What About AI?

I know I promised that I would post more excerpts of books that have been published and books I am working on but I must address this matter: 

Do you use AI to write your books? 

Let me say that I DO NOT. I am old school, and I really don’t know how to use AI to write. I feel that AI doesn’t capture what the author envisions for his/her books so therefore using AI to write is like using Alexa as your audio voice for your audiobooks. 

With that said, I do use images created by AI for short videos and for my blogs ONLY. I am so old school that I still use photoshop online editing tools for pictures I make that I use in my books. I’ve been doing it for over 15 years, now. Using online editing tools for my images is my personal prerogative and I see nothing wrong with it. 

What I think about AI?

I feel that people are up in arms over AI art much like when 3D rendering and photoshopping were ostracized by certain groups. But just like in the past with 3D rendering and photoshop, the dust will settle, it will pass and be accepted.

 I am grateful that back in the 2000’s I discovered certain online tools to create my images, I still use those tools to this day. If people don’t like that I use photoshop and online editing tools, well they don’t have to and they don’t have to follow me. Just saying.  Anyways, peace and no hate. Support other authors, stop being mean-spirited Haters. If you don't like what an artist created or what an author wrote, don't follow them, its' that simple.

NOTE: I am happy to say that Lost in the Backrooms continues to be downloaded and read. Thank you.

If interested in my books please visit link below. I mostly write preteen to young adult books under the pseudonym Cecile Garcia however, I do have another pseudonym which I will use to publish adult rated books (18 & over).

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Reviews & Rates Are Important but Is Amazon Bias?

 

I’ve read other Indie/self-published author’s comments about how they feel that Amazon KDP is biased and that only a selected few are allowed to obtain reviews/rates. I feel that most of these authors are right. I’ve seen how some books that people would consider cheesy, not worth reading or buying have over a thousand reviews and rates and not all are verified buyer reviews. If Amazon is against fake reviews, wouldn’t they consider those reviews to be fake? 

Some reviews are deleted because they claim that the author knows the person. Really? That’s’ insane. Not all the author’s followers are BFF’s or family members.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

“Amazon is trustworthy and is an important business, so reviews from friends, family members and anyone that they think the author knows personally are deleted.”

What the fuck? Here’s where my beef starts with them. How would Amazon know who these people are? One of my books got a review from someone in another country and I don’t know who that person is. I don’t know half of the people who are following me online. I have a fair number of followers on FB, Twitter, Instagram, and other online websites but I don’t know those people personally. It’s ridiculous. It’s stupid!

Amazon’s algorithm is designed to prevent fraud but highlights bad reviews while blocking and removing the good ones.

Is this true? Well, for the past 10 years that I’ve been with Amazon KDP, it certainly seems like it.

Here’s another author’s experience, which I am sure others can relate:

“The day my first title, Ages of Aenya, was made public, I received a one-star review/rate. The same exact day. The book was not yet available for download, and even with Prime delivery, it would have been impossible for someone to read through a 600-page book in a small amount of time. Clearly, the review was written by a troll, a person who has been harassing me for years online. I reported the guy to Amazon, insisting the review was fraudulent, a thing they could easily prove if only they bothered to investigate the timing, but after numerous emails, phone calls, and complaints from my fans, Amazon let it stay, an ugly and dishonest stain on my reputation. Fine I thought, I have readers who will drown out the troll, and then this started to happen. Amazon started to remove the good reviews.”

Yes, that happens way too often and that is why I feel that reviews that should be posted, never get posted. So, here's where readers should post their reviews, on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, because all you must do is sign up with them, they don’t care where you bought the book. Google books and Apple Books is also another place to post your reviews. 

Unfortunately, Amazon is still the first thing readers go to, to see reviews on books they are interested in buying. It’s sad really that Amazon adversely influences traditional publishing marketing and drowns out other authors,like  Indie authors who did not publish with a traditional publisher. I must side with the indie authors who are being pushed to oblivion, obscurity. 

So bottom line is, don’t give up fellow Indie authors, I’m with you on this.

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How I View Global Rates & Reviews

 

I recently noticed that one of my books received a global rate of 3 star. The book is the Spanish version of Secret Diary of a Gypsy Heart. I am not irked by it, in fact, I say thank you. The way I see it a 3 star rate is good. A 3-4 & 5 stars are considered good but a 1 & 2, is not. Global rates are fine but when a reader rates a book, 3 and below, constructive criticism should be added as a review. A 3 star means that the reader liked the book but there is something they didn’t like about it too.

