Tag: Reviews

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Wrestling with the GARQ

The Great Amazon Review Quandary, that is

There are three facets to my confusion, a sort of Trinity of Interconnected Perplexities: the need to Market, blatant Review Inflation, and a reluctance to come off as ‘that guy’.

Of course I want to get my work in front of potential readers, but I’m just one special snowflake in a huge flipping blizzard, and I simply don’t have to the funds to hire a PR firm, or the time and inclination to incessantly pump the Social Media well.

Then, between sock puppets, paid-for-reviews, and shill-and-gush marketing, Amazon review numbers may have gone through the roof but their credibility has plummeted. I mean, how does John/Jane Doe’s 50 Shades of Western Zombie Romance Vampire Apocalypse get twice, thrice the reviews of masters like Gibson, King, Rothfuss, Tolkien, Peake, Cronin, et alia? It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that (authentic) swing.

(Side Note: I worry for western civilization when I hear people are cashing in on Dino Porn It’s rumored those two ladies paid their way through college with their writing. Good for them, I guess, but big ‘WTF?’.)

As an Indie author I get that marketing is in my hands, but the last thing I want is to be the turd in the pool in every room, chat, forum, thread, FB/Tumblr/Pintrest/Twitter feed always pimping my books.

MybookMybookDiscountcodeLatestfivestarreviewMybookMynextbookIdeaforbookseriesMybookMybook…

Not everyone is interested in genre fiction. Buying or reading one of my books doesn’t then obligate the reader to be my Publicity Squirrel. I want to contribute to any community I’m a part of, be it physical or online, not just take. Sure, I ask folks to read and review my stuff, but it’s rude to presume or guilt them. I figure what I really need to do is write things worth reviewing.

So there it is. I’m open to feed back, recommendations and suggestions.

P.S. Book Announcement coming tomorrow.

Take Care,
Patrick T.

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Re-Post: Dear Writer…

In case you missed it, Chuck Wendig’s Dear Writer… is a great article. Read it. It’s crass, clever, and brutally honest. If you write, it’s totally worth your time. Caution – has bad words so beware.

I’m sure someone else has noted it, but ‘Wendig’ is just an ‘O’ (as in OMG!) away from the mythological, Native American, ravenous, demonic, flesh eating, demi-beast, (and uber-cool comic book villan) Wendigo. Just sayin’

Have a Happy Trick or Treat.

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The Barrow Lover panel #2

12" x 12" with 18" chain for hanging.
12″ x 12″ with 18″ chain for hanging.
Managed to solder the second Celtic panel for The Barrow Lover Stained Glass Giveaway. Simple design with a Celtic knot negative-etched on antique gray glass in the center. The halo is a Kelly green antique glass with a secondary ring of clear double-chip. The arms are a very cool translucent white with an unusual gold fire when in the sun, while the corners are dark gray granite glass. The third piece for the giveaway will be similar. (Different center) I should finish it late this week.

Someone commented giving away stained glass was an unusual way to get reviews. I don’t like the Shenanigans and Review Inflation that goes on at Amazon/Goodreads, etc, but I’m convinced honest reviews are important. Of course I want them. But this is also a way to say ‘Thank you’ to readers. There are plenty of other books, plenty of other things you could be doing with your time and money. That you read my stuff is an honor. To then take the extra effort to post a review is remarkable. So while I can’t give everyone a panel or even buy you a cup of coffee, I want to express my gratitude for your interest and support. Thank you.

All the best.
Patrick Todoroff

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Not So Subtle Reminder

TheBarrowLover 2 eyesMy latest book, The Barrrow Lover, will be released Oct 1st. A Celtic-flavored ghost story in time for All Hallows’ Eve, you can pre-order it for Kindle as of today. Also, I’m getting the trade paperback version ready through CreateSpace, so there will be a hard copy for those who prefer the heft and smell of printed matter. Special thanks to Michal Oracz for an excellent cover, G.L. Francis for her patience in tidying up the prose, and all the advance readers who took the time.

So please, if you enjoyed it, I’d be grateful if you’d post a link on your blog or FB page, tell a friend or three, and left a short, honest review at Amazon and/or GoodReads. Every little bit helps.

And please remember the Celtic Stained Glass panel Giveaway.

Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25" x 20.25"
Foil-wrap construction, the panel measures 20.25″ x 20.25″
The winner will be drawn at random from the first fifty folks who leave a review at Amazon. The two smaller second and third place panels are in process right now. (I’ll post pictures when they’re complete)

A thousand thanks.
Patrick Todoroff

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Stuck at 39

running-black
Running Black reviews, that is.

Here’s the ask: if you’ve read and enjoyed RB, would you do me solid and fire off a short, honest review on Amazon? Cresting 40 is an itch I’d like scratched – and sock puppets aren’t my thing.

Thanks much. Back to writing.

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In Dreams – a short review.


IN DREAMS by Darryl Knickrehm

A fan of indie sci fi and a writer myself, I picked up this novella on an Amazon recommendation and wasn’t disappointed. Told through diary and dream fragments with little ramp up, Knickrehm trusts his readers can jump in and follow along, something I admire. While this story-telling technique might not appeal to some, and would get tedious in the long haul, “In Dreams” is a solid start to the series. For the price of coffee at a convenience store, this little gem will last longer and scratch that sci fi itch. Looking forward to more. Three stars for the solid writing, + one for being Indie.

Available at Amazon for Kindle.

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The Real Question isn’t

“How do I get more Reviews?” but “Have I written something worth reviewing?”

When The Barrow Lover is released, I’m sending out copies no strings attached. Of course I’m hoping for READS/REVIEWS. Of course I’ll be looking for Indie/Small Press reviewers, run ads in appropriate markets, but my goal, my prayer, my struggle is to write stories a reader wants to tell others about. I want to craft better stories, sentences, characters – not get all greasy ninja devious to exploit the Amazon and Goodreads systems.

Just sayin’.

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Soldier Dreams review request

soldier_dreams_typo Between sales and promos, hundreds of copies (yes, 300+. Really) of Soldier Dreams have gone out in the the world. If you’ve read it, would you be so kind as to fire off a quick review at Amazon? No guilt, no obligation, but Indie authors rely on those numbers, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.

(of course, I could just create a couple dozen false accounts and shill my work, then pimp my services to other writers. Make $$ that way instead…)

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Ranger Martin and the Zombie Apocalypse

Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead (great movie!) The Walking Dead… we have quite the appetite for rotting flesh, don’t we? *snirk*

Fellow genre writer Jack Flacco’s debut novel “Ranger Martin and the Zombie Apocalypse” continues in this fine tradition with a story about a grizzled survivor, a rusty pick-up, and his trusty 12-gauge. Protecting fellow survivors, uncovering an insidious conspiracy, and above all, blasting away at hordes of shambling undead is what this is all about.

The genuinely refreshing thing is while RM is fraught with tension and action, (and zombies) it keeps from decomposing into ponderous, grim darkness with a salting of black humor and a light tone. Thankfully, the book keeps on the side of a good old-fashioned Saturday morning cartoon rather than descending into a relentless, dreary tale of survival. It’s the undead with their tongue firmly in cheek. If you’re looking to waste some time with some good old-fashioned Zed-blasting, this is the book for you.

Be sure to click through to his Website to stay notified of the release date. I’m looking forward to more from this guy.

* Full Disclosure: I know the author through online venues and received an ARC of Ranger Martin.