What Is This?

 

Recently I received an email from KDP regarding some kind of alert for content review. Naturally I was perplexed by this. Here is what it said:

 

Hello, 

 

We are reaching out to you because we detected accounts attempting to manipulate Kindle services by simulating reading or borrowing activity on your titles.

 

You do not need to take any action, however, we will block the activities of these malicious accounts and their effects on payments. This means that you will still receive royalties associated with legitimate reading activities, but you will not receive royalties associated with activities related to these accounts. 

Please note that this notice does not represent a change to your account status but is sent to make you aware of how our security countermeasures will affect your previously reporting page count and your royalty payments. 

 

We understand you might have questions regarding the nature of how we detect these activities; however, please be aware that we cannot provide details that might compromise the integrity of our security systems.  

 

If you have any other questions, please reply to this email.  

No, I did not reply to it but went directly to KDP Community forum. I would rather not click on the link they provided because I did not want to click on something malicious. If this email is not directed to me personally, and it was sent out as a newsletter to all Indie authors then that's fine but recently I received several downloads of my books which surprised me but I am thrilled about it and I don't see a problem with it, people can download any of my books if they wish. I even got several global rates on all of them, thank you and I received an actual review on my book, In the Company of Elves, however, I was curious about the email I  received from KDP so I went ahead and logged into the KDP community forum. I asked about the email and why I would be receiving it and this is what several users said:

 “The notice has nothing to do with reviews and all to do with vandals manipulating sales numbers. I had it happen to my account several years back and it takes a while for them to find and disable the culprits, but they will do so. They are trying to reassure you will get paid for all legitimate sales but not for those fake sales being stuffed into the system. Think of it as cyber graffiti. Nothing to do but stay aware and wait it out.”

User 2: 

"Amazon is looking out for itself, not publishers. After all, you will not receive any royalties from page-reads they deem questionable. Be glad you still have an account. Back in the heyday of click-farms, hundreds of innocent titles were used to camouflage the real beneficiaries of click-farming. A great many indie bystanders found themselves jettisoned along with the offending parties, sometimes instead of. Click-farming isn't what it used to be (too many checks, balances and limitations to bring in the $500,000/month they used to get), but the practice has not gone away, no more so than has review or ranking manipulation. Even leaving out those who might get caught up with the actual scammers (like dolphins in a tuna net), KDP deletes 300-500 publishing accounts annually for a variety of reasons. I am sure a goodly percentage of those terminations are undeserved. It is always a mistake to assume KDP is looking out for us, is our friend or colleague/partner, or that they will listen to our protestations of innocence once a determination has been made."

I don't know what he or she is talking about, I've never heard of click-farming before. As far as I'm concerned, any VERIFIED buyer, is a verified buyer. Verified reviews or global rating is genuine and I should receive royalties from those sales, period! 

3 user:

"Well, the scammers aren't, AFAIK, "targeting" you. They manipulate YOUR sales, which means YOU get the money, not them. There's no realistic way for scammers to download KU, Kindle Unlimited book and speed read through them and THEY get the money. You get hurt by it, yes, because Amazon alerts to it and then starts to monitor your downloads and all that. It's bizarre. Not as bizarre as the sideways-book pirates, which is odd but odder."

This person is totally wrong, you can read through a book in two weeks or less if that book is under 100 pages. If it’s a novelette. Some of my books are novelettes. The only books that I have that are more than 100 pages are the Chandra’s Quest Trilogy set and In the Company of Elves.

So, I’m not sure where I stand with receiving royalties from KDP because ever since I had received the email, I haven’t heard anything else from them.

For those who want to know, my account on Amazon KDP is still up and running, it will not be deleted because I am not guilty of any kind of supposed scam. I’ll still have it next month, 6 months from now and for as long as I’m alive. Period!

Please do feel free to visit my author's page and download or buy any one of my books. Read, rate and review. Thank you.

I will make a vlog video about this soon. Please follow links below.

Amazon

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Author's Website

 

What Genre Do I Prefer to Write

What Genre Do I Prefer to Write

Fantasy, Paranormal/Supernatural and general fiction, anything else but Sci-fi. Yes, I find Sci-fi hard to write. My first book Chandra’s Quest is science fiction, in fact the whole trilogy is but I added a bit of fantasy and mysticism to it. It has taken me longer to finish the trilogy than expected but finish it, I will. 

20 years ago, I was inspired and motivated to write this trilogy however as the years moved on, I found myself lacking the motivation I once had. 

Fast forward to now, I struggle completing book 4 but I will get it done nevertheless and move on to my next projects.

 I have a Supernatural/paranormal book in the works, easy to write since I get my inspiration by reading Reddit stories or creepy pastas, etcetera. The web is full of them. The foundation is there, all I have to do is fill in my take on whatever moves me. 

