Definitely. I need to go back and read those reviews when I feel down about my writing.
Sometimes I do this. It's a good way to motivate yourself.Definitely. I need to go back and read those reviews when I feel down about my writing.
Second this. Booklife is absolutely awesome and totally legit. We had a great experience with them with Faerie Rising.The New Magic got a pretty kickass review in the Booklife Prize. It didn't make the semis, but I don't really care. It scored nearly a full point higher than Dragon's Trail, including racking up an 8/10 for prose. Being that Dragon's Trail only got a 6.5 overall and it went on to conquer the world, I'm pretty psyched right now.
Best of all, there's now an argument to be made--at least to myself--that I'm getting objectively better. It has definitely lit a fire under my ass to get Book III out the door. I'm working to get it done, completely done, by early 2020 and out in January 2021. Maybe sooner, depending on my editor's timelines and availability.
Anytime you want to sympathize with indie authors who go through the trade-pub wringer, or if you just get a crappy review and want to see how scathing the big guys can be, go back and read BookLife reviews. They're written by Publishers Weekly reviewers turned loose on the indie authors who have the stones to send their stuff up for mainstream critique.
Second this. Booklife is absolutely awesome and totally legit.
The New Magic got a pretty kickass review in the Booklife Prize. It didn't make the semis, but I don't really care. It scored nearly a full point higher than Dragon's Trail, including racking up an 8/10 for prose. Being that Dragon's Trail only got a 6.5 overall and it went on to conquer the world, I'm pretty psyched right now.
Best of all, there's now an argument to be made--at least to myself--that I'm getting objectively better. It has definitely lit a fire under my ass to get Book III out the door. I'm working to get it done, completely done, by early 2020 and out in January 2021. Maybe sooner, depending on my editor's timelines and availability.
Anytime you want to sympathize with indie authors who go through the trade-pub wringer, or if you just get a crappy review and want to see how scathing the big guys can be, go back and read BookLife reviews. They're written by Publishers Weekly reviewers turned loose on the indie authors who have the stones to send their stuff up for mainstream critique.
How much do they normally charge?Kirkus is pricey... Always wait for $100 off with Kirkus.
How much do they normally charge?
Not cheap! I could run a few advertising campaigns for that.
It depends what you want to do in the long run. A good Kirkus review can get your foot in the door with bloggers and reviewers who will effectively promote your book for free, effectively forever. If you're willing to do the legwork, a glowing mainstream review can translate to far more sales than you'd get for the equivalent in ad campaigns. It just takes longer. Mainstream critical acclaim has been the lynchpin of my success so far.
The flipside of it is, they don't promise you a good review. If you spend the $400 and they hate it, well . . . yikes.
If you're following the typical indie model--find your formula, write fast, build a backlist, sell cheap, first one free--then mainstream reviews aren't worth the outlay. Definitely go for the shorter-term gains that you'll get with cheaper promos.
Man, I need to do a blog post.
Congratulations!!!!I beat renal cancer this week.
I beat renal cancer this week.