Why Some Ebooks Now Cost $9.99

The much anticipated release of E.L. James new book The Mister, has many readers' eyes bulging out of their heads, and not because of the subject matter. The  gasps came when they saw the $9.99 price of the e-book.

Their cries were heard throughout social media. "Why so much?" they wondered.

E-book prices used to be substantially lower than paperbacks. While a self-published paperback may cost $9.99 - $12.99, an e-book may roll in around $2.99 - $3.99, with traditional publishers coming in at roughly $13.99 - $15.99 for paperbacks, and somewhere in the $5.99 range for e-books. So why the sudden increase in price?

Well, I don't work in the tradional publishing sector, but let me try to shed some light on the subject and tell you what I think caused the price jump.

Making a book is not cheap and the profit margin is minimal at best. A book - a good book - isn't just written and immediately published. There are several costs involved. Each page has to be edited several times and formatted. Covers cost money. Depending on the designer, there may be a separate charges for e-book cover and the paperback cover.

If you use a stock photo, you run the risk of having the same cover as everyone else - something I'm going through now. I get tagged almost every other day in a photo on Facebook showing me another author has used the same photo for their cover. It's beyond frustrating, but that's a post for another time. The only way to avoid that pitfall is to pay a professional photographer, models, etc. to do a personalized cover. Not cheap and certainly not cost effective for most authors.

I asked an author friend to break down the costs of publishing a book. Here's what she said:

"[It] Depends on who you use for everything. Full editing, normally will rack out at about $1000 USD. Covers conservatively between $50-150 USD, although I've heard of people paying upwards of 700 for one cover. Marketing is easily your big money pit, costing anywhere from free, if you know how, to I would say $200 a month. So, added together, say $1500 as an easy starting number. Average $2 royalties per book on Amazon, and you are talking 750 sold in the first month to break even, with a continuing 100 a month after that, for as long as you keep up marketing." - Kathleen Eyke, author

750 books sold in the first month just to break even! And most authors I know don't make $2.00 a book. Books have to be priced over a certain amount for the author to make a 70% royalty. If it's priced below that, or they forget to check the proper box, an author only receives 30%. (Yes, you have to check a box to receive a higher royalty. No, you can't go back and fix it if you accidentally check the wrong box.)

Now let's talk e-books, break down some platforms, and discuss the problems with them.

People love e-books, and rightly so. They're cheaper, take up less room in the house, and they are delivered immediately. Let's hear it for instant gratification! Woo-Hoo! But e-books are more easily pirated.

Think about it. The people that pirate books are not going to take the time to retype an entire manuscript. But they will take a few minutes to upload a computer file if they can get their hands on it. That means the material has been stolen and the author and publisher are getting paid nothing for their work.

On to free book sites - Who doesn't want free books? The sites that offer them are a great way for new authors to get their names out there. An author may put one of their books on the site, permanently or temporarily, in an effort to reach new readers. The hope is that once a readers discover you, they'll become a fan and seek out other books and buy new releases.

But not only are these books often pirated, many people that download books from these sites usually won't consider paying for a book when there are so many - good or bad -  available for free. They seem personally offended if an author wants to charge for a book. A book the author has worked 4-8 hours a day on every day, usually for six months to a year. Now add in all the costs mentioned above and essentially, the reader is asking the author to pay to have their book read. Imagine going into your work, busting your butt all day, only to have your bosses come to you at the end of the week demanding you pay them for being there. It wouldn't fly. Employees would feel unappreciated and walk out. Just like some great writers quit publishing. The thought being, why bother? 

Now let's talk Kindle Unlimited. It's great for the reader, giving them the option to download tons of books for a monthly subscription. So they click on any book that might interest them, stockpiling each one on their Kindle, where they collect virtual dust.

Before, if consumers purchased a book, publishers and authors received royalties even if that book sat on someone's shelf or e-reader for years. With KU, authors and publishers are paid per page read. If a reader doesn't swipe each page individually, the author doesn't get paid.

And Kindle Unlimited requires KDP Select exclusivity. What's that you ask? It means the author cannot sell on any other platforms. No Kobo, Apple, Barnes and Noble, or any other market that caters to other e-reading devices, severely limiting the audience and potential profits.

So why offer books on Kindle Unlimited? Because it is extremely popular and is a great place to create buzz for a novel. But, much like the individuals loyal to free sites, some people won't consider picking up a book that isn't available on KU. Authors and publishers are left shrugging saying, "Some profit is better than no profit."