I will not reveal the title of the book, I prefer to keep it surreptitious. 

Bottom line is, I am still working on and wrapping up Book 4 of Chandra’s Quest, once that’s done and published I will dive into my other projects. 

For those who have read Chandra’s Quest, and await the final installment,  be patient, it will be published this year as an eBook first.

 By the way, if you have read any of my books, please do rate or review them. I appreciate it. Thank you. 

Website 

Global Rate verses Actual Reviews

Lately I've noticed on Amazon  that people would much rather leave a global rate rather than a review. I prefer both but would settle for a rate anytime. 

What is the scale of rating on Amazon?

Rating scale: 1-5 stars. 1 being bad, 5 real good and the rest are in-between. 

When I scroll through items on Amazon that I am interested in, I look at the most recent reviews, then scroll to 1 star ratings then to 5 star ratings. I find that the most RECENT reviews and rates are more relevant. 

How important is it for an Independent Author to receive ratings & reviews?

It is important for an independent author to get reviews and ratings because it ups their credibility and exposes them to more readers.

What is the Audience of an Indie Author?

 There is always an audience for any kind of book out there but it's hard for Indie Authors to gain an audience if Amazon shuffles their books to the bottom of the list! Not fair, is it. This is why it's important to rate and review their books so that more readers will notice these incredible authors. 

All reviews count. The more reviews or rates a book gets the better. However, there's a problem with certain people claiming that reviews on Indie/self-published books are Fake and are posted by friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances or neighbors of the Author!! Does anyone see how ridiculous that is? 

Those claims are unfounded and are only put out there to discourage or scare readers from leaving reviews or rates on self-published books. So please be fair, all reviews and rates are valid, just post them. 

In conclusion, reviews and global rates help a struggling Independent author fulfill their dream of being recognized and sell more books. 

Stay safe & be blessed. 

New Years 2022 Resolutions

2021 is coming to an end and people will be making New Years Resolutions. Well here is mine: I will finish books that I am working on, I will become a Pescatarian and hold true to my faith.

We all want something in Life but sometimes we don't know what direction to take to achieve it. I say go with your gut feeling, it's usually right. 

Have a Happy New Year, be safe and stay healthy.  

In the Company of Elves: Epilogue

 

Epilogue

Two years later, Melissa discovered she was expecting. She welcomed a lovely daughter named Marina into the world. Arowyn beamed with pride as a father. Marina, like her mother Melissa, is a quarter-elf. Long ago, Melissa’s grandmother had a secret affair with Auril during one of her visits to Agartha. When she found herself pregnant, she persuaded Melissa’s grandfather that the child was his and accepted it as a fact. Believing Trista was his daughter; he remained unaware of the hidden portal to another realm.

 

******

Melissa made an annual trip to visit Arowyn with her daughter, Marina. Meanwhile, back home, people often speculated about why she had never tied the knot with the man who fathered her child. She chose to remain single. Her father was deeply troubled by what he perceived as an injustice, envisioning a deadbeat who had left Melissa to fend for herself and their daughter. He wished for a different life for her, one where she wouldn’t have to raise a child alone. However, many women successfully navigate single parenthood, and so her father and stepmother offered their support whenever they could. Marina very rarely got sick, and the pediatrician found it extraordinary but assumed that Marina is a product of healthy parents. Family and friends often asked about Marina’s father, but Melissa would simply respond, “He moved away,” effectively ending the conversation with those three words. She believed, “No one needs to know, and honestly, they wouldn’t comprehend,” as she kept her thoughts to herself. In the years that followed, Carly tied the knot with a lawyer named Peter, and they welcomed children into their lives. Carly maintained her friendship with Diego until his tragic passing in his late 70s. Meanwhile, Melissa kept in touch with Carly. Melissa received the heartbreaking news from her eldest son that she had Dementia. It was incredibly painful for her to witness her closest friend slowly fade away, yet she remained committed to visiting her every month until the very end. During those visits, Melissa shared tales of Agartha with Carly, confident that her friend would keep these secrets safe, as she would likely not remember. Melissa recounted her thrilling adventures in Agartha, and while Carly found joy in the stories, they quickly slipped from her memory. There were moments when she looked at the unfamiliar woman sharing these enchanting tales and wondered who she was. Melissa is now 80, her father has long passed on and died of a heart attack. Her stepmother remarried several years later and moved away but they corresponded frequently until her death. Melissa inherited the house where she brought up her daughter. her husband moved in with Melissa, creating a multi-generational home.

Despite being eighty years old, Melissa appears to be in her sixties due to her elf heritage. “Mom, thank you for letting me meet my real dad many years ago. I was blown away to find out that he is an elf—a real elf,” said Marina.

