Wanda's world wiews and wamblings

Wanda's world wiews and wamblings

So today we are onto another topic.  Well maybe not.  Maybe it’s the same as yesterday but more targets specific.  Today let's talk about authors. Let's talk about cavemen. 

I can tell you now, I can tell all of you, should you be in a bad mood, feel underappreciated do not read further.  You will take what I am writing in general as a personal affront while this is not what this is about.  So if this is you.  Shut down and come back later or ignore this in totality.  If not, maybe you will take something useful from this wambling. 

Yesterday I focused on the 50 review minimum on Amazon I also talked about the 20 word minimum which, according to me is easily done. So on FB we are all promoting authors and pages from dawn till dusk, sometimes into the wee hours of the night.  I am one of those page spammers extraordinaire.

What does this have to do with authors?  Everything!  Indie authors especially, support one another. They help promote others pages etc but……  Come on you knew that one was coming.  But….

When I go post a review on Goodreads, Amazon etc, do I see a few sentences by other authors? NO. 

Simple hey, no.  I do not see it and I wonder about it because I know x, y and z author read the book.  Confessed to love it or confessed to like it at the very minimum.  But not a word from these authors on the places it can actually make a difference. 

The second thing about authors I want to touch on is this; I get a lot of compliments for my reviews, although I am convinced that most of these compliments are for the fact that I did a review and not the quality of the review.  I really appreciate the fact that the authors do get back to me and thank me for a review and here I have to give every single author I have ever dealt with credit.  Not a one of you remised on this.  But…. Seriously? You did not see that one coming…. but…..

When I go on Goodreads, I am rated as a reviewer as on Amazon.  Very little authors will mark my reviews as good and at this stage; seriously I would be happy with a "noticed" button.  It is a costly story.  The authors that send out printed copies would attest to this.  They pay to have their work send out into a mailing system that fails as often as it succeeds, they need to pay postage and sometimes they even pay the import tax on our behalf. 

Authors, this does not go unnoticed.  But remember, I pay for my internet service, so the same amount of time and money that goes from my account when I switch from my FB account to my blog, to Goodreads to Amazon will be going off from your accounts when you do the same.  My question is, why when you get notified about a review do you not press the button, whether it is the like, helpful or any button?  We get rated on the most obscure of all systems, so obscure that its validity is not questionable it is laughable, but we DO get rated and I have received request for reviews based solely on my review rating.  So please, in future, take that one second longer and click on that button.  It means the world to us. 

My third gripe with authors, I keep hearing you say you have another 5 star review.  Whoopee, I know this sounds harsh but really here I have to say that you guys are chasing stars so much more than reviews, starts will not help without a review, what would you prefer a few five star reviews or 50 reviews written by real people with real opinions and real preferences?  I want to quote a few lines from my current read "The Coffee Shop" by Author Lauren Hunter here that I found perfect for this wambling,

" “Oh, that. I was just wondering how you are with your friends. You don’t mind them being honest with you. You seem to appreciate it. I can think of lots of people that don’t, appreciate it that is.”

“Oh, I don’t always appreciate it, believe me, and if I don’t I’ll let them know. Maybe it’s a guy thing.”

“A guy thing?” “Brutal honesty. Probably goes back to the cave men.” 

Now I love this piece of dialogue because I believe in my heart of hearts none of us like honesty directed at us, I also believe that growth is not possible without it. What is the relevance of this? Guys, you need to wake up and smell the coffee, this is real, critique can at times be unfair and useless, sometimes, though, and it is not.  You and only you know which category critique will fall into pertaining to you personally.  But stop chasing cars in your heads.  Remember that stars will not get you recommended on Amazon etc.  Reviews will. 

Well thats what i think 

Book Review of The Universal Mirror by Gwen Perkins

 

Book Review of The Universal Mirror by Gwen Perkins

On the island of Cercia, the gods are dead, killed by their followers and replaced with the study of magic. Magicians are forbidden to leave their homeland. Laws bind these men that prevent them from casting spells on the living—whether to harm or to heal.