Are you starting to see why publishers are raising costs? And we haven't really touched on the cost of ads, trailers, book teasers or anything else which can cost thousands. Once a publisher distributes the agent their well-deserved commission and any royalties to the author, recoups expenses associated with the book, and pays their employees and the utilities necessary to operate a business, it's a wonder traditional publishers are still around. Prices are rising because publishers are desperately trying to find a way to bring quality material to readers and stay afloat doing it.

They're averaging down their costs on books of lesser known authors that may take longer to turn a profit by raising the price on books written by top authors with guaranteed sales. It's the only way they can subsidize their costs and continue to take chances on new authors hoping to bring readers the next Stephen King or J.K. Rowling.

And while you most likely won't see an e-book by an indie author coming in at $9.99, it's not because we don't think our books aren't worth that price It's because we can't compete if we do. Most indie authors don't make a dime. We publish books because we love to write. Yes, we want to make it big and have our books reach millions. But until we're backed by one of the Big 5, chances are, we're not going to be able to afford to write full-time for a living.

Most indie authors I know work one or two jobs and sacrifice any free time - dinner with friends, Netflix binges with the hubby, and downtime in general to be able get their words to you. I've seen estimates claiming most indie authors are lucky if they sell 250 books per release. You now know, that doesn't even come close to the amount it costs to publish a book.

Instead of vacations on beaches, they pay to attend cons. Yes, you read that correctly. If you see an author at a book con or signing, know they paid to be there. That money comes out of their pocket, as does any swag they provide. Authors attend cons and signings to interact with loyal fans and hopefully pick up some new ones that will also love their stories and follow their careers.

Turning a profit is a dream for a self-published author and a necessity for a traditional publishing company. I'm not defending high book costs, but if traditional publishers don't find a way to make more money, they aren't going to survive.

I know there are a lot of bad books out there and I understand readers don't want to pay for something they may hate filled with one-dimensional characters and plot holes. That's why they should feel comfortable paying a little more for a book knowing it has gone through the proper channels to be edited and formatted properly. You're paying for the blood, sweat, and tears (and possibly the psychiatric meds) of the author that writes 6-8 hours a day and is not getting paid an hourly wage to do it; you're paying for professionalism and the countless hours and manpower it takes to make a book come together; you're paying to escape reality for a while and be transported into another world.

Most people are willing to pay upwards of $4 for a cup of coffee from Starbucks because they know they will be getting something better than they can make at home or be served in a diner. That's what you're paying for with a good book - Quality (editing). Atmosphere (formatting and cover design). Entertainment (the author's ideas and prose). If you would rather read compelling novels with seemless plotlines, characters you feel connected to, and exceptional storylines instead of books laden with errors, plot holes, and sub-par writing, you have to reward the authors and the publishers that bring them to you.

I'm not saying the price hike is right or wrong, but I hope this fosters a better understanding between the readers and the industry. If you are a fan of good books and support our writing community, please know that we appreciate you. We aren't looking to gouge anyone. We're just trying to make enough to keep doing what were doing and bring you books you'll love.

Please click on the links below to check out my books The Rise to Fame and The Cost of Fame.

The Rise to Fame

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The Cost of Fame

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Why Sometimes I Write Insta-Love and will Never Guarantee a Happily-Ever-After

Insta-love.

People either love it or hate it. Some people curl their nose up at the very thought of it and will refuse to read a book if it involves that storyline So why do I still write it sometimes?

Well, I'll tell you, my friends. Because it happens.

We all know or have heard of those couples that say when they met their true love, they "just knew." Hell, when my mom met my dad at a friend's house, the second he walked out the door she looked at her friend and said, "That's the man I'm going to marry." They were married after 12 dates and just celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

Now, I'll admit, I don't believe in love at first sight. Like a lot of people, I believe you can't truly love someone until you get to know them - their strengths, their weaknesses, their quirks, their flaws, the annoying way they leave their socks everywhere after you just cleaned the house. How they handle a crisis. The way they support you or let you support them when it is most needed.

But I do believe you can have a connection with someone almost immediately. I believe it because I can attest to it firsthand. Most of the people I've dated, I've had that connection. But some people haven't. They've never been blindsided like that. Their love affairs developed over months or years. Sometimes from friendship. Other times from working together and growing close. Everyone's story is unique. That's what makes them great. How boring would it be if every love story you read or movie you watched was the same? It might be fine the first few times, but then my guess is, it'd get pretty boring.

