My Random Thoughts

I wanted to take some time and talk about INDI authors, (Independent) and Book Reviews, and why some people are so afraid to pick a book up that's been self-published. Then question why some book reviewers are so afraid to review self-published books?  

Granted, I've only been in this world a short time, since this past August if you want to get technical and I have seen and read so much on this very topic that I can recite it in my sleep. Before I considered myself a writer, I was a reader. I read almost anything I could get my little hands on. If the pages in between the shiny or dull covers held a story that I thought would interest me. I read it. Period. I never cared who published it, a publisher out of New York, London or by someone in their basement. I never paid attention to that "minor" detail.  

In the author world that "minor" detail is anything but. I even found readers who consider a self-published book taboo, and shockingly enough, book reviewers. I can hear the big question now.

WHY?

Well, it's a long-winded answer, it's an answer that could go on and on, and it's an answer that's been answered over and over again.

Google it. 

Once you have a book published, I don't care if it's traditionally published or self-published, you have to have that book reviewed. Why? Well, I guess it's to tell other potential readers if it's a good book or not. A review is used to get insight on what the book is about beyond the blurb on the covers.

YAY!

OR

NAY! 

Are we really going to take one person's review on a book to heart? Are we really going to trust that the person doing the review is in a good mood the day he/she does the review? Are we really sure that the reviewer really cares for the Genre you write in? This is just one person out of millions and get this: WE do CARE what that one person says! Of course every author wants to see their books get to the five star rating in the reviews. When a writer/author gets a five star review from that one person it's like they won an Oscar. If they see a three star they begin to worry that maybe the story wasn't good enough. That just maybe something should have been changed prior to publication. A three star can bring an author down for days. A five star will keep that author walking on cloud nine knowing he/she could do anything. That's just one five star rating.  

So, how does one go about getting people to review your baby and be honest about it? You must go out there and look for these people and they are out there all over the Internet. Did you know some reviewers charge to review your book? Not only do you have to send them a hard copy, you have to send them money too. Then be prepared to wait, unless you want to pay extra to have them get to it sooner.  I don't know about you, but paying up to a hundred dollars to have my book reviewed is simply out of the question, never mind paying extra to have it done sooner. OH, I almost forgot. They'd like to have an advanced reading copy. Please and Thank You.

I arrived to that point and I said forget it. I'm not going to dish out money I don't have to get my book reviewed. There must be reviewers out there who will do it for free, or for a free copy of the book. As I've said before. The Internet is useful for more than Facebook and Myspace. It didn't take me long to find people who would indeed review the book  for free, or for a copy of the book you want them to review. They'd post the review on their blog site and even post it on Amazon.com and Goodreads. YAY!

Guess what?

Many of them will not review a self published book! Did I forget to mention, that there are some reviewers who charge and refuse to review self published books. Yet, they charge. I don't get it? Again, I arrived at the, oh forget it. The book will hopefully be seen going on a couple reviews I did manage to get from people who had bought the book. Now, as a reader I never thought about leaving a review for a book I had read. Why? I don't know. I just never thought about it. I didn't think it mattered.

WOW, I was mistaken.

Reviews matter. 

I finally found someone through another reviewer who agreed to review my book, for a copy of the book. YAY. Now, I write in the suspense/thriller/drama/violent Genre. I went to an Erotica Reviewer and she accepted the challenge. Imagine that. How fantastic! I write deep, I push at you and challenge you not to care about the characters and their woes. I try to get your eyes wet, I try to pull at your heartstrings, and I try to make you mad. She met my challenge and awarded me FIVE stars! This from an experienced reviewer, a reviewer with a following and she posted this information on her blog. Talk about thrilled. I am.

If you'd like to read that review here's the link: 

http://erotichorizon.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-river-of-tears-michele-l.html 

I also was asked five questions about self-publishing by E.H. and the answers and comments are posted here:

Would You Read a Self-Published Book?

http://erotichorizon.blogspot.com/2009/11/discussion-point-would-you-read-self.html 

This same reviewer is also putting on an INDI Author Reading Challenge for 2010. How exciting and how blessed the INDI authors to have someone like E.H. on their side. Her readers are just as excited.  

I believe that once a door opens to you, more follow. I say this because today I received an email from a reviewer who asked to review my book after seeing it on a few different blogs. How exciting. OF course I said yes. I'll be shipping her book out next week. 

So, why won't reviewers pay attention to self-published authors?

I'm thinking that'll change soon enough. If you had any idea of the authors who do self publish you'd be open mouthed. Give them a chance, yes the books are a little more expensive, but it's worth it. The author not only sees more of the profit, but they also keep full control over their own words.