She served Melissa a steaming cup of Chamomile tea. Melissa propped up on her bed with a pillow supporting her back, she turned her gaze toward her daughter. Marina inherited Arowyn’s hair and his striking deep blue eyes, which sparkled with an enchanting vibrancy. “Your great-grandmother had knowledge of Agartha, and I have a little secret to share. Your grandmother has elf blood, just like you and me. I take great pride in being your mother.” She wrapped her arms around Marina in a warm embrace.

“I suppose that’s why you look so youthful, Mom, thanks to your elven lineage,” Marina teased. Indeed, Melissa appeared significantly younger than her years. “I trust you realize that this time, I won’t be coming back, dear,” Melissa said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I understand that father is waiting for you, and I’ll be there to see you off, but I must return, as you’re already know why,” Marina paused. “Also, Johnny is eager to join us when I take you to Agartha. He wants to see grandpa again.” Melissa nodded in agreement. Johnny had gone to Agartha numerous times with his mother since childhood, yet he had never mentioned Agartha to his father. Marina’s son is asleep, and David, her husband, is in their bedroom, watching television. Melissa understands the weight of carrying such a secret because for years she did the same.

“Remember, David must never know about Agartha. It must remain a secret forever. When outsiders know about the gate, the door will close forever,” she paused. “There is no coming back.” Marina nodded and said, “I understand.”

“In a safety deposit box at the bank, is my secret journal and the key. It has all the details about my adventures in Agartha. Maybe one day, you can write a book and tell the story. The key must remain in your possession and passed down to your son.” Marina nodded. Melissa placed the cup on the nightstand next to her bed and said, “I feel sleepy now.” She stretched her arms up and laid herself down and rested her head on the pillow. Soon she started to snore. Marina left the night light on, in her room. Melissa was reluctant to close her eyes in the dark. The shadows brought back memories of the creature she had encountered in the castle. On her 81st birthday, a celebration was held in her honor, surrounded by family and friends. It was a truly unforgettable gathering, filled with joy, love, and the warmth of her loved ones.

Little did they know it would be her final celebration; she felt a sense of readiness to move on. A few days later, Marina, Johnny and Melissa went through the gate. Melissa's grandson, in his twenties, is eagerly anticipating a visit with his grandfather. Although Johnny isn't married, he does have a girlfriend and maybe one day he will marry her. Arowyn patiently awaited their arrival. He embraced both his daughter and grandson warmly before planting a heartfelt kiss on Melissa. Despite her grey hair and gentle wrinkles, her face radiated vitality and joy.

“He has not changed and remains handsome and distinguished as ever,” Melissa mused. Faye is still as youthful as ever. She fluttered around them chatting about almost everything she could think of as they headed to the village.

 “Father, will you take care of her?” Marina whispered as she glanced at Melissa.

“Of course. She is my life as you and Johnny are,” said Arowyn. A change started happening to Melissa after Arowyn kissed her. Her wrinkles faded; a more youthful appearance shadowed her face. Forty years have been shaved off her, she looks like she’s forty-one now.

 “Thank you, father,” said Marina with a smile. Arowyn knew that Marina wasn’t going to be able to see her mother every day, only once a year. Johnny and Marina stayed for a while but had to return home. She remembers what her mother told her, “The longer you stay in Agartha, the more you’ll forget where you come from.” Faye escorted them to the gate. “I will come visit every year,” Marina told Faye.

 “Of course,” Faye responded. “Please, if ever there is any kind of emergency don’t hesitate to call on us,” said Arowyn. “Of course, father,” Marina nodded. “Melissa will be in good hands. I promise,” Faye reassured her as they went through the gate and back home.

Side note: Marina does tell her husband about Agartha and that Melissa left to live in Agartha. She takes him to Agartha and he is bewildered over what he saw there. After some time, he comes to accept that his wife is half Elf and vows to keep the secret safe.

 In the Company of Elves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Rate a Book

Are ratings better than reviews? I believe all are relevant  but lately, on Amazon, books are being rated and no reviews are left. Some Indie authors say that it isn't good and Amazon rating system will become like GoodReads. 

Two of my books recently received a rating but no review and that's okay with me. I welcome all kinds of rates and reviews. The more, the merrier. People notice books that have reviews or rates. It's  always important to leave some kind of rate on a book you've read. Good or bad or in-between will bring attention to any authors book and that's important.  So the next time you read a book, please do rate it---it matters.

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My Nonfiction Book

I rarely share links to this book but that's  going to change. The Other Side of Things, is a nonfiction book, based on a blog where I rant and vent about various topics. I selected a few of them that I feel the reader might enjoy. Some topics are controversial,  but they're  basically women's  issues and my perspective on them. As I pointed out in the introductory page, I only state my personal opinion about certain topics, with no personal  attacks on anyone. The Other Side of Things is the only general nonfiction book, pertaining  to social issues, women issues that I've written.  Please do visit link to buy or download your copy.  it is only available as an eBook.

The Other Side of Things

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