🙏 Thank You for the Reviews (Even the 1-Star!)
Last Wednesday, I noticed my reviews had gone up to 9 (I know, I know, only 9!), and I got my very first 1-star review, which honestly made me chuckle. After all the work and research that goes into writing a book, I think a 1-star rating with no explanation is a bit laughable.
But I'm not mad, not at all! My reaction is still a genuine "THANKS FOR GIVING IT A GO!" My only thought is... if you're going to leave a low rating, please tell me why. A little feedback goes a long way!
🎉 You Guys Are Amazing!
Speaking of amazing things, last week, so many of you read my blogs or checked out my profile that it blew my mind. A massive thank you to everyone who keeps coming back for more. It means the world to me. On Friday, I hit 1000 views on my blog in less than five months, which I find truly unbelievable.
All I ask is that if you enjoy my posts, let me know in the comments! Even a simple "hi" 👋 would make my day. And if there's a topic I haven't discussed that you'd like to know more about, just ask. Don't forget to follow!
🤔 So, What Do I Actually Write?
That 1-star review did get me thinking: do people actually know what my books are about? I suspect when people see the title An Irish Mystery, they immediately picture a classic "whodunnit" set across the misty, foggy Irish countryside. Is that what you were thinking?
Well, my book is the complete opposite!
Yes, it's a mystery, but not one where you're simply trying to figure out where the jewels have gone (okay, yes, you are trying to figure out where the jewels have gone!). But it's so much more than that. The story delves deep into its characters from the very start. You’ll meet Hans, just released from jail; his sister, Daniela; and the billionaire, Cedric Newman himself.
The story follows their journey across America as they try to find who stole the jewels from them seven years ago. But more than that, it’s a story about them finding themselves. For Cedric Newman, it’s about remembering the man he was before he became a billionaire, and it takes an ex-flame to remind him of his purpose. Book 1 is all about the characters discovering who they truly are, and I promise you will have a completely different perspective of them by the end.
🗺️ And What About Book 2?
Book 2 is an out-and-out treasure hunt! It’s based on a legend in its part of the world—the kind of story you'd tell around a campfire, or at least that's how I imagine it.
My favourite author is Clive Cussler. Now, I'm not claiming to be as good as the master of adventure himself, but he definitely has a big influence on what I write. My favourite series is A Fargo Adventure. If you haven't read it, it follows Sam and Remi Fargo, a married couple who go on treasure hunts while a dangerous rival is always after the same prize. There is action, adventure, gun fights, fist fights, car chases, and of course, pretty women.
These are the sorts of books I love: a simple, fun adventure. And that's what I want my books to feel like. If this is your kind of read, then I implore you: give this indie author a try!
🌐 Leaving KU: The 'Going Wide' Process Begins
As of this Monday, my book, "An Irish Mystery," was officially taken off Kindle Unlimited. Was it the right choice? Only time will tell.
I bought my own ISBN numbers the same day, hoping to get the book onto other sites like Google Play, Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble, to name just a few. I was always taught in business to never have all your eggs in one basket, so I'm hoping this will help me reach a wider audience.
However, the process has been derailed for a bit longer than expected. In another classic indie author learning moment, I discovered that after buying the ISBNs, I now have to join another site to register them to the book's title, a process that can take 5-10 days. I'm choosing to wait this out because I'm determined to use my own ISBNs from the very start. While aggregator services like Draft2Digital can provide a free ISBN, and you can sometimes add your own later, Amazon's rigid policy of not allowing an ISBN to be changed after publication has made me cautious. I'm not willing to risk a similar issue on other platforms, so the wait to get it right is worth it.
🌟 Reviews, Reviews, Reviews
I still do not have many reviews – currently sitting at 1 on Goodreads and 10 on Amazon. To tackle this head-on, I have signed up to an online company called Booksprout.
The service allows me to upload my book, and they show it to their community of reviewers who can then download it for FREE in exchange for an honest review on a site of their choice (Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub for example).
If you are part of the Booksprout community, you can get a free copy of "An Irish Mystery" via the link below. Please, if you download it, leave a review, as this is what the site is for and what is expected from reviewers.
Get your review copy here: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/227711/an-irish-mystery
📚 What Am I Reading at the Moment?
I thought I'd end my blogs with a quick update on what I'm currently reading. At the moment, I'm 50% through a book called SO LONG by Blake Pierce, and I'm really enjoying it. To give you an idea, here’s the blurb:
FBI Special Agent Faith Bold, hospitalized and haunted by her encounter with a serial killer, is ready to retire—when Turk, a K9 German Shepherd, himself traumatized, comes into her life. When a new serial killer strikes, leaving his victims at the bottom of isolated wells, Faith, this time with Turk at her side, will stop at nothing to hunt him down and save the next victim before it is too late.
It's simple, enjoyable, and not a very long story. If you want to keep up with what I'm reading and share your thoughts on books, you can follow me on my Goodreads profile here.
Well, that's it for another week. I hope this blog helps you decide if my books are for you!
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