 In this case, constructive criticism is important not just for other readers but for the author. I am pleased that someone took the time to rate the Spanish version of a Gypsy Heart, I thank the person. 

In the coming months Chandra’s Quest (the first book) will be available in Spanish as well, Saints and Sinners, & The Other Side of Things, will be converted into Spanish too. It takes time to convert a book into Spanish. Below is the list of books that will be available in Spanish in the near future:

 

Chandra’s Quest

Twisted Embers

Immortality

Omega

In the Company of Elves

Saints and Sinners

The Other Side of Things

I am still debating if I will make a Spanish version of The Stranger Things. All Spanish books will only be available as an eBook.

Please do follow me on Facebook and on my YouTube Channel. 

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What Changed When I Revised Three of my Books?

It has been a little over 17 years since I wrote and published Chandra’s Quest. Originally the title was, Chandra’s Quest Book 1, I published it with Instanpublishers.com, a subsidiary publishing company. Two years later I published Chandra’s Quest Book 2. 

I re-wrote and changed a few things in both books, including how Chandra looks like. In the first book, Chandra (the main character) had long naturally curly hair and brown eyes. 

Picture is not a part of the book.

In the original version she was Latina, Carlos remains the same, Keeja, remains the same, Xenos remains the same and Soran had some changes done but not by much.

In the revised version, Chandra has shoulder length light brown hair, not curly but set with a light wave to it and brown hazel colored eyes and she is multiracial, Hispanic/Caucasian.

In both Chandra’s Quest book 1 & 2, I added and removed some text. I changed some chapters and added more chapters. The endings are different from the original books.

Since both books were labelled Alternative Sci-Fi/adult romance, I did a lot of re-writing to edit out the content no longer suitable. I changed the book series to accommodate 14 and over. Only a few of the original books remain in the system.

Book 3 has not been completed and frankly, it won’t be published till the end of the year—maybe. Please keep an eye out for it by visiting my website, Facebook page and Twitter page.

       picture not in book

In the Company of Elves, has some changes as well. It was meant for adults. I wrote it to be adult fiction but changed it during the re-write. Melissa’s appearance changed a bit, she doesn’t have blonde curly hair, it’s straight and long. 

The elves remain the same, Faye's appearance was changed. For those who read the original version, will like the changes I made.

 

In the Company of Elves is categorized as 14 and over.

The only books I did not or will not revise are:

Saints and Sinners: Affairs of the Heart

The Other Side of Things Part 1 & 2

The Stranger Things: Paranormal, Supernatural, and Unusual Phenomenon

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I Made Some Changes to the Back Covers

I recently made bookcover changes to these books:

(this book is no longer a paperback)

All of these books, do not have my picture on the back. In the future, you will find the, About the Author page & Author's Notes, in the last pages of each book.

NOTE: if you have a book that I published before I changed the back cover, please consider it a collector's item.

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In the Company of Elves: What you Need to Know

As the author of, In the Company of Elves, I highly enjoyed writing this fantasy story. It is one of my full-length novels, other than the Chandra’s Quest trilogy books. Even though Chandra’s Quest was my first book, I was inspired to write, In the Company of Elves by watching movies like Legend, Willow, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland to name a few. I published In the Company of Elves in 2009 but started writing the story back in 2004/2005. Yes, I came up with the title for this book many years ago. The first copy of the book was published through Instant Publishers, a subsidiary company. It only had 120 pages. 

Then I decided to revise the book, so I re-wrote it and added more chapters to it. For those who have downloaded my book and enjoyed it, Thank you. If you have a paperback copy, thank you for purchasing it. I recently donated 1 copy to one of those Little Library Boxes, in Menifee Ca. If you read it as a Summer read, please be sure to leave a review on Amazon or on my Facebook page or Instagram. Thank you. 

NOTE: In July, I will be publishing The Other Side of Things Part 2. It is a non fiction book, with issues on Health, Social relations, Romance and Fashion.Visit my Facebook page and my Website for more info.

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FAKE 5-STAR REVIEWS ON AMAZON?

Recently people have been complaining about Fake 5-star reviews on Amazon. They buy a product; they don't like it and they complain that the 5-star reviews are Fake! Really?

 Yes, when I buy an item from Amazon, I do read the reviews first, however if I really want to buy that item, I do it anyways. I like to judge for myself.  I can understand how people can be fooled by 5-star ratings regarding items like speakers or clothing, etc. However, how does this affect indie/self-published authors? 

