Ten Ways to Use Reviews to Advantage

Reviews are a great help to an author. Yes, bad ones really smart, but if they're constructive, they can still lead us in the right direction.

And, the good ones, well, those not only make us feel good, encourage us to keep writing when the going gets tough, but are also great fodder for promotions.

Some ways to use a good review, or even part of a not-so-good review:

1. Pluck a short phrase from a review and place it on Twitter, along with your book link, and a copy of the book cover. Add a few hashtags where they may apply, such as #amwriting, or #mystery, or #thriller, #review, etc.

2. Place the review link on your Timeline at Facebook. If you're lucky, at least a few of your followers will see it. Facebook has become stingy about sharing links, but even if one or two people notice, the ball can still get rolling.

3. Share the review on any groups you belong to at Facebook. Again, if you're lucky, some of the others who are also posting promotions at the groups will notice yours.

4. Try not to be too pushy, but casually mention your new review with the link at one or two of your Yahoo groups, if you belong to any.

5. Post the review at Goodreads. I confess to not paying attention to Goodreads as much as I should. I really need to follow this advice.

6. Place the link and a teaser from the review on your website.

7. Make a Review Board on Pinterest and add our review links there, or use a different board for each of your books, and put the review link on the appropriate board. If you want, you could do both.

8. Include part of the review in a blog.

9. Remember, if you're doing a special promotion, many promotional sites require at least 4 stars or more. That's your goal.

10. Post a review of a book you liked. Maybe, later that author will reciprocate after reading one of your books. Since Amazon is a little strict about buddy authors doing reviews, I don't mention I'm an author in my review profile, and my reviews have so far not been taken down.

Can you think of any other ways to use reviews to advantage?

Find all of Morgan's books at
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts are at:
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Twitter: @MorganMandel

It's A Mystery to Me

Actually, a lot of things are, some to do with writing, more to do with just living life. I'll concentrate on the writing things now.

Why, when I'm really revved up about the book I'm writing, do I have a million interruptions and all sorts of things that need to taken care of right now?

Why can't I remember the name of a new character I've just created, even though I've written it at least a dozen times? (I'll chalk that one up to age, or having too many things going at once, and I have the solution and that's to keep the names of all characters written down along with all important aspects about them.)

Why do I have such a hard time making a simple phone call to arrange an event? (This is a phobia I've had nearly all my life. I don't really like to make phone calls. Thank goodness for emails. What really frustrates me is when I can't find an email for someplace or person.)

Why, when I've just figured out how to use a new piece of software or my iPhone, do they invent something else that I have to learn how to use? Thinking back over the years I've had to exercise my brain so many times, first learning how to use a portable typewriter, then an electronic typewriter, then a computer with two floppy disks, then a new one with a little square diskette, all kinds of printers and copy machines, then copiers right in the printer, new email programs, and on and on. Makes by brain hurt just thinking about it.

Why, when I've learned to love blogging are people saying studies show that blogs don't sell books? That's not the only reason, I blog, but sure interesting people in my books is one reason I blog. Am I wasting my time?

The same goes for blog tours. That was the hot new thing--and now they (who the heck is "they" anyway?) say that blog tours don't work. They've worked for me--when ever I'm on a tour the Amazon numbers go way down which means something. Besides, blog tours are fun so I don't think I'll give up on them just yet.

What about Facebook and Twitter? Do they sell books? I enjoy doing both, but I've never really thought of them as a real selling tool--maybe for those who are on there over and over, but I don't have time for that. So that's another mystery? Why do we do Facebook and Twitter?

And why does a crowd come sometimes to a book launch or signing and only a few the next time? One thing I've learned if you serve food and drink, more will come--or if you give a talk about publishing, which brings up another mystery. Why are so many people writing books when it's so hard to sell them?

My answer to that mystery is I can't seem to help myself. I write two series, when I've finished a new book for one, I feel compelled to start a new book for the other. I always want to see what's going to happen next to the people I've created. I can't just leave them hanging, can I?

What are your personal mysteries?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

My Sisters in Crime Group

A couple of Saturday's ago I was the speaker for the San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime. I am one of the founding members of this chapter. I remember going to a meeting in a restaurant where everyone who was interested in forming a chapter gathered--probably about 20 or so women.

Over the years the chapter has met regularly on the first Saturday of the month. We started in a fabulous restaurant in the Tower District of Fresno. Now we meet in another restaurant that is famous for it's food right off the 99 freeway.

Last month our speaker were Henry Hill, the gangster (now retired) of GoodFella fame and a retired cop and author, Denny Griffin, who writes about gangsters and crime in Las Vegas. These two drew a huge crowd.

About half that number came to see me. Of course I've spoken to this group nearly every year. Some of the people could tell my stories. I do have fans and most of them showed up, eager to buy my latest two books, No Sanctuary and Kindred Spirits.

They had requested ahead of time that I answer their questions.

Here are two of them along with the answers.

1. How do I handle writers' block? My answer is I never have writer's block. I learned early on when it's time for me to quit writing for the day to stop in the middle of a scene, that way I don't have any trouble beginning the next time I sit down to write.

2. How do I schedule my time including speaking engagements? I try to write every single day until I run out of steam. I also have blogs that I have to write, like this one. Often I write them ahead of time when I have a few extra minutes. I try to do some social networking every day through Facebook, Twitter, etc. As for my physical engagements, I keep a calendar by my computer and when some calls or emails asking me to speak, I can immediately check to make sure I'm not double-booking. I also have a calendar I carry around with me. I try to go to a few writing or mystery cons every year. For this year it's been Epicon, then Mayhem in the Midlands where I'm on two panels and moderating another, the Sisters in Crime/Mystery Writers of America California Crime Writers Conference where I'll be on a panel about e-publishing, then Public Safety Writers Association's conference (I'm in charge of the program there) and that's it for this year though I have other speaking engagements.

Despite the small number of sisters there, I sold 18 books. I was thrilled. Plus hubby and I had a great time. One of the sisters said she's starting a fan club on Facebook for hubby. He has a following wherever he goes.

I'm so glad I joined Sisters in Crime.

Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith
http://fictionforyou.com