Quentin, a young nobleman, challenges these laws out of love for his wife. His best frien...d, Asahel, defies authority at his side, unaware that the search for this lost magic will bring them both to the edge of reason, threatening their very souls. The Universal Mirror shows how far two men are willing to go for the sake of knowledge and what they will destroy to obtain it.

Review 5 out of 5

On the island of Cercia, after a war where all the gods were killed, magicians were forbidden to leave their homeland and laws were created to prevent them from casting their spells on the living - whether to harm or heal.
When the island is affected by a plague, Quentin, a young nobleman defies authority out of love for his wife. His best friend Asahel helps him with his experiments. Knowing that the punishment for heresy is severe if found out, Quentin is determined to heal the damage caused by the plague on his wife.

When I began to read this book, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I was a bit confused at first. It felt like I was coming in half way through a conversation. However, my confusion soon evaporated as I got further into the story. It soon turned into a page turner that I couldn't put down! The beginning felt a little bit like a story from Burke and Hare! I began to empathise with Quentin's character. He's in love with his wife who, due to a plague, had been badly disfigured. Unfortunately, as the law strictly forbids the use of magic on living beings to heal, Quentin is at a loss as to how to help her.
By the end of the book, I was cheering Quentin and his friend on! Gwen Perkins has written a fast paced adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat! I would have liked a little more interaction between Quentin and his wife, especially nearer the end. But, all in all it was a very pleasant read. - Lynn Worton

Wanda's world wievs......

Authors, readers, reviewers and pirates.

So loads of people love blogging.  Right.  Right!  I am not one of them.  Or rather, I never was.  Now that I am starting to get a following I am starting to re-evaluate my views on Blogging. 

Is it the creative outlet I need to balance my life?  Do I have anything to say?  I wonder, and with wondering I decided that I would not know until I try.  So here is my first try.  I guess much of the continuation of this will depend on if I received any comments.

So today's blog is about books.  BIG SURPRISE! But seriously.  It is about the people I now call my friends.  The people that write, edit, create their own covers, promote and beg others to read and review their books.

I only recently found out that authors need 50 yes fifty reviews on Amazon before Amazon would through it out as a recommended book.  I also know some sort of tag is very important on Amazon although I do not know what that is or why it is so very important. 

I love reading.  I really love reading, but when I read I do it because I love it.  Not because I want to rush through the book so that I can get onto the next one.  So authors pm'ing me, sending me mails, asking me how far along I am - that kind of started to bug me.  What really got my goat were the authors that would try to play on my emotions.  Then I found out about the 50 review rule and I started to get it.  I really get it now. 

I also have another pet peeve, people stalking authors in an attempt to poach as many free books as they possibly can with no intent on even reading the book. 

So, on the one side we have people that need validation for their work.

People like me that love reading and in the process try to do right by the person whom is seeking validation.

And on the third we have people who I think of as pirates, people taking looty with no idea what they will do with it so they bury it in the sand. 

So the point of my monologue - where is the golden midway?  Why are more authors not actively involved in reading and reading follow authors work, cause, guess what - as long as your review is more than 20 words long Amazon accepts it is a review.

Why, among the millions of passionate readers on Facebook is their so very few who actually do reviews? Again, 20 + words counts as a review!

And to the pirates out there, we all love you in anyway, but please; do not take a book if you know you are never going to read it.  Pay it forward and make sure somebody gets the book who would love to read it. 

But that is what I think, what do you have to say about it.

A Lynn Worton review of Virtual Evil by Jana Oliver

Book Review of Virtual Evil by Jana Oliver

Jacynda Lassiter's latest assignment is a double-edged sword: find the greatest of all Time Rovers and send him to 2057 without his consent. If she returns Harter Defoe to the future, she'll be branded a traitor to her kind. If she fails, the punishment is a decade in prison.

As Jacynda searches her conscience and the back alleys of Whitechapel, Sgt. J...onathon Keats presses his hunt for an Irish anarchist and the missing explosives. Unable to use his shape-shifting abilities, Keats troubles are just beginning. Unless his good friend Alastair Montrose can uncover who framed him for murder, Keats might be next for the hangman's rope.