When I write, I listen to my characters and let them tell me their story. If my main male character hasn't had a great family life, he may be more eager to find or create a family of his own and therefore, be more apt to fall in love quicker than the average person. The same can be said if my female MC was dating someone, thinking marriage was on the table, and then had a sudden break-up. While some women need time to get over the last love or may vow to never date again, others are in that "relationship place." They may realize the person they were with wasn't right, but may still fear not finding someone so they may jump into the next relationship with both feet. It all depends on the person.

Often times, what may seem like insta-love, even while you're reading it, is really a visceral attraction, coupled with a strong connection between two people. We all have those people we met and have just gelled with - maybe it's a lover, maybe it's a co-worker, or maybe it's your best friend. And while the character may mistake those feelings for true love, most of the time they are basing it on intense emotions, believing that person will somehow become important to them. The love they feel so quickly isn't actual love, but more the acknowledgment that one day they could see themselves falling in love with someone.

At least that's usually the case with my characters, even if they don't know it.

With every character I write, I take every last detail of their life into account and develop their story accordingly. How they grew up, who their friends are, what types of relationships they were surrounded by, the kind of upbringing they had, their job, any other outside factors, and of course, their own hang-ups and insecurities determine their relationships. This may lead to insta-love or it may have my character erecting a ton of walls, terrified of love.

I think it is a writer's job to tell a story in the most realistic way possible. Which leads me to why I won't guarantee a happily-ever-after. Yes, I love them. Yes, I want them. But, in life, we don't always get them. If every story I penned was written with the goal of delivering a happy ending, my stories would be skewed. To write the best stories for my reader, I have to ask myself, what feels the most realistic and let the characters and story dictate where they go.

It also keeps people on their toes, which is something I love doing. It stops the story from becoming too predictable. If you know how something is going to end, you start envisioning how the writer will take you there. If you have no clue, it forces you to sit back and enjoy the ride and the world the author has created.

The two greatest compliments I have received as an author are 1) Being told my characters are so realistic, it feels like they are in the room with you or you're watching the scene play out in front of you. The other is being told my books transcend genres. And the reason I'm convinced I achieved that, at least according to this person, is because I listen to my characters and make no guarantees.

Well, that's not true. I'll make one guarantee. I promise if you give any of my books a try, you're in for one hell of a ride.

Please be sure to check out my books The Rise to Fame and The Cost of Fame, available on Amazon and other online retailers.

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Fifty Shades of Embarrassment

The holiday season is upon us! With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I can almost feel the nervous anxiety - did I say anxiety? I meant excitement - you have trying to get the shopping done, the house cleaned, the cooking prepped and of course, preparing for the family to come. Some members you can't wait to see. Others, you've probably had to make an extra run to the liquor store just to make sure you'll get through the day.

Let's face it. We love our families, but sometimes these get-togethers can be trying. Your mom may criticize your cooking techniques because they differ from hers; your uncle may get drunk, and relay stories from your youth that you'd rather forget, or if your sister is anything like mine, she may ask you about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy in front of your mother.

Oh yeah, she went there. Hang on... it gets worse.

To say my mother is a kind of a prude would be like saying the pope is kind of Catholic. She takes the word "prude" to a whole other level. If Mother Theresa was still alive and met my mother, I am certain she would spend five minutes with her and say, "Woman, you need to lighten up." To this day, I'm not convinced I wasn't left on the doorstep by a stork or the product of Immaculate Conception.

Growing up, we were taught sex was bad and dirty, and sure as hell wasn't something women should enjoy. My puritanical upbringing is part of why I include sex in my books, but that's another blog. So imagine my surprise when my older sister, also quite vanilla, brought up Fifty Shades of Grey.

Yep, I almost fell out of the damn chair.

Allow me to set the scene for you. I'm writing it in first person present to give you the full effect. We've just finished dessert. The men are parked in front of the television watching the game in a turkey coma (thank God!). My mom is sitting next to me still picking at her pumpkin pie, and my sister is across from me when she utters these fateful words, "Have you read the Fifty Shades of Grey books?"

My head snaps up and I glare at her having an intense nonverbal conversation. "Really? Mom's not invisible, right? You can see she is sitting right here." My sister appears completely oblivious to my silent chasting. I feel the weight of their eyes on me, waiting for my response. "No. I started it, but couldn't really get into it. Christian Grey was a bit too controlling and stalkerish for me."

