others' works (in line with Lee's suggestions of 4/5 star, no negatives,though positive criticism is appreciated). Kindle format preferred as I travel a lot.

I'm not looking for people to buy review copies of my work - I have 10 Kindle format versions available for review, which I'm quite happy to email to you if you email me james at jamesmarinero dot com . In the email please quote your Goodreads handle and one of your works.
Gate of Tears

My preferred tags are

action adventure
technothriller
military fiction
espionage

By the way, if you don't have a Kindle, the Kindle Reader for PC is free from Amazon (I don't have a Kindle myself).

Thanks in advance hopefully for your help.
J

[Larry]

FYI. Suggest you read some of the recent postings on other forums about just how unethical this is.

In a recent Goodreads group, Shawn posted the following, along with my response.

Shawn wrote: "Here's an interesting article very pertinent to this discussion and reviews from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/tec......"

Shawn, thank you so much for posting that story. Interesting that fake reviews are dilluting the value of the remainder. Didn't I say something like that? :-) Oh yeah, I did. I especially liked the following passage from the New York Times story: “The whole system falls apart if made-up reviews are given the same weight as honest ones,” said one of the researchers, Myle Ott. Among those seeking out Mr. Ott, a 22-year-old Ph.D. candidate in computer science, after the study was published was Google,.."

I also must admire the mild language used by the Times: "...an industry of fibbers and promoters has sprung up to buy and sell raves for a pittance." I would have used stronger terms: ...an industry of liars and con artists attempting to defraud book buyers.

Also, when a person offers to do a review as a quid-pro-quo for 4/5 stars, that constitutes conspiracy to commit a fraud. THAT is exactly what will ruin the EBook market.

[Lee]

Larry,

I will say it one more time: this thread is not intended to solicit or result in anything other than honest reviews. It's intent is to expose authors' works to other authors in the hope that those works will interest the others and result in some positive reviews. If someone wants to give a negative rating or review, obviously nothing prevents them from doing so. Indeed, I received a one star rating from a participant who didn't bother to read the entire book.

I for one won't read a book that doesn't look interesting, but this thread has broadened my range somewhat. I've taken a chance on books I might not have otherwise read because they weren't in a genre I prefer. I've discovered some very good books this way. I've also read a few I wish I hadn't. I don't feel any moral compulsion to publicly trash the ones I didn't like. If this offends you, so be it.

I've been reading books since long before ebooks were thought of. There's never been a golden age of publishing in my lifetime in terms of the quality of books available. An incredible amount of poorly written crap has always been plentifully available. Some extremely successful professional writers wrote and continue to write illiterate garbage that, to my amazement sell in vast quantities.

Print on demand and ebook programing have made self-publishing economic for a whole new group of authors. The only ones hurt are the vanity press vultures. Sure, there's even more crap out there in cyberspace, but there's some good stuff too that wouldn't otherwise have been published because commercial literary agents and publishers are loath to take a chance on any appreciable number of newcomers.

The glass is half full, not half empty.

[Kathleen]

Hi, I write romance romance/suspense(my second book that isn't out yet). I love your idea to help generate interest! Plus I am always looking for new books so I love the idea of giving other authors a little help up!

I tend to read romance, historical love stories, a little suspense, and the classics.

The genre is AF Romance and is available at http://www.amazon.com/Changes-Kathlee... or if you would want to get it for half that price it is also available at http://www.publishamerica.net/product...

Tags would be adult fiction, love story, romance

[Larry]

Lee wrote: "Larry,

I will say it one more time: this thread is not intended to solicit or result in anything other than honest reviews. It's intent is to expose authors' works to other authors in the hope tha..."

Lee wrote: "Larry,

I will say it one more time: this thread is not intended to solicit or result in anything other than honest reviews. It's intent is to expose authors' works to other authors in the hope tha..."

Lee, you said: "I don't feel any moral compulsion to publicly trash the ones I didn't like. If this offends you, so be it." It should offend anyone who's an author because it devalues your work, my work and all the others who strive to turn out a quality product. If someone is putting their work out there, they implicitly imply this is their good work. They should value critique [according to my dictionary: an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; detailed evaluation; review. ]

You said: "this thread is not intended to solicit or result in anything other than honest reviews." Whether or not that's the "intent" is immaterial as others have that intent.

As I've said before, and as indicated in a recent New York Times article, quid-pro-quo (scratch my back etc.) reviews are destroying the emerging EBook industry. The traditional houses would love to have that happen. What about you?