Review 6 out of 5

Jacynda Lassiter is continuing her time travelling adventure in 1888, but she has orders to locate the greatest of all Time Rovers and send him back to 2057 without his consent. It's a catch-22 situation. If she does as she is ordered, she will be labelled a traitor by her contemporaries; if she doesn't, she'll be sent to prison for a decade.
Meanwhile, Jonathon Keats is still looking for an Irish anarchist and the missing explosives. With his inability to use his shape-shifting, Keats's troubles have just begun. Can his friend Alistair Montrose uncover who has framed him for murder? If not, Jonathon might be next for the hangman's rope.

This is the second book of the Time Rovers series. Jana did it again: I LOVED IT! It continues the story from Sojourn and keeps up a relentless pace throughout. Jacynda has been given the task of locating the greatest of all Time Rovers. It's not an easy task, but failure is not an option either. I love Jacynda's character. She is feisty and sharp as a tack! And I absolutely love her personal hallucination! I love both Jon and Alistair's characters too. They are both good looking, but they have the most amazing personalities. I wish I could actually meet them in the flesh! This book is an emotional roller-coaster. It takes you on a ride, and when it is over, you want to go on it again! I'm glad the story continues in Madman's Dance, which I will be reviewing soon! - Lynn Worton

Saving Bobby!

Via Goodreads

When Bobby's world came crashing down on his thirteenth birthday he knew his life would never be the same again. After losing most of his family before ever becoming a teenager. Bobby was determined not to lose the only person who had truly loved him and was always there for him; his mom. Struggling with the fear of losing his mother to cancer Bobby takes it upon himself running away in search for a way to save her. Along Bobby's journey, he meets Annie, a 'runaway.' Together, they embark on a road where they both find a friendship that will last forever and the true meaning of God. Will Bobby save his mother in time and will Annie go back to the life she had? Experience this journey with Bobby and Annie and feel the power of true determination, and what God can do if you just let him into your heart....

My Review

Saving Bobby was from start to finish a delightful read!

I love Christian literature as long as I don't get the idea that the author is preaching! 

Never once did I get that impression with this book. as a matter of fact this book has two of the most fundamental values I hold dear in Christian literature and life. First of all I do not believe that saying you are a Christian makes you a Christian, I believe that living a good Christian life is what makes one a true Christian. Saving Bobby was a story of finding and living a Christian life. I loved Bobby for portraying that so beautifully.  The second value I hold dear is that I personally do not believe Christians should remove themselves from the so called secular life.

In this respect Saving Bobby did not disappoint either.

I found the writing beautiful and simple, but never patronising. I don't believe that this book can nor should have, a target age audience. I honestly feel that any person will, regardless of age, love this story. I cried through large chunks of this book and believe you me, that takes some doing!  I loved the story!  The book is set against lessons that Bobby learns at school regarding JFK and his life. Bobby is a typical boy who loves academia as well as sports, reads and enjoys movies etc. Bobby, I believe could be any readers son, brother, nephew,or neighbour. I love how respectfully though forthright he communicates with his elders in this book.

I love Saving Bobby and if you find my use of the present tense strange, don't, I will read Saving Bobby again and again. It is an enriching story that I would advise all to experience with me.

I give this book a seven out of five star review. I loved it, could not put it down, recommended it to friends and I am planning on buying it for family members. I loved it that much!

Crystal Cattabriga currently has a competition running where people need to send in the very last sentence in the book Saving Bobby, perhaps this is why I remember the sentence so well, but I doubt it.  My first thought as I read it was that this is such a beautiful way of saying we are saved through Grace.  My second thought is that this reminds me somewhat of the second call to prayer the Iqamah used in the Muslim faith, especially after the first call to prayer is whispered by an Iman into an infants right ear known as the Adhan.  The Iqamah is then whispered into the left ear, promising that if you keep the faith, salvation will be yours. 

Interview with author

My Question:

I loved the grounding effect of the bits of history pertaining to JFK. Why him?