"So you don't know anything about it?" my sister presses for some reason.

"I know some stuff. I mean, I've got the gist of what it's about."

"What's Fifty Shades?" my mom joins in beaming with curiosity. I stare at my coffee wishing I'd opted to add some Bailey's or Kahlua, or, given the situation, some 151.

"It's a book about sex," I say flatly, hoping it will be the end of it. My mom shifts in her chair as I rack my brain searching for another subject to bring up. Any subject. But I can't focus because my sister has that look on her face. The one that tells me she is going to say something without thinking.

"It's really popular," she says. "He has a special room he calls a "Red Room" and he wants her to sign a contract."

"A contract?" Mom asks. "For what? To work for him?"

"No... for sex stuff."

My mom squinches her face in disgust. "Sex stuff? Why would she have to sign a contract for that?"

And here we go...

"Because it's not standard stuff. It's..." My sister titters awkwardly beginning to realize the subject matter she's brought up. She looks to me for help, but I have nothing to offer since I haven't read the book yet and know nothing about this contract or what's on it. And, to be honest, I'm enjoying watching her dig herself deeper into this hole. "..it's... I can't even tell you because I didn't know what half of it was. I had to google it. Some of it I still don't understand. I have no idea what a frogger is."

"Flogger," I correct before I can think better of it.

"Fogger?" my mom repeats.

"FL-ogger." They both sit forward in their chairs waiting for me to elaborate since it's clear I know what it is. So I do the only thing I can. I explain what a flogger is and why someone would use one. They're both glaring at me like, well like I just told them what a flogger was.

Okay, technically this is a riding crop.

And that's when my sister says, "Do you know what fisting is?"

"Fisting? What's fisting?" my mom asks. Yes, my mother just asked me about fisting. I eye the knife on my plate debating whether I should stab myself or my sister with it. Everything in me tells me I should use it on my sister, but then I'll be left to clean up the bloody mess and when that's through, I'll still have to explain fisting to my mother, and presumably a jury of my peers. Just when I think this conversation can't get any worse, my mom turns to me and says, "Do you know what it is? Tell me."

While I plot my sister's painful death, I debate my options: 1) Explain fisting to my mother and sister; 2) Wait in horror, knowing my sister will pull it up on her phone and then we'll have to sit around her tiny screening watching an example of fisting like some perverted family you'd see on Jerry Springer.

I push out a breath. "Fisting is when a guy takes his entire hand and shoves it..." I explain it as clinically as possible. Like I'm giving a lecture or reading from a textbook.

My sister howls with embarrassed laughter. My mom crinkles her nose, pursing her lips. "That's disgusting. Why would anyone ever do something like that? And you know about this?"

I shrug. 

"I want to know how you know," my mom demands probably trying to figure out exactly how many Our Fathers and Hail Marys she's going to have to say to save my perverted soul.

"You know I grew up with and still have a lot of guy friends. They always treated me like one of the guys and didn't censor themselves."

"I can't believe you know about that kind of stuff." She shakes her head with disappointment. "And someone wrote about this in a book you read?"

"Not me. Her." I point to my sister eager to throw my mom's scrutiny elsewhere. My sister's eyes grow large enough to eclipse her entire face. 

"I... I didn't know what it was about when I started it," she stammers. "Someone told me to read it. I didn't know anything about floggers or fisting... or butt plugs."

My mom's face pinches, twisting toward the apparent sexual deviant in the room. "What's a butt plug?"

KILL. ME. NOW. 

**If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, click below to sign up today and you'll receive an excerpt from my book, The Rise to Fame. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER

Don't forget to check out my steamy, angst-filled contemporary romance The Fame Series. These books make great Christmas gifts for the reader in your life.

Book One: The Rise to Fame

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Happy Thanksgiving!🦃

Hurts So Good: What Happened When I Tried Cupping Therapy

So apparently I'm a closet masochist because over the weekend I decided to try cupping. What is cupping you ask? It's a type of therapy where cups are placed in strategic places on your body, in my case my back, shoulders, and neck, and suction is used to create negative energy. This is in contrast to the positive energy used in standard massage techniques.

While cupping has been around for years - it was used regularly in ancient Chinese medicine - it has seen a rise in interest, becoming more popular after Gwenyth Paltrow donned perfect red circles on her back during a red carpet event. It garnered more interest when Michael Phelps showed up to the Olympic meets with the nasty marks.

