I am fairly new to this industry so I am learning on the fly as I go. The first thing I was told you have to get reviews. I understand this philosophy because I am an avid reader. I read about three books a week and I hate to spend my hard-earned money on junk.
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This is where the reviews become so important to me. I want someone to give me a heads up and say this is only part of the story. If the author or the publishing house does not clearly state that the book is a continuation then it makes me angry and I don’t read that author again.
I have also learned to go on a book tour if you want reviews from people unsolicited. I made the mistake of giving a review for a book in order to receive the next book for free. Big mistake the publishing house now sends me lots of books and not necessarily in my genre and I have to unsubscribe to something I didn’t subscribe to because they are bombarding my email. Now lots of publishing houses mysteriously have my email. I want to review a book because I really enjoyed. I also question how honest are the reviews if people are trying to get something free from it. The one and only time I did it I know it tainted my review but I guess the publishing house is betting on that.
I stand behind the books I write. Is it for everyone? No. It is for people who love a good contemporary love story with content besides sex. Yes, it has sex because sex is part of a loving relationship, but it also has a story of overcoming life struggles in one form or another.
The hard part about reviews is they are spread all over the board. People leave reviews from the place the purchased the book and on Goodreads. I am from Canada and if you purchase my books in the United States you can’t see the reviews from Amazon.ca on Amazon.com. Sad really because I could have lots of good reviews but you will never see it.
Be very careful of companies that claim to give you reviews or travel on site like Amazon because I have been taken twice by companies like that. You give them a reviewer’s copy and you never get what they promise.
It is so hard to sell a book. I know I am a grain of sand in a beach. I just want people to read my books so I can continue to write them. I know I am never going to be a millionaire by writing books, there is just too much competition. I would love to get discovered but the likelihood of it happening is slim to none. So, I do what I love and pray that someone somehow finds my books and reads them and loves them enough to write a review.
Everyone keeps telling me reviews are so important to sell books. As a reader I agree, but as an author my experience and sales tell me differently. First and foremost, they have find your book, that is by far the hardest part. If I ever discover the magical recipe to get noticed when you are an independent author without a huge advertising budget. I will let you know. I might have written the best book you have ever read but without exposure it lost in cyber space.
Reviews are important because of the validation that it gives the author for your books content and is greatly appreciated but I would also love some validation in sales.
Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have a beautiful granddaughter after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favorite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She works with special-needs teenagers, that have taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes.
Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her lifelong dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier then riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.
Website: http://annemariecitro.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ AnneMarieCitro
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/ amcitro
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