[Lee]

Larry,

The so-called EBook industry is here for the foreseeable future no matter what. The question is whether the traditional houses, as you call them, or the indies will benefit most. The traditional houses have the tremendous advantages of known authors and big advertising budgets. The problem for indies is attracting the attention of potential readers. Most of us are doing this retail by connecting with individuals and groups on GR, FB and so on (through friends, giveaways, online interviews by bloggers who like to do that and the like). I have yet to hear from any author that online advertising that anyone can afford works. Suggestions?

Regarding reviews, surely you can tell an honest review from a phony except where it is written by a professional flack (there are plenty of those out there and have been for decades). I, and I'm sure you, disregard reviews that don't say something thoughtful about a book. Also, if there are not a substantial number of reviews for a book, I tend to discount the ones that are there. I doubt very much that many people are being mislead by "friend" reviews. If your point is that all reviews are being degraded, that happened long, long ago before the internet. Edmund Wilson is long dead.

[James]

Without reviews I cannot improve my craft. Simple marketing. Get feedback, learn what I did wrong, what I can improve on next time. Sure, I can ask my family. No value in that, as much as I respect their opinions.

No dishonesty.

A panel of fellow authors is a focus group. I used a focus group to select the book cover design.

IMHO I have read enough books in my genre to know what makes a good one; nevertheless I am not my own best judge (although I am, perhaps, my most severe critic).

The publishing world is changing as Lee said, but marketing has always been 'heavy' for the best authors. Just look at what interests Publishers Weekly for reviews: initial print run, marketing activity, 5 city tours and so on. That world is changing.

As I said, I'll take the rough with the smooth.

I've been around a long time and have seen enough dishonesty to make hair curl. I don't need it. If I wanted it I could easily cook up 20 reviews myself in a couple of hours.

Embrace change, adapt and survive.

[Lee]

Larry,

I saw that you posted two of your books. To my surprise one of them is a novel. I think I'm probably too old to have the energy to profit from your book promotion book, but I'm intrigued by the mystery and I'm going to give it a try.

Best, Lee

[Larry]

Lee wrote: "Larry,

I saw that you posted two of your books. To my surprise one of them is a novel. I think I'm probably too old to have the energy to profit from your book promotion book, but I'm intrigued by..."

Lee, thank you. I hope you enjoy it. In any event, please let me know what you think.

Best,

[Lee]

Larry wrote: "Lee wrote: "Larry,

You'er welcome. I've got two books ahead of yours including James' Gate of Tears. I'll let you know when I start it.

I created this thread to, among other things, find new reads I might not have otherwise seen. It is serving that purpose well. Thanks for posting your books.

Best,

[Lee]

James Marinero's book

Gate of Tears

is an outstanding thriller. Please see my rating and review on GR and elsewhere.

[Paul]

Hi, I've written an exciting YA novel set in the art-smuggling underworld. I can send out a paperback or Kindle file if anyone would like to read / swap it.

I'll read pretty much anything and happily give you an honest opinion.

Here's a like to my opening chapters if you're interested:
http://www.powbooks.com/wp-content/up...

Thanks,
POW

[Lee]

Larry Moniz's book

Murder in the Pinelands

is a first rate mystery/procedural. Please see my rating and review on GR and elsewhere.

[Anita]

I like to read spiritual fiction and non-fiction (Christian), also mystery, women's lit and some sci fi. I'm the author of 3 books on Goodreads. Here's the links to two of them: When God Speaks http://tinyurl.com/4ylyu7b and Letters to God http://tinyurl.com/3pmzusd . You're all invited to my launch party on N0v. 8th. Recieve lots of free gifts. If anyone want to help post for this I invite your participation for a return favor of helping promote your book. For details, See http://www.anitaestes.com You can e-mail me at anitawriter7@yahoo.com Thanks!

[Lee]

Anita wrote: "I like to read spiritual fiction and non-fiction (Christian), also mystery, women's lit and some sci fi. I'm the author of 3 books on Goodreads. Here's the links to two of them: When God Speaks htt..."

Not a genre I follow, but best of luck to you.

[Lee]

Just published: Impediments, my third novel and the first book of The Sonnet Trilogy. Set largely in Switzerland between 1948 and 1955, it is a coming of age and love story complicated by family ties, gender stereotypes and changing attitudes toward sex.

Impediments