Well, I don’t know if other authors are having this problem, but I have been informed by a few of my readers who have downloaded or bought my books, that they can’t leave a review on my books! Personally, it doesn't matter to me if they give my book/books a 5 star or not, the point is that my books receive a review that can be helpful to potential buyers! 

example: I recently received a message from a reader who downloaded one of my books that was up as a free promotional deal a while back. That person finished reading it and he/she said that they tried to post a review but they couldn’t. On occasion I do a free download promotional deal on some of my books, on certain holidays, I believe that the individual must have downloaded the book during a free KDP download deal. I personally feel that even though they downloaded the book for free, they should be able to post a review. I see it as a verified buyer, but maybe Amazon doesn't see it that way. That's just my opinion. Also, I've heard from new author's that new reviews being posted on Indie author's books, are scrutinized possibly even ignored and never posted because it is a 5-star. They only accept 4 and below for new Indie Authors. I find that unfair and down right mean-spirited! 

I visited the community forum for the writers on KDP. I asked about the supposed, 'FAKE REVIEWS'. I have to say that the people there are no different than the people you'd encounter on Craigslist forums! Has anyone ever been on Craigslist forums? I'm sure you have, so you know the kind of reaction you'd get when you ask a half decent question, right? My sons say not to get on Craigslist, because you'll only encounter half baked people that don't know a damn thing! They're right. However, on occasion, I do get on Craigslist and yes, I'm disappointed. 
Anyways, I am the kind of writer who is REAL. I like to write from my heart and write exactly what I think, as some of you know by reading The Other Side of Things part 1.    It came as a surprise to me when I read some of the responses posted on KDP after I asked a question about the fake five star reviews. The first response:

*Wait, I do want to say something else. Why can’t people get it? Why do they persist in believing that a few reviews from there friends/neighbours/coworkers will sell a book that couldn’t sell on its own merits? Why do they ignore recommendations for better cover, better product description, better editing/any editing, and learning to write in favour of pestering acquaintances for a review that says, “oh, yeah, Bob’s a great person and this here book that he wrote is just a work of genius, absolutely brilliant, and you have to read it, and I can’t wait for the sequel, which you should preorder right now just like I’m gonna do.”

Okay, that got something off my chest. Back to work now. And you too, C. Gold, whose sequel I am looking forward to reading. I won’t review it though, not because I sort of know you in the slightest possible way, but because I haven’t spent $50 on the US site in forever due to a lack of materialism.

So this person had something to say but not productive, not to me. First of all, the weekend job I have requires very little contact with co-workers. I do NOT know them and I wouldn't ask them to post a review because I don't want them to know who I am online!  As far as I'm concerned, they have to find it out for themselves. 

Second, I do have family members, but not a whole lot on my Facebook list. Since my 'Personal' Facebook list is private, I don't believe the public can view it and I have never asked any of them to post a review, not without reading one of my books first. 

Third, this person talks about neighbors, well I have to be honest, I don't know my neighbors, I rarely talk to them and again, I do not want them to know who I am online. 

 So, he/she says, "better editing/any editing," Well, how did E.L James get away with it? I am sure you know what i mean by that and I am certain that some of her acquaintances, family and even neighbors posted reviews on her books. 

As for that last part, Miss Laundry Maid was referring to another author. Someone I don't know and don't care. 

NOTE: Haters are the only ones who would post a comment such as Miss Laundry Maid's comment. They try to be subtle on their hateful responses as to not come off as a 'Bleep'.  Just saying.

 Second comment:

*If people can't leave reviews on Amazon, tell them to leave them on GoodReads. As people on this forum have found out, if we leave reviews for another's books they tend to get taken down because we have enough of a connection to be considered bad. I don't see how you can really be considered 'friends and family' if you don't even know the person's real name, but it is what it is.

Well, this person is right. If you have followers on Facebook who are not necessarily on your friend's list but are just following you, they might be considered a red flag to Amazon's standards. Ridiculous, I know but as she said, it is what it is. Someone also said if you sign into Amazon through Facebook, that their bots can track people who know you? I don't believe that hogwash, but I don't sign in with Facebook, never. I keep all that separate. Perhaps others do.

In all fairness, GoodReads is okay but it's still important to have a fair amount of reviews on your books or products on the website you're selling your items on. 

My questions are: Does Amazon only accept 1 to 4-star rating reviews, even if the person leaving the review really liked the book or product? 

Are Indie/self-published authors targeted for 'supposed' fake reviews?

Final thought: I would like to see more authors, especially Indie authors stop tearing each other down on forums! You do know that we're all in the same boat when it comes to publishing our books, getting them recognized and liked. Why say such disparaging remarks? We have enough people out there that don't even want to recognize us as real authors, do we need to be so condescending to one another?

