6 Common Myths About Book Reviews

By Dana Lynn Smith*

Book reviews are a powerful promotional tool, but there are some misconceptions about how to obtain them. Here are some common myths about getting book reviews.

• Myth #1 - Book reviews are just for new books.
• Myth #2 - No one will review a self-published book.
• Myth #3 - Book reviews are just for books being sold to bookstores and libraries.
• Myth #4 - You can't get reviews for ebooks.
• Myth #5 - No one pays attention to the reviews in online bookstores.
• Myth #6 – It's not worth the effort of pursing reviews.

Read the complete articles. Enlightening!

*Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer, helps authors and indie publishers learn how to sell more books through her how-to guides, blog, newsletter, and private coaching. Get her free Top Book Marketing Tips ebook, visit her blog, follow on Twitter, and connect on Facebook.

Final Day - Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 26 - 28, 2012 #Kindle #eBook #freebook

Free Book Promotion - Amazon Kindle - Deadlier Than The Male

Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 26 - 28, 2012 #Kindle #eBook #freebook

Spring Leaf Books has announced that the ebook edition of 'Deadlier Than The Male' by Fred Maddox is free on Amazon from June 26 to 28, 2012.

If you haven't picked up any of Fred Maddox's publications yet, this is a great opportunity to try one of them for free.

The Plot:

Peter Milton promised himself he would never again live in poverty, as he had done as a child. That promise became an obsession so great, it took over his life. He robs and cheats to climb the social ladder, riding roughshod over anyone who gets in his way. He warms his way into the affections of the managing director’s only daughter. His mission is achieved and he sets about climbing the social ladder using deviousness and underhand dealings. He is about to realise his goal, but an ex-girlfriend appears and threatens to throw a spanner in the works. He is in for the shock of his life. Once again he has failed to appreciate the cunning of the fairer sex?
Spring Leaf Books...

Amazon Kindle - Deadlier Than The Male 

“An imaginative plot that is sure to keep you rapt till the very end!”

...publishedbestsellers.com

Ireland tour book with a visit to the (Patrick) Brontë country. A Brontë Blog feature.

Author of 'In Search Of Ireland Again', John Butler  talks about his new book.

"I first visited Ireland in 1947 – inspired by that King of travel writers, H.V.Morton and his ‘In Search of Ireland’. In numerous visits since, I have been struck by the changing face of the country, splintered by the formation of the six counties to become part of the UK.

The book tells of a country in desperate poverty, resurgence into prosperity, via the European Community, the fight for independence, the violence of the IRA and the Black and Tans. It tells of the eternal haemorrhaging of its people through emigration and a history bound up so tightly with our own.

The book is a personal account of the tours. It is more than a mere travelogue; it is a personal observation and evaluation of the traumatic phases of the country and its history – seen in past, present and future.

I am bewitched by the sheer beauty of Glengariff, see Cushenden and I’m reminded of Clough Elliss and Port Merion. See Donegal – now and in H.V.Morton’s time. Visit Knock and its commercialism. Visit Cong where the film’ The Quiet Man’ lives on. Attend Mass in Galway. Visit the Claddagh. Cobh – the saddest place in Ireland. Here the great liners waited for the emigrants – the haemorrhaging of her best and youngest blood. I kiss the Blarney Stone, discover drisheen, visit Mount Melleray, tour Brontë land. Take the rocky road to Dublin. Inform a lady in Drogheda that Cromwell is dead. Dublin and St Michans, shake hands with a Crusader, search for Uncle Barney, visit Guinness Brewery- the GPO and 1916 uprising – back to Larne and home."

John Butler is the author of 'In Search Of Ireland Again'.

A Grief Unobserved - a review by the Child Bereavement Charity

Helping parents and carers with early childhood bereavement.

The Review

"This book charts the journey of a woman, through her childhood, into adolescence and finally adulthood after being bereaved by the death of her mother when very young.  Her early life is described as “a childhood of silence”, surrounded by adults who never talked about her mother’s death or offered any explanation as to what happened.

The book describes the resultant emotional scars which this girl carried with her into adult life and the therapeutic process she embarked on to try to deal with them.

It illustrates well the importance of adults being honest with young children when someone dies and the resultant damage to a child’s ability to make some sense of what has happened if an explanation is not given.

A Grief Unobserved would be a helpful read for anyone who works with bereaved adults. It offers some insight into how childhood grief that is ignored can result in an adulthood blighted by the anguish and despair of an unresolved bereavement."

