Tag: Indie Authors

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of “Fragile” by J.C Clarke

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Fragile

This novella is narrated by a male protagonist. It reminds us that by holding out our hands to someone in need we can make a significant change to their life as Stephen does when he falls in love with Ashleigh who has suffered more than any young girl should. He sees her standing in the corner of the Fairground where he woks and knew he had to make her his. It is a hauntingly beautiful rendition portraying love in its purest form.

I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also note that the author is the cover designer too which was so exquisite that it attracted me to buy it in the first place.

Looking forward to picking up more from this author.

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of “A Glimpse into Darkness.” by Sherri A. Wingler

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A glimpse

 

Having just devoured both of the current books in the Immortal Sorrows series I was excited to see more by this author. Without wanting to give anything away Fate is featured in both of the former books and A Glimpse into Darkness is a tiny prequel to them that gives her side of the story before the turmoil began.

It is only a taster and as with all of this author’s books it is exquisitely written. It could certainly have been expanded on more and maybe that is something the author will do at a later date. If you are reading this book first then think of it as a soupçon of what is to come. The next two books will blow you away.

Another 5* read.

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Happy 1st Anniversary

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Screenshot 2016-01-08 22.14.11.png

A year ago today I hit the publish button and sat back waiting with bated breath. Oh don’t get me wrong I didn’t expect the world and his sister to rush out and buy it, but I did know that I was putting myself our there. Opening myself up to criticism, allowing anyone to put their opinions of my work on the net.

It has been an interesting year, a learning curve that opened my slightly innocent eyes.

I started with a cover that I made myself using a photograph taken from my sister-in-law (with her permission of course). I have to admit I was pleased as punch with it at first. The picture is lovely but as a cover put together by me didn’t work. It said nothing about the book and what you can expect when you open the cover. Eventually, I asked for advice from fellow authors on good cover designers who were reasonably priced. I was introduced to J.C Clarke from The Graphics Shed, who designed a beautiful cover and extras.

In that year, I have made some amazing friendships with other authors and also discovered their incredible stories. Amazon would have it that it is biased because I have spoken to them on social media but any reviews I put online are honest. If I didn’t enjoy reading them, I wouldn’t leave a review it’s as simple as that.

In one year I have sold 70 copies of this book for cold hard cash, one person has picked it up and read it through Kindle Unlimited which equates to cold hard cash, and I have given away about 60 copies for free. So there are about 130 copies floating around the world from England to America, South Africa, Canada and Australia, and those are the ones I know about. So I haven’t taken the world by storm, I haven’t even given it a tiny tremble, but there are people out there who are enjoying my work. (Maybe not enjoying too but I won’t focus on them haha)

Getting people who tell you that they have enjoyed your book to take a few minutes out of their hectic schedules to leave a review is the bane of an authors’ life. Reviews generate more sales or so they say. There is a magic figure; the actual amount seems to be in doubt, that activates the Amazon algorithms which in turn makes your book a product that they will market. Some say that 50 is the magic number. What makes it harder is that each Amazon is a different marketplace, so my reviews on Amazon.co.uk and those on Amazon.com and anywhere else don’t link up. When I leave a review for a fellow author I post it in .co.uk, .com and .ca the three biggest marketplaces, I also post it in Goodreads, write a post on my website and share in on Twitter and Facebook. It makes me incredibly happy when I see a direct link between a book review I have left and a sale for that author. At the moment I get emails from Amazon recommending my books to me, I can only hope these emails go to other people too. The more review I can get the more promotion, this will generate.
So onto my reviews, some of these are duplicated by authors who do the same as I do, but most are unique reviews.

The first one is from Amazon.co.uk, the one with the picture below is from Goodreads, the third is from Amazon.com, and the final one is from Amazon.ca

I am inordinately pleased with these. Writing can be a lonely business but seeing the pleasure that people get from my writing gives me the strength to carry on when I feel that there isn’t a point to slogging my guts for so little return.

 

For the next week to celebrate the 1st year anniversary I have placed this book on sale .99c/ .99p (my take from that works out to about .37p 🙂 )

If you would like to pick up a copy: myBook.to/Adamo

Blurb:

Newly wed Matty Taylor is plagued by visions that force her to seek out a Gypsy at a local fair. Dragged violently into a frightening dream world, she is soon rescued by the mysterious Thomas Trevelyan and taken to his secluded house in the woods.