So what does it do? The cups create suction that allows blood to get into tight muscles by loosening them and encouraging blood flow. Some say it can sedate the nervous system to help with depression and anxiety. Others praise it for its ability to draw out toxins that may have been lying dormant in muscles for years. It is touted for helping everything from migraines to rheumatism.

Okay, brace yourself, because here come the pictures.

Yep, that's my skin drawn up into those glass cups!

See those marks? Just wait. That's nothing.

I know what you're thinking, "Holy crap! Shay why on earth would you try something like that?"

Well, my little reader friends, I did it for the same reason you entertain doing many crazy things in life - I was desperate. For over a month, I had some muscles and trigger points that would not break no matter what I did. They were giving me a nonstop migraine and I felt like my right eye was going to pop out of my head, ala Glenn from The Walking Dead. I was even forced to eat soft foods because the muscle in my jaw was so tight, anything aggravated it. I tried deep tissue and trigger point massage therapy, a different version of cupping massage where they drag the cups over your skin (this did absolutely nothing), and chiropractic treatment. Nothing helped.

Two different massage therapists recommended I try cupping to "break the muscles," so I figured what the hell? I did my research, talked to a friend that has cupping done regularly, and scheduled the appointment. I'll admit, I was a little nervous.

It started off like any other massage.  We chatted for a bit about what areas were bothering me, and then I got under the blanket half-naked and he warmed up the muscles with a regular massage. After a few minutes, he put the first cup on. He explained that depending on my pain tolerance, he could use 1-5 pumps. Obviously the more pumps, the more negative pressure on the muscle.

The first and second pump felt like nothing. The third I felt a little pressure. The fourth a lot of pressure. But I wasn't here to mess around. I knew I had some crap that needed to be broken up, so being the she-woman I am, I went for the full five pumps. That's right, I am woman... hear me roar! Or in this case, whimper because that son of a b*%ch hurt.

To be fair, the first cup and two others hurt way more than the rest. I went 5 pumps across the board and after all was said and done, had fifteen cups total done that day. He focused on my rights side first, leaving the cups on for approximately 7 minutes. The left side was next. He placed the cups in position then massaged the right side while the other cups did their job. It's my understanding that normally they don't do that, but he said my muscles and triggers were so tight he feared I wasn't going to experience the relief I should.

After the skin on my back was covered in a smattering of polka dots, we moved to the front where he focused on my neck and shoulders. By the end, I looked like I had stood in front of one of those auto-pitch machines and let myself get pummeled with baseballs, and it kind of felt like it too. Although, again, to be fair, part of that was my choice because I chose five pumps. Presumably, if I had elected for fewer pumps they wouldn't have been as bad.

I went home and didn't do anything other than some writing. You're not supposed to workout or do engage in strenuous activity. I'm not sure if that has to do with healing or the very real possibility that the gym members may run out screaming, fearing you have contracted some crazy polka dot flesh-eating virus that will eventually turn you into a zombie. Okay, maybe I've seen one too many sci-fi movies.

They say the degree of bruising varies from person to person. If your bruises are dark it could mean you had more toxins or lactic acid trapped in the muscles. Two days later, and most of mine were a sexy shade of black and purple (see below). One or two were still pretty sore, and according to the masseuse, I have a very high pain tolerance, so that's saying something. The rest felt almost like I had a minor sunburn. Nothing was too uncomfortable and didn't disrupt my sleep, although I did feel those two spots I mentioned when I moved certain ways.

Clearly, I thought, how can I make myself less dateable?

So did it work?

The jury is still out on that. I think so. My muscles definitely released more than they did with the regular massage. I also noticed tiny, I'm going to call them calcium deposits, rising up in some of the bruises, which I thought was weird, but kind of cool if it was broken up from the therapy. I feel today, four days later, I'm still experiencing the benefits.

Would I do it again?

Sure, although not in the summer when bathing suits and tank tops might be worn. I would be curious to see how I felt after a couple of sessions and if the bruises would be lighter after subsequent treatments, assuming there would be fewer toxins and lactic acid build up in the muscles. I still favor deep tissue massage over anything else, but this definitely served as a springboard to help break up those knots.

*** Please note: People with certain conditions should not have cupping done. Check with your doctor before having the procedure. ***

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How to Review an Indie Author

What's the first thing you do when you're online debating about purchasing a new product or visiting a restaurant? Check the reviews. 5 - Stars? Awesome! It should be good. 1 star? Forget it. I'm not wasting my money.

