Category Archives: Writng

A blog about the topics of writing, Writng

Amazon reviews: Easy come easy go

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I heard through the writer’s grapevine that Amazon would be gathering reviews from all their sites and put them in one place. This means the reviews that are on Amazon.uk or Amazon.ca, Canada and England, would be compiled on the site for the US.

Yay! This was the initial reaction from all of us. Majority of us, upon hearing this news, went to the site to see if it had occurred yet. We would continue to do so just waiting to see the number of reviews go up.

I saw an increase. Than I saw a decrease. I saw an increase and than it went back down.

Too good to be true was my first thought. Some authors it has remained, some authors has seen reviews return to the original number and unfortunately for some odd reason some saw their numbers go down. For me the numbers went back to the original numbers.

So, what gives? The people I have discussed this with are at a lost as well. I think I did find the answer though.

Amazon.

A wonderful site where you can buy just about anything. A site that happily takes your money, you can stream movies and shows and a place that keeps increasing it’s annual fee to Amazon Prime.

But when it comes to authors, those who are not in the top tier, forget about it. Small business people fall on the wrong side.

But alas I keep writing. For me to do otherwise is inconceivable.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writng

Paying for book reviews: Really?

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I’ve noticed that all of a sudden I’m receiving an avalanche of emails from people peddling their wares. What is their wares? They do reviews for a fee. And trust me the fees are not small.

I been doing reviews for free since 2010. I do it as a service to help others out. I know how hard it is to get someone to read your book and leave a review. Heck, I have family and friends who have not done mine. How am I going to get a total stranger to do it?

Well, I can if I pay the fee. Buying reviews is looked down on from Amazon and other sites. Yes, there are ways to get around it. There are always ways to get around something.

I even had a young lady say on her site that her reviews were in accordance to how Amazon wants reviews done but she does charge.

What is funny to me is how much they charge for a single review. Am I in the wrong business? Perhaps I am. However there are, if you search, number of places that offer free reviews and that is where I will be looking first.

This explains why my TBR list is never down to zero, ever. Though with it being so long I might need to start saying no.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writng

Who knew that rescuing a particular bird would make such an impact?: Jasper, Amazon Parrot

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This week it has been 20 years since we adopted and rescued a young five year old Yellow Cheek Amazon by the name of Jasper. While we don’t know his actual birthday we celebrate in October.

I’ve tried to imagine the time prior to not having Jasper in our lives. I started rescuing birds in the spring of 1998 and the fever caught on quickly and it has been maintained to this day.

Being around birds is different then the average pets- dog, cat, fish. We have one that talks back. And before someone says he is just mimicking you I politely disagree. He has learned our mannerism, our vocabulary, to an extent, and knows when and how to respond. It does make being home alone during the day unique. So, before you say how a bird can not be in away a pet I suggest you hang out with one. They are amazing animals and will love you as their own. But when I think about it Jasper, and my other birds, are not pets. They are more than that.

He loves my husband. No, wait. That is not the right word. He feels my husband is his mate and they are a bonded pair of birds. He tolerates me to an extent. It does not matter that I am his caretaker. Not one bit does it matter. LOL But let someone try to hurt me than he is all on team mom.

But his presence in our household and lives has changed us for the better. My first children’s book is based on him. His personality shines inside the pages and it is accurate to how he is in real life.

So, “Happy, we are so glad you are in our lives, how could anyone hurt you for five years, I would give your former owner a tongue whipping, you are in your forever home where you are safe and no one will ever, and I mean ever hurt, you again, we love you, and you are part of our family, Birthday.”

P.S. I am horrible with commas. They are definitely one of my Kryptonites as an author.