Will her husband, Donald, suspend his disbelief and wake her from her nightmare?

Can Thomas win her heart and keep her from the lure of her real life and the love of her husband?

 

Teasers:

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My 1st review of 2016: Wings of Shadow: Book 2 of the Immortal Sorrows by Sherri A. WIngler

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Wings

I started this book with trepidation. I loved book one in the series, and there is always the fear that book two won’t live up to your expectations or that it will be more of the same and even though you enjoyed it before doesn’t mean you want to read the same thing over again.

Let me say my fears were groundless. This book exceeded my expectations. The author took Asher and Izzy to a whole new level. Book one introduced you to the characters while telling the story; book two took them to a place of darkness and adventures that had me on the edge of my seat.

This book showed the extremes that people will go to, to achieve their desires whether they be for good or evil.

The characters stayed consistent the whole way through so much so that I believe they really exist 😉 I never really expected to find myself with a crush on the Angel of Death but there you have it and quite possibly Grim too.

The descriptions given were phenomenal; this author has one hell of an imagination, and she also has the writing ability to back it up.

I can say that I am relieved to have finished this book because now I actually may get some sleep. On a number of occasions, I went to bed tired with every intention of reading for 10-15 minutes later only to find myself awake and engrossed over an hour later.

I am now about to start reading the short Prequel that has been released in the last week or so by the same author that explores what made Fate the way she is.

It isn’t that often that I miss characters when I finish reading a book, but I think I will this time. Please write faster, I need more.

 

 

 

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Champions Award

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Champions-Awards

I am overcome, speechless. I rehearsed this so many times in front of the mirror, but I am still in no way prepared for this honour. What can I say this has blown me away. Thank you to Jo Roderick who kindly presented me with this prestigious award. I would also like to thank my family and friends who have supported me.

This is the best start to 2016, starting it with this award.

I, in turn, would like to nominate these fantastic authors for their own awards should they wish to accept it.

 

Rose English https://www.facebook.com/suechofalls.sari?fref=ts

Sherri A Wingler https://www.facebook.com/authorsherri.wingler?fref=ts

Elaine Chissick https://www.facebook.com/elaine.chissick?fref=ts

Tanya Jones https://www.facebook.com/tjonesauthor/?fref=ts

DM Miller https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010077872324&fref=ts

Recipients, if you choose to accept and wish to propagate the CHAMPIONS AWARDS, please do the following:

  1. Post this Award Sticker on your blog, with the hashtag #CHAMPIONSAWARDS
  2. Acknowledge the sponsor of your Awards.
  3. Choose at least five of your own nominees and advise them accordingly, attaching these 5 guidelines.
  4. Keep it simple… no need for explanations for the Awards… we know how great these folks are.
  5. You are free to give out these Awards as frequently as you wish.
Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Hello 2016, Goodbye 2015

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As the year nears its end, we all take a little bit of time to reflect on our year and make plans or resolutions for the year ahead.

For those who have enjoyed a good 2015, their hopes are that 2016 will be just as kind and for those who have suffered through 2015 the hope is that 2016 will be a better one for them.

Earlier today I saw a friend on Facebook mention that it is in reality only passing from one day to another as it does every other day of the year. She mentioned that she set goals or resolutions throughout the year. She is correct, and I think we should all do that, but there is something about the idea of an ending and a beginning that we as a species tend to like. It feels as though you can package the previous year up in a box, gift wrap it, tie it with ribbon and consign it to the dusty realms marked as the past. As the clock chimes midnight signalling the beginning of a new year we take out a new box, all neatly wrapped up and inside is a blank journal that we will write our new experiences, joys and sorrows on. It seems exciting because we feel as though we can do anything, fill it with adventure. It lets us know that we still have hope and while we have hope we can achieve so much.

I have been blessed with a good year. In January, I self-published a short story and followed up with another short story in February. Since then I have been working on a number of projects all in various stages of completion. I have learnt to do things that I wouldn’t have dreamt possible, faced things that scared the bejeebers out of me. I have made some amazing friends that I have never met and may never meet. I have read books that have transported me to other worlds. I have been lucky enough to have gone on two holidays this year: Malta and Maldives. I have also experienced some personal sadnesses this year that I won’t dwell on. I also achieved a half-marathon and a whole day sponsored silence. I also am now the proud owner of a Honda CG125 motorbike which I love.