And that's totally understandable. You work hard for your money. So, of course, you do your research to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. Vandasta.com reports more than 88% of consumers incorporate reviews into their purchasing decision. But did you know it's estimated that only 1-3% of readers leave reviews?

(Okay, side note:  If you don't want to read anything else on this page, please at least skip to the part about the stars.)

Now you need to know I am over the moon if you choose to spend your money on one of my books. And you are under no obligation to leave me a review. But I can't tell you how much it makes my little author heart soar when you do. So much in our community is based on them. Approximately 600,000 - 1 million books are published every year. And today, many agents and publishers won't even look at your work until there is some kind of buzz about it. That's where you come in.

Authors can talk about their books until they're blue in the face. We love them. They're our babies. But at the end of the day, would you put more stock in hearing how awesome my book is from me, the person that spent months writing it and has everything on the line, or a person that has nothing at stake and is completely unbiased? Exactly.

People ask me all the time, "How do I leave a review?" Somewhere, in the back of their minds, they intimidate themselves into thinking the review needs to sound like it came from Hemingway. But you need to know, no one expects that from you. I always tell them to be honest and maybe mention the characters or something specific about the book so Amazon knows it's a legit review. It's that simple.

STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Now I want to talk to you about stars. This is a big one because it's one of the first things people see when they go to Amazon or GoodReads. As a writer, I'm trying to put out the best book I possibly can so I'm always striving for 5-stars. Of course, that doesn't always happen.

I'll admit. I'm a perfectionist (I know, I'm in the wrong business for that). One of the most frustrating things and something you just have to get used to when you're an author is wondering why someone will leave you an absolutely amazing review, but still only give you 4 stars. While I am beyond appreciative of the review and hope others will take the time to read it, my mind torments me. Was it my writing? My characters? Typos?

It's not like when you're in school and the teacher hands you back your paper with little notes saying why you got the grade you did. Author etiquette says I can't ask. So I'm left wondering what I did wrong. And it sucks because all I want to do is find out so I can fix it and deliver a better story next time. I try to keep in mind everyone has different taste. Some people love Stephen King. Some people hate him. Some people love sweet historical romance while others prefer dark contemporary ones.

There's no telling what someone's criteria may be for reviewing a book. I can only tell you what I take into account:

1) Does it look professional? Is the cover nice? Is everything formatted properly? (Although I tend to give a little leeway on e-reader formatting because sometimes, it doesn't seem to matter what you do, e-readers still show extra spaces even if they're not in your manuscript. Grrrr)

2) Were there a ton of grammatical errors and typos? (Keep in mind even well-edited books may contain errors. A book is still considered perfect if it has one error or less every 10k words)

3) Were there plot holes and was the story consistent? Does the author talk about the main character driving a red Ford F150 on page 100 and then on page 105 that truck is now blue with no explanation as to why?;

4) Did it hold my interest? Was it a real page turner or did I struggle to finish it?;

5) Were the characters and their emotions believable? Even if it's not the way I would have acted in a situation, given the character's background, could I see them behaving that way?

6) Would I recommend it to a friend?

While we all strive for it, most authors are not going to write a To Kill a Mockingbird. In my opinion, those books are rarities that even those authors tend to achieve only once-in-a-lifetime and should receive some special 6-star rating. But just because someone doesn't write an "instant classic" doesn't mean they aren't a fantastic writer or won't become one and write that legendary book someday.

Reviews are subjective. There are people that give 5 stars to everything and other people that only give 5 stars to specific genres or are waiting for the next Gone with the Wind or The Tell Tale Heart, and refuse to give 5 stars to anything less. And while that might be fine for best-selling authors that have thousands of reviews, let me tell you how that can actually hurt an Indie author.

Being an Indie author, I can tell you firsthand we're always trying to build a following, get our name out there, and get noticed by agents and publishers. Even a lot of bloggers will check previous reviews before they'll consider reviewing a new author. And that's understandable. They get flooded with queries and requests and want to focus their attention on something that could go somewhere and make them a profit. Again, this is why reviews are so important.