Child Bereavement Charity

Maggie Kindred is the author of 'A Grief Unobserved'.

Book Savvy Spotlight on Andrew D Malloy

Bringing you exclusive interviews with authors featured in the Book Savvy Newsletter.

Our Guest is Andrew D Malloy*
Enjoy the interview.

Q1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your book 'Bible John'?
I'm a father of four living in Central Scotland. I run a couple of businesses and due to my busy lifestyle, I often find it hard to find the time to sit down and write. Worse, I'm a real procrastinator! Maybe I'll tell you about it tomorrow! Seriously, businessman by day and father all of the time leaves little opportunity to get the creative juices flowing. Pity we have to sleep sometimes! The novel,' Bible John - Closure', is actually a sequel to my first book, Frantic! which was earlier released through another publisher. Ninety five percent fiction - serial killer Bible John did actually exist in the late 1960s - the book features the life and times of the detectives of Strathclyde Police Force and their struggle to catch a killer following his apparent return after more than forty years of inactivity.

Q2. When you write what emotion do you seek to evoke in your readers?
I read somewhere that a good writer creates characters people care about and subsequently begin to 'root for' during the course of a book. If I can attain that kind of plateau with every novel I write, I'll be delighted.

Q3. What provided the inspiration for you to become a writer in the first place?
A few years ago I read a magazine article about American bestselling author, James Patterson. I felt so unashamedly envious of his seemingly idyllic lifestyle and the trappings that came with it that I drove myself to open the laptop for business.

Final Day - Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 19 - 21, 2012 #Kindle #eBook

'To Know the Road' Free eBook Promotion

Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 19 - 21, 2012 #Kindle #eBook

Spring Leaf Books has announced that the ebook edition of 'To Know the Road' by Annie Coyle Martin is free on Amazon from June 19 to 21, 2012.

If you haven't picked up any of Annie Coyle Martin's publications yet, this is a great opportunity to try one of them for free.

A chance meeting with a handsome stranger sets Victoria on a heart breaking path of conflict involving family, tradition and religion. To Know the Road is the story of an impulsive Protestant girl in Ireland who falls in love with a Catholic boy and her struggle to survive and rebuild her life when she is cast out by her family. The story is set in the war years when, like smoke drifting from Europe the war affected Ireland. Caught between the Irish Catholic Protestant hostilities, will Victoria and Donny ever find happiness?
Spring Leaf Books...

Amazon Kindle - To Know the Road 

"A heart stopping movie between the covers" - - The Globe and Mail

“A sweeping heart-tugging wartime love story brought to life by deftly crafted characters.”  ...publishedbestsellers.com

Candid and insightful reviews of John Butler's new book - 'In Search Of Ireland Again'.

"Want a trip through Ireland with a congenial companion? Here's someone with a feel for landscape and its moods; for Ireland past and present (sharing its woes, hoping for better things); for a myriad places where history and memory interweave... John Butler raises innocent questions with his host, but can't suppress shrewd comments. He enjoys the cosmopolitan encounters of the tourist trail. And all this is a stream of succinct, sharp observations."

John Dixon

"It was a great surprise and pleasure to receive your lovely book, as a present from our friend. We spent 14 happy years living in County Antrim (1965 - 79),and had holidays in Connemara and Co. Kerry so your book is of great interest to us. I have to tell you that I read it from cover to cover in one go- it was so compelling, and learnt more about the history, and complex politics than during our time living there! Thank you for our treasured copy, which our son and daughter will also find absorbing, as they grew up in that beautiful place."

Joyce Fletcher

John Butler is the author of 'In Search Of Ireland Again'.

''Playing Havoc' - An interview with Kitty Bullard, Great Minds Think Aloud

Steve Morris, the author of soon-to-be released 'Playing Havoc' has been interviewed by Kitty Bullard, Great Minds Think Aloud.

Playing Havoc, partly based on fact, partly a black comedy, describes one small British Island’s battle to maintain some normality in the chaos after a coronal mass ejection, seen through the eyes of one man who had only recently moved there with the very intention of getting some peace.
Read the interview.

Steve Morris is the author of 'In All Probability', 'Jumble Tales' and soon to be released novel, 'Playing Havoc'.

Fast-paced novel lands readers' praise in People's Book Prize

Neal James has been featured in the Derby Telegraph.