I would like to thank everyone who has been part of this year with me, those who have bought my books and kindly left me reviews. More than anything I would like to thank my family and friends who are always there when I need them.

2016 for me will be about pursuing my writing further, publishing my WIPs and hopefully getting some more sales.

So I will bid a fond farewell to 2015 and greet 2016 with open arms and a bottle of Prosecco 😉

Both of my books are on sale until the end of Friday 1st January 2016. If you are interested in making me smile on New Years Day then click & buy

🙂

As Dreams are Made on: myBook.to/Adamo

A Lifetime or a Season: myBook.to/ALifetime

New Year Sale.001.jpeg

 

 

Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of Wings of Darkness: Book 1 of the Immortal Sorrows by Sherri A. Wingler

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Wings of Darkness.jpg

 

Over the last year I have read some phenomenal books by Indie Authors, books that made me laugh till my sides hurt, cry real tears & books that were addictive.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me a long time ago and I picked it up on my kindle in March where it has sat with so many others on my TBR list.

I finally decided it was time to read it. It isn’t generally a genre I read but I am open to all genres. The cover appealed and I liked the sound of it. The moment I opened this book I was dragged in minus the kicking and screaming.

The prologue pulls you in from the first word. I can’t really put an example on here otherwise I would have to copy and paste the whole prologue.

Izzy is a young American girl who is involved in an accident and although she meets the Angel of Death it is not her time to die. What Asher (Angel of Death) does is unheard of and it changes her life forever as it does his existence.

I loved this book from the beginning to the end, if I could give it more than 5 stars I would. The flow was strong throughout. There was excitement and edge of your seat drama and quieter moments as the author allowed you to really get to know the characters. Not only was Izzy and Asher extremely well developed by the other characters, Gwen & Grim and all the other bit players.

It is fantasy but I believed it. I lived it and I can only say thank God I have book two to start straight away.

There is nothing about this book that I think didn’t work or could be improved on. I can’t wait to finish leaving this review and getting a few tedious chores out of the way so I can read Book Two: Wings of Shadow.

Note to author: Please have book three finished within the week I can’t wait any longer.

Books

My Review of The Lake of Lilies by Julia Sutton

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Lake of Lilies

 

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The main character, Lisa Reynolds, is a likeable and believable woman who is a witness to a scene that ends in a murder which changes Lisa’s life.

There is a lot of description which keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wonder what might happen. It is a beautiful story of love and loss.

I wanted to keep reading, picking it up each day was a pleasure.

My only real issues were that there were too many speech tags that became distracting and slightly annoying but not enough to put me off reading. I think removing some of these could make the book stronger.

Without wanting to give anything away, I also felt that the resolution was a packaged a little too neatly. It was reminiscent of a 70’s or 80’s crime shows. I think it could have benefitted from a little more grit at this point.

Overall I loved immersing myself in this book and the lives of the characters. I look forward to seeing what this talented author writes next.

Books

My review of Retail Therapy – Colette Kebell

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This is a lovely, easy to read book which I devoured in almost one sitting. I loved the premise of the story, the overall flow of the story.

The characters from the start were likeable and believable. The friendship between Gigi & Ritchie is lovely “He’s also my sponsor. I’m on the path to recovery from spending too much on clothes.”

This book contains humour sprinkled throughout the book.

My only quibbles would be that the ending seemed rushed and I felt as though more development was needed around the character Johnny to justify what happened.  That was the only thing stopping me from giving this book 5 stars.

I am looking forward to moving onto Miss Kebell’s next book which luckily for me has already been written so I don’t have to wait long. I just need to remove a few from my TBR list already on my kindle.

Books · Uncategorized

My Review of Missing Gretyl by Simon Page

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This is a lovely story that contains some lively and interesting characters. The book is a comedy and while maybe the humour wasn’t fully to my taste and didn’t make me LOL but I did smile a lot. I enjoyed this book that explores the flaws in people’s characters and teaches you not to judge a book by the cover (i.e the characters). Sometimes you have to come close to losing what you value most so that you can remember why you love someone – this book does this well. The author has a great imagination and I look forward to seeing where it goes in his next book.