Here is where things get complicated. I have seen and heard someone rave about a book and give it 1 star because it had the f-word or c-word in it. Other books give warnings to the reader in advance about graphic content or triggers at the beginning of a book, yet a reader will still give it 1 or 2 stars because it had sex or violence in it. And then there are the revenge reviews. Those are the ones that someone writes with the sole purpose of tanking an author's rating. Yep, I'm sorry to say, but that really happens. You never know what is going to make someone give a bad review.

While those reviews may sting for someone like J.K. Rowling or Sylvia Day, because they have a plethora of fans and receive thousands of reviews, their rating probably won't be affected. But for an Indie author that struggles to get every review they can, a rating like that can be devastating, taking their 5-star rating to 3 stars in a flash. 

That's why I, personally, rate Indie authors a little different. It's not about going easy on them; it's about considering their numbers. I tend to think of it this way. If I told all the fans of the best star high school quarterback to go out and buy his jersey, and then told all of Tom Brady's fans to go out and by Tom's jersey, who would sell more jerseys? Tom, obviously. Does that mean the high school kid is no good and won't become the next Tom Brady someday? No. It just means he's fresh out the gate and doesn't have the fan base to compete with Tom's numbers yet. But that's me. I like an underdog and tend to root for them and want to give them encouragement, hoping someday they get that fan base and can compete with the Tom Bradys of the world. If I'm honest, it's because it will make for a better game for me as a spectator.

But some people do the exact opposite and are harder on Indie authors, using the mindset they're preparing the writer to compete with the literary greats. The big dogs. And that's their right.

And while I don't go throwing around 5-star ratings like Willy Wonka throws around candy, I do try to be thoughtful in my reviews and remind myself that Indie authors don't have the backing of multi-million dollar publishers with the best editors and advertising teams in the business. That's not to say their books shouldn't still be edited and look professional. But I may cut them a little more slack than one error every 10k words. But again, that's just me. And if I have reservations about awarding higher star counts, I ask myself why? Is it because it's not my normal genre? If I think that's a factor, I try to consider what readers in that genre would want in a story and determine if those needs were met. 

Do I wish I could give half stars and award it 4.5, but that's not an option? Then I ask myself if I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to someone else. If the answer is yes, I may level up instead of down.

Some people aren't a fan of particular plotlines. For illustrative purposes, let's say I'm not a fan of cheating. Instead of basing my star rating solely on the fact that I don't like books that contain cheating, I try to keep in mind that others may. So instead of giving it a low star rating, I take into account the story, character development, and whether it was done well, and then maybe mention in the review that if you aren't a fan of cheating, you may not like this book. But I try not to let it affect the overall star rating. Personally, I tend to refrain from giving 1- star ratings. If I see one, I assume the book was poorly edited, the plot had holes, and the characters were unlikable or didn't seem realistic.

In the end, it doesn't matter what I take into account when I write my reviews. You have the right to write any kind of review you choose. Authors are notoriously insecure about their work and always questioning their talent, but no author wants stars they didn't earn. I speak from experience when I say, every review I receive propels me to write and deliver the best book I can. And I will continue to do that no matter how many stars you give me. You are helping me live my dream. And for that, I give you 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

Author to Author: J.M Davies Discusses Revenge of the Witch

Hey there my little bibliophiles! This week we're going to do things a little bit different because, well I have the flu and I'm not filming myself. This week I am excited to introduce you to J.M. Davies, and her latest release Revenge of The Witch.

First, let's get to know Jennifer. I asked her three questions:

Me: What got you into writing?

J.M. Davies: "I was actually going through some deep emotional stuff at the time. I had left my family back in Wales and found myself returning to the States for the second time. As I sat in my new home with my kids and husband thinking of all I had left behind, the character of Mia Childs was created. She was my first protagonist in my first YA fantasy novel, The Promise. I had never written a book before but penned that story in several notebooks inside 4 months. I eventually moved onto the computer, much quicker! But, it took me four years to re-write, edit and get it published, but I did it. From that moment on writing has become one of my greatest loves." 

Me: Who is your favorite author in your genre? 

J.M. Davies: "Yikes, that is hard. I love so many. One that always sticks out for me is Deborah Harkness and her All Souls trilogy. Just talking about her makes me want to go back and pick up her books to read. I love her writing. In fact, as I write this, I’m reminded of a quote by Author J. K. Rowling. “I don’t believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.”  

Me: How did you create the character of Ella Masters in The Rise of Orion series? 

J.M. Davies: "I knew when I started to think about creating my first paranormal adult romance, I wanted my character to be a witch, but not in the traditional way. Then, I had this idea that transformed the entire story. The character Ella was hung as a witch in the sixteenth century and in every life that follows that title haunts her." 