With that said, what are your thoughts? Express your opinion in the comment box. I will approve them.

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Recent Video: Fake 5 Star Reviews?

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Indie/Self-published Authors and Why Some People Disdain Them

The landscape of self-publishing has changed significantly over the last decade. Once considered inferior to traditional presses, self-publishing is gaining more attention and earning credibility as a viable way to access unique, and in some cases quality, content. What’s more, the increase in self-publishing has garnered a significant amount of attention from marketing companies looking to capitalize on this burgeoning industry. Major publishers are even jumping on the bandwagon as well, offering independent authors a variety of ancillary services to help market their books. Libraries have begun using self-publishing to reconnect with communities by offering workshops and resources geared towards independent authors.  It is not uncommon for writers to choose the route of self-publishing because the traditional publishing route is difficult, if not impossible, for some writers to enter.

That statement is true! Many self-published authors hit a brick wall when presenting their work to the traditional publishers. Most of the time, traditional publishers don’t look at every manuscript they receive. If their work load is heavy, they will return the manuscript and thus depressing the author, who then decides to forget about becoming a serious author.

NOTE: an author is someone who has published more than one book. It doesn’t matter whether they are an Indie/self-published authors or not, they are still authors. Indie/Self-publishing is probably the only opportunity available to the beginners.

What’s the percentage of certain groups of people from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes?

*The number of books published by people of color speaks volumes about the barriers that prevent certain groups from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes. In 2017, out of 3,500 books received by the center, approximately 3% were written by African American and Latino authors, 7% were written by Asian Pacific American authors, and less than 1% were written by Native American authors. Therefore, self-publishing is a route that allows writers to share their stories. It also creates an opportunity to be recognized as an author.

Here is someone’s point of view regarding self-publishing.

I Understand that “indie publishing” is all the rage, but despite royalty rates of 70%, I think self-publishing is a terrible idea for serious novelists (by which I mean, novelists who take writing seriously, and love to write). Here’s why.

If you self-publish your book, you are not going to be writing for a living. You are going to be marketing for a living. Self-published authors should expect to spend only 10% of their time writing and 90% of their time marketing. if your passion is creating worlds and characters, telling great stories, and/or reveling in language, you might want to aim for traditional publication. I mute authors whose tweet streams are 90% adverts in the same way I wouldn’t watch the shopping channel. Most indie authors have tweet streams that are 90% adverts, perhaps a reflection of the fact that they must spend 90% of their time marketing. It certainly doesn’t make self-publishing look like the path to El Dorado. Why would I want to join this gang?

What I think: Well, he’s right about marketing however, he’s wrong about self-published authors not taking their writing seriously! All authors take their writing seriously! If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be irked when someone gives them a not so good review! 

There are people out there that just despise Indie/self-published authors, only for the fact that the author did what they could only dream of doing and that is publishing their own book. The self-published author doesn’t just talk about writing a book and publishing it, they went out and did it! They have courage and hope in a sea of vexing haters.

Do most self-published authors consider their writing a career?

The majority do but some are more realistic in the outcome so most have part-time jobs or even full-time jobs.  

Do I see my writing as a career or a hobby?

Well, I see it as a little of both. I do take my writing seriously just like other authors, but I don’t see it as a career. In fact, even some mainstream authors who have gone the traditional way and have published their books, do have a part-time job somewhere. If you did not make a deal with the Devil, like the woman who wrote Fifty Shades of Grey, then more than likely, your royalties will not be a steady steam. I have a part-time job, but I continue writing my books, in hopes that I will get a steady stream one day. All authors feel that way. Just noting.

 Overall, self-publishing may be all the rage, but the writer has a choice. If he/she wants to publish traditionally, then do so, however, more and more traditional companies are going in the way of self-publishing. Giving their audience a chance to read a diverse stream of books written by unknown authors. Some of those books can hide a hidden jewel. Just saying.

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Welcome!

This is my blog where I post information about my books & where you can buy them. Once every other month I will post an entry. On occasion, I will post spoilers, pictures & anything about the books I am writing or have written.

About Me: Not only am I an Indie author but, like most self-published authors I do have a job and family. I am not a public figure, I am just an ordinary mother & a writer. Please visit the links below to view books I've written. Post your review on Amazon, GoodReads or Google books.

Chandra's Quest Book 1

Twisted Embers: Chandra's Quest Book 2

There are no reviews on this book, partly because book 1 is more popular. Book 2 is a continuation. There are 4  books to the Chandra's Quest series. I only self-published 2 of them at the moment.

In the Company of Elves

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