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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Immortality is Now Available as a Paperback!

Immortality: Chandra's  Quest Book 3 is now available as a paperback. It can be purchased through  Amazon Kindle. I will share excerpts from the book next week. Please visit the link below to see book price and details. 

Immortality 

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Traditional or Self-publishing: What is Best?

 

"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."

Anonymous 

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 workload 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. 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 say about what that person said:  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 would not care when someone gives them a not so good review! 

There are people out there that just despise Indie/self-published authors. Why? The author did what others wish they can do, it's that simple. The self-published author doesn’t just talk about writing a book and publishing it, they go out and do 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.  Overall, self-publishing may be all the rage, but the writer has a choice. If he or she wants to publish traditionally, that's up to them, 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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