However, she isn’t a witch, but a soul-shifter born from the clan of Ariana, the cursed moon goddess. Ella can be re-born into another life up to five times in order for her to meet her soul-mate, but if she doesn’t meet him by then, death is eternal or so the legend says. I love exploring the character of Ella. She is a strong woman, battle worn from all the betrayals in her previous lives, and unwilling to trust or fall in love. She is a survivor. A healer. A warrior. But when she meets the one, everything changes."

Now that you know a little bit about Jennifer, check out the following video and read about her latest release Revenge of the Witch. 

Revenge of the Witch

Throughout her many lives, soul-shifter Ella Masters has been betrayed by men, and hunted by the Elusti, but that changed the day she met her soul-mate Marcus. However, when Zephra, a witch, predicts the end of days, it brings her maternity leave to an abrupt halt. Working as an agent at Orion, Ella vows to destroy her adversary once and for all. 

Temporary leader of the private security firm, Marcus Drayton, has a mission to prevent all-out war. Attempting to forge an alliance between the humans and the supernatural races looks unlikely as the body count continues to sweep over the East Coast, and on the home front. As the stakes increase, lives are forever changed, and a need to confess a dark secret to his wife haunts him.

When Ella unravels a mystery—her world implodes. And when the true identity of the enemy is revealed—she learns revenge is a poison that ruptures the heart and devours the soul.

Will her love for Marcus survive when destiny calls? 

To purchase the Revenge of the Witch on Kindle click: http://a.co/d/1dxg0Er

Stay in touch with Jennifer Davies follow her on social media or sign-up for her newsletter by clicking the following:

Facebook        https://www.facebook.com/RomanceauthorJ.M.DAVIES/

Website            http://www.jenniferowendavies.com/

Email                 Jendaviesuk@gmail.com

Twitter              https://twitter.com/jendaviesuk 

Instagram       Jengal124

Blog                    https://welshjensblog.blogspot.com

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/J.-M.-Davies/e/B06Y6DY5B6/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Newsletter sign-up:   https://mailchi.mp/f285b8da4cf4/romanceauthorjmdaviesuk

And don't forget to check out my contemporary romance duet, The Fame Series available now on Amazon and other online retailers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FN2VGZN/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

For a sneak peek at my series, sign up for my newsletter and receive a free excerpt from The Rise to Fame. CLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I am happy to announce The Cost of Fame is NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Here's what one reviewer had to say after reading an advanced copy of The Cost of Fame:

"Wow! Emotional, heartfelt and chilling! I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the characters and couldn’t get enough of them. Their story was a crazy whirlwind of love and suspense. It was dark and gritty with an ending that will leave you breathless. Contemporary romance isn’t my go to genre but I would definitely recommend this series to not only fans of the genre but also anyone looking for a beautiful haunting love story." - A. Martinez Goodreads

Now, if you haven't read the first book in The Fame Series, you may want to skip reading the next section and CLICK HERE to purchase THE RISE TO FAME.

What if getting everything you ever wanted cost you the only one you ever loved?

One night. One stupid night. That's all it took to tear Alex’s world apart and rip her heart in two. Thanks to Richard’s plan she believes Colin committed the ultimate betrayal and she can’t imagine ever forgiving him.

With Colin out of the way, Richard thinks his path to Alexandra is clear. But when he discovers a megastar is also vying for her affection, Richard is forced to up his game. With his obsession out of control, he takes drastic measures leaving Alex no choice. The only way to protect the people she loves is to agree to Richard’s terms and let Colin go forever.

After reluctantly giving her the space she requested, Colin returns home from a movie shoot determined to win Alex back. He won’t stop until she is back in his arms where she belongs. But she isn’t making it easy. Despite her continued attempts to push him away, it’s obvious she still loves him. Something isn’t right. If Colin doesn’t figure it out soon, one of them will be forced to pay the ultimate price.

Not all stories have a happy ending. Will Colin and Alex get theirs or will their love be The Cost of Fame?

CLICK HERE to purchase The Cost of Fame

Click one of the links below to sign up for my newsletter and receive a sneak peek at The Rise to Fame or The Cost of Fame.

CLICK HERE for newsletter sign up and The Rise to Fame Excerpt

CLICK HERE for newsletter sign up and The Cost of Fame Excerpt