"A NOVELIST from Derbyshire who frequently sets his scenes around the county has had his latest book picked as one of the best of the year.
Philip Neale said he was stunned to hear that Two Little Dicky Birds had made it to the shortlist for The People's Book Prize."
Read full feature...

Neal James is the author of four books: 'A Ticket to Tewkesbury', 'Short Stories - Volume One', 'Two Little Dicky Birds' and 'Threads of Deceit'.

Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 12, 2012

The e-book edition of 'The Wholesome Truth about Healing' by Yomi Akinpelu is free on Amazon today June 12, 2012.
If you haven't picked up any of Yomi Akinpelu's publications yet, this is a great opportunity to try one of them for free.

"Does God desire perfect health for all? If He does, why are some healed and others not healed?

...This book may well be the most thought-provoking and helpful presentation of this controversial subject you ever read, it tackles the tough questions, offers hope, and inspires faith in God’s ability and willingness to heal." More...

Amazon Kindle Link - The Wholesome Truth about Healing

“Well researched, edifying, exhilarating!” …publishedbestsellers.com

...

Five star review of Jumble Tales by Dan Wright, Read 2 Review

"Even thought Jumble Tales can easily be read in one sitting, I took my time reading this book as I always like to do with short stories. I like to take in each story one at a time, analyse their structure, take in the message that they carry (if any) and just enjoy the story. And there is a lot to both analyse and enjoy in Jumble Tales.

Each story focuses on a part of real life, whether it would be a football match, an assault in Iraq, a band trying to make it, or even just finding lost love in the most bizarre of places. The tales are nicely told and flow very well – and there is always a nice little twist at the end. The good thing is that it’s rare you can see what the twist is and it’s always a nice surprise. Only on a couple of stories did I guess what the ending would be.

In short (no pun intended), Jumble Tales has a great mix of stories that will make you think, but are not overly preachy and can be enjoyed just for what they are. A lot of time and effort has clearly been put into each story and it shows in this collection.

I give Jumble Tales 5/5 stars."

Review Source: Read 2 Review.

Steve Morris is the author of 'In All Probability', 'Jumble Tales' and soon to be released novel, 'Playing Havoc'.

Free eBook Promotion from Spring Leaf Books June 08, 2012

Spring Leaf Books has announced that the ebook edition of Jumble Tales by Steve Morris is free on Amazon today June 08, 2012. If you haven't picked up any of Steve Morris' publications yet, this is a great opportunity to try one of them for free.

"A superb collection of diverse short stories of the unexpected" - Read more...

Amazon Kindle Link - Jumble Tales 

“A brilliant & unique collection of short stories!” 

...publishedbestsellers.com

Neal James - Waterstones Book Signing 09.06.12

Neal James will be signing copies of his four published books.

Date: Saturday, 09 June 2012
Time: 10.30am
Address: Waterstone's Derby St. Peters, 78-80 St Peter's Street, Derby DE1 1SR

Further details: Tel - 0843 290 8273
E-mail: manager@derby.waterstones.com
Site: http://www.waterstones.com

If you are unable to attend an event. Waterstone's can often reserve signed copies. Please contact the host shop for details.

Neal James is the author of four books: 'A Ticket to Tewkesbury', 'Short Stories - Volume One', 'Two Little Dicky Birds' and 'Threads of Deceit'.

We wish Neal James the very best with this events.

A gripping, wartime movie, sandwiched between the covers

Alles Fur Deutschland

By Karl Brockmann

An action-packed, wartime novel about the 1943 Eastern Front featuring retreating German front lines fragmented by a massive Russian offensive. Find out more

Author Karl Brockmann says “The novel Alles Fur Deutschland originated from my deep interest in this part of our world history. I have been an active member of a WW2 re-enactment society for some years… Over the years I have met many colourful and interesting people including elderly veterans from both sides of the conflict. These gentlemen would often talk about all types of situations they found themselves, situations which most ordinary people could never imagine. It is from listening to these events that I have been inspired to finally put pen to paper and to write my first fictional wartime novel.”

“A sweeping, action-packed, wartime movie,

sandwiched between the covers”

…publishedbestsellers.com

Genre: Fiction: Historical

ISBN: 978-1-907728-45-7

Publication Date: 26 July 2012

Edition/Format: 1st/Paperback

Book Size: 210 x 148 mm, 130pp

Sales and Distribution: Spring Leaf Books | E: orders@springleafbooks.com | W: www.springleafbooks.com
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