How To Write a Simple Book Review
Its easier than you think!
Allyson R. Abbott
Copyright 2015, 2016 and 2017 Allyson. R. Abbott
All rights reserved
Contents
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this book to all readers,
to all authors and all e-readers,
may you embrace literature for ever.
Other Nonfiction books by Allyson
How to Navigate the Path from Writing to Publishing Available now
How to Navigate the Social Media Maze Available Soon
How to Navigate the Road to Building Reviews Available Soon
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all Indie Authors. You share information; you support where it is needed, empathise and advise. All this is given freely to people who are your competitors for sales and the spotlight in the media. I cannot think of another industry or group of people who offer the same.
Thank you. You Rock!
Introduction
'From my close observation of writers... they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.' Isaac Asimov
***********
Helpful Information
For your information: if you want to buy and download e-books from Amazon and you do not have a Kindle you can download a free app for use on phones, laptops or in web browsers:
Laptops or PCs that run Windows from :
Kindle for Windows PCs
Smartphones/Tablets etc. from :
Kindle App
Web browsers (to read from the cloud) from :
Read on Line
********** *
I love books and I love reading. Many years ago, in the land of paper, I would finish a novel in triumph, and if I thought it worthy, would happily pass it on to a friend or family member. I was keen to share the enjoyment of a good book and to hear their thoughts. As readers, we were not personally encouraged to write a review; that being left to the editorial sections of newspapers, publishing houses and famous people, until Amazon came along. Amazon allowed their many users to add reviews to all products; including books. Soon, book reviews came to take on a whole new meaning. Authors are now able to see first-hand how the general public reader reacts to their book. This was a great step forward, but then Amazon introduced the Kindle.
The world of books and their readers has been turned on its head. Even though it felt like cheating, or succumbing to the devil, I, like most other avid readers, moved to e-books for the convenience and the much wider variety and availability of books it offered all at our fingertips. I still love to read a paperback, when possible, but with the new technology of being able to read using my phone, iPad or Kindle, I am never without a book and read at every opportunity .
Before I start on the subject of book reviews, I would like to explain a bit about authors and publishing, to help you appreciate their plight.
With the option of self-publishing, thousands of ordinary people (like me) are now able to write a novel or a nonfiction book, becoming an 'Independent Author' and present their book to the world, and in doing so, have bypassed the very selective and literary controlling publishers, who, no longer have control over what you, the reader, can read. Readers now have direct access to thousands of authors. No more gatekeepers.
There's a lot of hype about Independent 'Indie' Authors and Indie publishers, and can be confusing if youre not in the know. Basically an Indie Author is someone who writes a book and has no financial backing from a Publishing House to do so. They have no contract or promised income. They need to pay for their own editing, proofreading, research, formatting, covers and publishing. An Indie Author/Publisher also then goes on to use the facilities on KDP (Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing), which is free to use, or possibly Smashwords, (which is also free to use and distributes to other book selling organisations like Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and many more) .
If the author wants their work in a paperback, there are publishing companies like CreateSpace or LuLu.com to name two, but there are plenty more who charge for the services of publishing if the author finds the process too daunting; but the author is still independent from the big publishing houses. There are also vanity publishers, where authors can pay hundreds of pounds for publication and distribution of their books. Some of these options would not have been possible years ago, but now anyone can write a book and publish within a week or so if needed. It can be the best book you have ever read, but it could also be a stinker, with no structure or plot, poor grammar and spelling. How would you know not to buy or read that book if there is no review or feedback from other readers? The standard book blurb will always tell you its the best book ever written; thats what it is there for.
An Indie Author not only has to write the book and get it published, as they do not have any of the backing the big publishing houses offer, they are also now having to wear many different hats: author, publisher, marketer, publicity, customer services, promotion specialist. It is never ending. Their work doesnt stop with the words 'the end'. They will spend hours on social media networks, trying to be seen, or completing author profiles on different sales sites, like Amazon, to have a presence or to become a face. And, it never stops. They need to keep plugging their old works, while writing new books. Even authors who are signed up with publishers (but are not best sellers or famous), have to work hard to promote their own books.
Anita Lovett (from Anita Lovett and Associates) wrote as part of her ebook Market Review & Guide to 2015 .
E-book marketing is not for the faint of heart. It's a bear, fully equipped with sharp teeth and claws. With between 600,000 to 1 million being published each year (i.e. 1,600 to 2,700 books hitting the marketplace every day), just the United States, its imperative for yours to stand out. (25/01/15 )
Luckily, due to e-readers, all authors can now contact and interact with their readers directly, asking for opinions of their books and giving contact details. They are actually begging you to tell them your thoughts. For a lot of Indie Authors, your judgement is the only feedback they can get, whether you love it or hate it. How will they ever know if it has been well received, or if they need to go back to the writing table? Publishing houses forward their authors' books to reviewers and contacts from all areas of the media, and then publish the reviews in national and international newspapers. Indie Authors do not have that backing, reach, or the means.
So, why am I going on about authors and not book reviews?
According to author Nancy Curteman in her blog on May 17, 2012, where she answered her own question of;
'Do Amazon reviews actually affect a book's sales?
The answer was: Yes they do, according to publishers and other authors. Here's how:
After about ten reviews, Amazon starts including the book in "also bought" and "you might like" lists. This increases the chances of someone finding the title.
After several more reviews Amazon looks at the book for spotlight positions and the newsletter. This provides a HUGE hike in sales.
The number of reviews may affect Amazon sales ranking.
Next page
