27 Mar Over the Mountain is off to a good start!
Best Seller in Category
Over the Mountain has been out for a little over two weeks now, and sales are going well, especially on Kindle, where I’m running a special promotional sale for $2.99. The book is still hanging in there as a Kindle number one best seller in its category, as you can see from the screen shot below, taken just a few minutes ago. I’m so grateful to my loyal readers who made that happen!
Increased sales means that lots of people are reading the book–unless of course my readers are bogged down with other titles that they must get through before they can start Over the Mountain. I totally understand that, as I have my own stack I’m eager to get through as well. As Frank Zappa said, “So many books, so little time.”
Please Post a Review
But, please dear reader, when you do get to Over the Mountain, take a few minutes and leave a review. It’s critical to getting the book noticed. And remember, it’s not so much a book review as it is a product endorsement, so you can pretty much say whatever you like. But for those who prefer a more structured approach, I’ve reprinted the instructions for posting a review on Amazon from my March 3 post down below.
I can’t say it enough! To all who have supported me in my writing efforts:
How to Post a Book Review On Amazon
(1) On your web browser, enter http://www.Amazon.com To locate the book, type the name of the author or the title of the book into the Amazon search window.
(2) Click on the title of the book. Scroll down and down and down. Finally, you’ll come to the heading, Customer Reviews, and you’ll see a box with the words write a customer review. Click on the box and you’ll see the cover of the book with five stars beside it.
(3) Click on the stars to rate the book according to how well-written it is and how much you think readers of the genre will like it. Obviously, if you’re a sci-fi fan reading a historical novel, your interest level will be lower than someone who loves the genre of historical fiction, and vice versa.
The lower you rate the book, the more detail you need to give, especially if it’s below three stars. The author deserves to know the rationale behind a lower rating. Saying something like “This is an okay book,” or “I didn’t care for this book,” is really damning. Be honest, but if you offer criticism, make it constructive by saying how the weakness can be improved.
(4) After you rate the book, a box will appear below for entering the review. You can write as many words as you want to, but if your time is limited, answer two or three of the following questions and submit your review. Amazon will confirm that it’s from an authorized purchase, that it complies with their regulations, and then publish it shortly, usually within 12-24 hours.
Consider these questions when you post your revie
The questions below relate to works of fiction, but most could easily be adapted to non-fiction as well.
- What did you like most about the book? (Was it a page turner? Descriptive? Well-researched? Had believable characters?)
- Did the book have an imaginative or compelling plot? Or was it mostly character-driven? In which case:
- Which character(s) did you find most engaging and why? How did the main character change over the course of the novel? With which traits of the character did you identify?
- How did the setting enhance the plot?
- Was there a dominant theme to the book? If so, how did the author reveal it? (If non-fiction, what was the purpose and how did the author achieve it?)
- What was your favorite scene/chapter in the book? Your favorite quote?
- Did the book have a realistic/satisfactory ending for you? Why or why not. (If non-fiction, did the book accomplish its purpose?)
- What did you learn from the book?
- To what type of reader will this book appeal? To whom would you recommend it and why?
Writing a review for Amazon is really not as much of a pain as you thought it would be. So, get busy and thank your favorite author by posting one today! And then get in the habit of writing a quick review every time you finish a book. It’s a free and easy way to demonstrate your support.
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