Crystals answer:

I've always had a passion and love for JFK. Actually to tell the truth, I love anything to do with the Kennedy family. As a little girl I would spend most of my free time at my local library reading for hours, and when I left, I would always check out a Kennedy book. Then I would quickly run 3 blocks home just to lay at the end of my bed reading until either my eyes closed or I finished the book.

 My Question:

Bobby is from the get go a very real and balanced little boy. Is he fashioned upon a boy you know?

Crystals answer:

The character Bobby was inspired by my own son Blayke. Without giving anything away, let's just say that some of Bobby's traits and my son's are meshed together in this book which made Bobby that much more real and truthful.

 My Question:

What specifically motivated you to write Saving Bobby?

Crystals answer:

Saving Bobby was born one night while standing in my bedroom talking to my husband. When ever I have an idea for a book, character or plot I bounce my ideas off my husband. That night I decided that I wanted to write books that would inspire and leave a sense of hope in someone's heart. So, it was at that moment Bobby was created and the rest fell into place that night.

 My Question:

Tell us something about you we might not know?

Crystals answer:

Well, what you might not know about me is this, I was born on April Fool's Day, I have three middle names (Vera, Rose, Louise) I'm a lefty, and when I was two years old a team of doctor's saved my life after having Open Heart Surgery. And there isn't a day in my life that I'm not grateful so, I always try to pay if forward to others and empower people with my writing.

 My Question:

I love the fact that Bobby's uncle is a decorated serving army officer. Is the plight of American soldiers something close to your heart?

Crystals answer:

Now for Bobby's Uncle Johnny, that's simple, he's one of my husband's childhood friend's who lived across the street from my husband while growing up.And other years has been part of our lives.His name is Johnny Maynard and has served our country for over 20 years with Honor, serving in both Iraq, and Afganistan. He had received over 14 metals. His picture can be seen on my webpage.

 Crystal shares -

The words I leave to my readers is this, I'm a true believer in my faith and I'm trying to make everyday count for something great in the world.

Thank you, Wanda for the opportunity and sharing my story with others....

http://www.facebook.com/ccattabriga  find her here on Facebook and drop us a line stating what you thought of the review and the author interview and especially about Saving Bobby the book!

Blog spot interview Samantha Combs

Hey all!  I’m happy to be guest-posting on Wanda’s little corner of the world today.  She has asked me to talk a little bit about the new genre I am embracing.  Up to now, I have been firmly planted in the supernatural/fantasy/paranormal section.  I have three of those published in the YA area.  But lately, a new love has crept into my heart……horror. 

This Friday, Musa Publishing is releasing my first foray into the Middle Grade genre, and with a horror story, nonetheless.  The Detention Demon is a contemporary horror story set in a Junior High School where a detention teacher is scrutinized for being perhaps something less than human.  Look for it on www.musapublishing.com and all the regular ebook haunts.

But I am here to talk about another exciting trip to the terror-filled I have recently taken.  I self-published a collection of my short horror stories, along with a horror novella, called Teeth and Talons, A Horror Anthology.  Interestingly enough, each of the stories has had an auspicious beginning.

The first in the collection is The Ink Man.  About a tattoo artist who finds his creepy creations coming to life, it is a horror story, but it is also so much more a commentary on the horror that lies just under the surface of what you believe is normal.  It’s the ability to make the distinction that becomes important.  I got the inspiration for this one from our landlord, who told us about dating a girl with a lot of tattoos and on the same night, accidentally found myself watching L.A. Ink.  It was a short step from there.

The Robbery Countdown is a concept story.  I wanted to do something that would take the reader some time to figure out.  And I have always been fascinated by Asian monster lore.  Enough said.

The inspiration for Rock and Roll All Night is all my brother.  An accomplished musician, we were talking on the phone super late one night and he said there are only a few types of people that stay up as late as we do.  I asked who and he answered writers and rock stars.  After I finished convulsing with laughter, I added in, “Don’t forget vampires!”  I couldn’t get off the phone fast enough to start writing.

