Book News: Rune Service Re-release! Book Sale! New Reviews! Busy Monday

So, you may have noticed that yesterday Rune Service got a re-release on Amazon! Or maybe you didn’t. My initial release was done at a time when there were a million other things on my plate and because of that, one of my favorite books to write didn’t receive the attention, focus, or care that it should have. This time, I gathered the proper help from a very marketing-capable friend and so we did it right this time. Just take a look at how things are going near the end of day 1:

Along with a great first day, there’s also a growing number of reviews to take a look at. Check it out on the Amazon page! Don’t forget that Rune Service will be on sale through Amazon ending Tuesday for only $.99 USD!

Oh, and speaking of reviews, Indomitable got a fresh new take from none other than an author I truly admire, D. J. Butler. You can take a look at the following link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3FRQ272KMFHKG/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00N75SP70

Starving Review: Yesterday’s Tomorrow (Tomorrow’s War Book 1) by G.W. Pomichter and William DuPree

Yesterday’s Tomorrow (Tomorrow’s War Book 1) by G.W. Pomichter and William DuPree (Amazon, Goodreads)

Ah, alternate history recipes! What can’t you do? From Nazis with spaceships to Ben Franklin summoning dragons, alternate history meals can present all sorts of bizarre scenarios … and quite a few starkly realistic ones. That is the intent of today’s meal, to show an alternate contemporary environment, diverging only a short time before the present day and trying to stay fiercely grounded in the real and natural. Does Yesterday’s Tomorrow capture the essence of realism and push forward this alternate history?

Before we find out, let us take the Starving Review oath:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: Take the Body and Run (Macey Malloy Mysteries Book 1) by Jada Ryker

Take the Body and Run (Macey Malloy Mysteries Book 1) by Jada Ryker (Amazon, Goodreads)

Break out your knives and forks, my literary foodies, as we have a particular treat to dig into today! Branded as a murder mystery with a chick-lit twist, the recipe for today’s dish was chosen as the winner of the 2016 Kindle Scout program, so we must be in for some high dining tonight, yes? A dash of mystery, the spice of a thrilling murder, and the flavor of women’s fiction, there should be a lot of promise here, especially with such a sterling superlative added to it. But will that turn out to be the case?

Before we solve that mystery, let us go through the files for the Starving Review regulations:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Monday Update: Back to Business a.k.a. The Immediate and Near-Future of a Starving Author

The deadlines have been quashed, the burn-out has been put out, and the writing wheels have been greased. It’s time to get on getting on so let’s get back up to speed, as well as map out the near future.

• First, I hate to announce that I won’t be at Necronomicon at the end of the month. Certain family obligations and financial missteps have made it something I just can’t do. However, I am already planning on being there next year, so fingers crossed.
• Speaking of 2017 conventions, I hope to have a slew of news about appearances. I’ll definitely be hitting some old haunts and hopefully some new ones.
• Book releases! As you know, I’ve been working with J. A. Cipriano to release a trilogy of urban fantasy books (Clans of Shadow) which are all now out. I also will be getting out the finale of Three Seconds to Legend, The Twelfth Labor, in Novemeber. Also also, I have a couple of really neat projects in progress. More news on that to come in the near future!
• Book reviews are coming back! Really! This week even! Expect a fresh Starving Review on Friday.
• Naturally, expect some more writing articles this Wednesday.
• In other words, we’re back on track, boys and girls!

As always, until then, good reading, good writing, and good luck!

Writing Is A Bad Habit: CRITICAL REVIEW! a.k.a. Critical Review and Professionalism

I promised content and I deliver!

Today, we talk about book blogging in terms of the book review, critical and objective critiques, and the need for professionalism when you do professional reviews (remember, the moment you exchange anything for a review, you’re a professional now!).

Enjoy and please feel free to discuss or comment below!

Starving Review Preview: Hometown Pride, HO! a.k.a. Local Author Reviews Coming!

Just a quick, additional update to prepare you, my literary foodies, for the weeks to come!

Starting next week, I’ll be tackling the pile of books from local authors I bought/received during Pensacon this year.  As you all know, I love my fellow creators, starting both my review service and editing services with aiding the indie writer and the local writer out.  This is just a natural extension of that!

I have five delightful authors to go through, staring with the ever-lovable S. Usher Evans and the first book of her Raiza series, Double Life.  I hope you all enjoy and find a fresh new author to love!

Starving Review: The Legend of The Engineer: A New Year’s Holiday Tale by Lori Alden Holuta

The Legend of The Engineer: A New Year’s Holiday Tale by Lori Alden Holuta (Amazon, Goodreads)

This week, we are serving up short stories in the Starving Review kitchen.  The Legend of The Engineer is a short tale set in the world of The Brassbright Chronicles, which we have been served a meal from before.  The first was a bright, cheery steampunk dish for younger readers.  Will this small slice from that same cake taste as good or will it be diminished by the smaller portion?

As the pneumatic table service sets the plates, let us recall the Starving Review bylaws:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Starving Review: Krim Du Shaw by Talia Haven

Krim Du Shaw by Talia Haven (Amazon, Goodreads)

This week, we are serving up short stories in the Starving Review kitchen.  Seeking to follow the recipe of the fairy tales of old, Krim Du Shaw promises magic and something ready for reluctant readers.  Will this modern fable deliver or has this recipe gotten too old to stand the test of time?

Before we answer those questions, let us bring forth Ye Olde Starving Review Laws:

1. I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
2. I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible

Monday Musings: A Century of Reading! a.k.a. An Overloaded TBR List

Today’s Monday Musings are brief, but brief for a good reason.

You see, I finally put the list of literary dishes in my pantry into a numbered list.  Yeah, I know, I should have done that in the beginning, but … well, there is a truth I have discovered from doing this.  I have over ONE HUNDRED books in my review queue.

So I’m going to try to speed up my schedule, try to do at least two books a week, if not more.  Of course, there’s no guarantee of this, with my own writing, editing, and second job, but I will endeavor to consume as much literature as possible.

What this also means is that I really have no idea when I’ll be opening submissions again.  Maybe quarterly for a few days?  We’ll see, but I wouldn’t expect to see an opening for at least a couple of months.  Stay tuned, friends!

Writing Is A Bad Habit: All Reviews Are Good a.k.a. The Etiquette of Accepting Reviews

It isn’t easy for an author to push their work out for review.  For many of us, there is a certain introvertism at work that make self-promotion of any kind hard.  For others, there is a certain instinctual self-protectiveness at play.  We don’t want others to pick over the work that we’ve invested so much of ourselves into.

And yet, reviews are one of the best ways to garner input, opinion, and critical insights about our works.  Without the insights reviews grant us, it becomes that much harder to improve in the future, not to mention the promotional value of a wide amount of reviews.  People simply find it easier to buy in on something that others have done so as opposed to a fully untested item.

What about bad reviews though?  Those hurt you, don’t they?  What should you do about them?