Category Archives: Book Reviewer

Author Sharon C. Williams, Book Reviewer, Books

Book Reviewer: Me

6 Comments

2014-04-28 11.52.25

I have been reviewing for Booksneeze since 2010. Since I started, I have reviewed quite a number of books. Some from BS while others from authors who have heard that I offer this service for free. That’s right, for free. I now review for three sites and on my own.

Over the years the rules on how I place a review has changed as I come across people who give me reasons to do so. The rules are very specific, and only after an author agrees to the rules, and if I have time, will I say yes.

-I had one author send me an email and it said,” Where do I send my book?” What the heck? Manners would be nice, it is truly not asking a lot to be asked I think.

-I have had a person, after I read her book, say that if the review was going to be less than a three to not place it at all. I was pissed. I had taken time to read this book and to be told this made me see red.

– I have had authors ask for me to review all their books.

-I have had authors want to see the review and when seeing it have asked for me to change it.

– Last week I had someone ask me to not only review their book but would I purchase it so it be a verified purchase on Amazon. I had to admit I was taken back. The price was under a dollar so I did the purchase. But it was the first and will be the last time I do that. I broke my own rules. I receive all books for free. But considering that a review is coming out of it, I consider that a fair exchange.

Recently I found out my site has been placed on a listing for people who review. I was not asked but I didn’t mind. That was before I received an onslaught of people asking for me to review, and some of them not wanting to play by the rules. Some of the authors got down right mean when I refused to review three of their books in a row on my site. I said I would review their books but one at a time so the other people asking would get a turn. They were not happy. But we all know we can’t make everyone happy.

People are funny. I get it. Reviews are important to writers. Their important to me as well. But there is this little thing called courtesy. Use them people. I have the right to say no when you ask me to review for you. I am a writer myself and my time is hectic like everyone else. Courtesy is repaid with courtesy.

These are my rules for how I review a book. Am I being fair? I believe so.

About:

http://mainemuse.wordpress.com/about/

Reviewing:

http://mainemuse.wordpress.com/reviewing/

Author, Book Reviewer

Book Reviewer

Leave a comment

indexI’ve been a book reviewer since 2010 when I started with Booksneeze. The way it works is simple. I receive a book for free in exchange for two honest reviews. One of which I place on a blog the other on a commercial site. This relationship has worked well for me over the years. I get a free book and as an avid reader this is just so full of win. From that came authors asking for me to review their books.

I am not sure how the word got out but people keep me busy with their request. However I have slowed down since my own book was released in September of this year. Time has not been my friend since then. But I know now after all these years I can’t just say out loud, “ Does anyone have a book they like me to review,” and not expect it to bite me in the butt. I did that this past July and ended up with nine request which was a lot prior to my book coming out. Lesson learned. I had broken my rule of thumb which was never go over five books at a time on my list. Though that number might need to be adjusted and lowered. There is just too much going on right now.

There are so many authors needing their books to be read and reviewed. I am one of them now, a member of this collective. I need to toss my hat into the ring and have people do this for me as well. That is a daunting task for me. But with all of this I miss reviewing books.

So I made my way to Booksneeze and snagged A.L. Shields new book, “The Church Builder” and am thoroughly enjoying it. While I am an author I started off as a reader, a fanatic one at that since the age of six. May I never lose sight of that. I love it too much.

Author, Book Reviewer, Jasper Amazon Parrot

Book Reviewer: My book

Leave a comment

Cod_Fsfe_Books_Icon_clip_art_mediumA reader informed me they had purchased my book and was now reading it. In the sense of reading it NOW. So this was my range of emotions.

-Someone bought my book. WOOT!
-Man, I hope they like it.
-I hope they don’t find any glaring errors.
-Oh my gosh someone bought my book!
-But what if they don’t like it?

I was getting updates as the book was being read. This was torture. It is not a big book but the updates included how she had to go do this and that so got interrupted. Finish the book darn it and put me out of my misery

I get the confirmation the book has been read and finished. She loved the characters, the way I developed and incorporated them into the book. The ups and downs were done well. She loved it.

I can breathe again. Man is this how it is always going to be when someone tells me they are reading my book?