The last story is a nod to my mum, but for everything she isn’t.  The opposite of the over-bearing matriarch introduced in The Chair, her being the antithesis was my catalyst.  She was visiting from San Diego for the weekend and the muse grabbed me by the throat one Saturday morning. Our normal “Ross Dress-For-Less” run had to wait while I slammed out the story.

I hope this gives you a little taste of where my horror will take you.  And right now, Teeth and Talons will be FREE *echoes, free, free, free* for five days starting on Friday, Feb 10^th through Valentine’s Day.  This is my present to you and a great way to introduce you to my writing and style.  If you like it, please check out my other books:  Spellbound, Everspell, Ghostly and the upcoming The Detention Demon.  Happy reading!

CONNECT WITH ME!

Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Combs-Fan-Page/205186202866933

Email:  samanthacombswrites@gmail.com

Blog: http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/samanthacombs1

WRITE, PUBLISH, AND BE INFORMED!

Dreams both real and strange an anthology by K.W. McCabe

Dreams both real and strange an anthology by K.W. McCabe

http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com

http:// cheapbookies.blogspot.com

K.W. McCabe is a Californian transplant to Minnesota. She lives there with her family where she tries very hard to stay warm in all the snow. She has loved fairy tales, Sci-fi, and fantasy all her life, and has been writing stories and poems of that nature since she could first spell. She has worked, in the past, as a library assistant, a baby sitter, a counseling hotline intern, and as a case manager. She maintains that art and writing can only be done when inspired, and inspiration comes from a sufficient amount of laziness. Currently, she is working on a teen dragon romance novel, The Dragon's Call.

Check out her blog to get more information on how to read it for free.

Contact her at:

http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com

http://cheapbookies.blogspot.com/

http://kwmdigest.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/#!/kw_mccabe

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/In-Light-of-Burning/277364662296215

http://www.facebook.com/#!/kywmccabe

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5269189.K_W_McCabe

Cursive Via Smashwords

Kindle info : http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Both-Strange-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B0068YY3EG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328790513&sr=8-1

Dreams both real and strange

Choices

A very short thought provoking story about a choice between paying your dues as per agreed or being forced to pay.  I loved the open ending and found the characters interesting.  I want to know, in which way the reaper will pay for his leniency. 

Rebirthed

Wow, it's beautifully written.  Truthfully I think the moral of the story was lost on me.  But I loved the words and I hope that that was the intent.  It is named rebirth after all and a birth is always beautiful.

The Lake

Your deeds become your destiny, are you sure you can live with your choices.  I loved the dark and twisted turn this story had towards the end.  It sure begs the question - does any deed ever go unrewarded?

Mourning

This story reminded me a lot of the song by Cat Stevens, Cats in a Cradle, again the question of choices comes to the fore.

Wraith

A sister bereaved, a mother wanting to safeguard her child against a monster created as a punishment for his choices. However, what if the choices of the just turn full cycle in reaction to the deeds of the injust, what then about the mother trying to save her child?

I read a paragraph about Steven King once where he said that a short story or a Novella is the perfect one night read!  It allows you to start and end with a story in one night.  Then the other evening JH Glaze asked me whether I liked his short stories because he is writing just enough to get the reader to fill in the rest.

I never really liked short stories or novella's before, I felt cheated, but I am starting to learn to love this form of writing.  I am allowed to decide for myself what it means to me, and how my previous experiences will influence my take on one story or another.

I really enjoyed this anthology.  It seemed at first as if it was a set of random short stories set in an anthology with the only common denominator the author.  But it was with joy and surprise that I realized as I read through the stories how each one had a central point of choice to it.  Also how each choice was shown as a possibility that could have existed, if only …  I really enjoyed this anthology and am looking forward to reading more from this author.  I might not go near a lake again -EVER - but then hey! We all need to make choices don’t we……

I give this an easy five stars.  Everybody will love it as long as they love horror and short stories.

Oh and by the by, if you live near a lake?  Well, I would recommend you keep your children out of the water.

Her second anthology looks like  

Here is where you can find her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kywmccabe

Thank you and please leave a comment, I love hearing what you guys think...