Posts Tagged With: review

Shaking things up!

As part of a summer shake-up, I have decided to snag some of the most interesting-looking reads on my “to-read” list and bump them up! My first bump is

The MOST interesting one on my list (in my current mood) is Silent Symmetry by JB Dutton> The cover is cool, the idea is fascinating, and the synopsis really makes you want to grab it! So I will. JB, your book is bumped to next on my list. Look for my email soon with a review!

Silent Symmetry 
a mystery-fantasy love story

Book 1 of the EMBODIED trilogy.

The Embodied glide through the busy streets of New York, uttering barely a sound.

Their eerie beauty comes from their perfect symmetry. Male, female, old, young… their faces are always absolutely symmetrical. Are they flawless humans, the epitome of evolution? Are they a genetically modified super-race? Are they extra-terrestrials? Once prep school student Kari Marriner becomes aware of their existence, she is driven to find the answer and finds herself ensnared in a web that reaches further than she could possibly have imagined.

Kari’s earliest memory is her father’s death in a car crash back in small-town Wisconsin. Now, 12 years later, her mother has been hired by a pseudo-religious organization in Manhattan called the Temple of Truth (a.k.a. the ToT). At Chelsea Prep, Kari develops a crush on classmate Cruz. But when she realizes that Noon, another attractive guy at school, is involved with the ToT, her curiosity gets the better of her.

Kari stumbles upon a secret tunnel leading from her apartment to another in the building, where an ancient book holds images she can scarcely believe, and a cavernous room contains… something inexplicable. As Kari pieces together the incredible evidence, she discovers that the ToT is run by other-worldly beings called The Embodied who influence human behavior and have established a global long-term human breeding program. But why? And what is her role in all this?

Just as she starts wondering whether the love she feels for Cruz is genuine or if her emotions are being controlled by The Embodied, her mother is kidnapped and Kari has to figure out who is human, who is Embodied, and who she can count on to help rescue her mother.

Silent Symmetry is the exciting first novel in JB Dutton’s EMBODIED trilogy. The second installment, Starley’s Rust, will be published in late 2013.

 

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New Review: Run by Tahlia Newland

Run

by Tahlia Newland

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Short Story, Action/Adventure

Read my review here.

Nick runs from the hidden realm of Diamond Peak to the ordinary world to try to forget his failed battle with Cogin, head of one of the Rasa demon clans. Will immersing himself in the distractions of our world exorcise the terrible memory, and will making a new life for himself away from the hidden realm free him from the attentions of the demons?

 This urban fantasy short story is a prequel to ‘Lethal Inheritance’, Tahlia’s  young adult contemporary fantasy novel .

Smashwords
Sribd
Kobo
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Apple US
Apple UK
Apple AU

 

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New Review: Few Are Chosen by M.T. McGuire

Few Are Chosen

by M.T. McGuire

Genre: Fantasy, Humor

Read my review!

The Pan of Hamgee isn’t paranoid. There must be some people in K’Barth who aren’t out to get him it’s just that, right now, he’s not sure where they are. His family are dead, his existence is treason and he does the only thing he can to survive — getaway driving.

As if being on the run isn’t bad enough, when he finds a magic thimble and decides to keep it, he unwittingly sets himself on a collision course with Lord Vernon, K’Barth’s despot ruler.

Unwillingly The Pan is forced to make choices and stand up for his beliefs, beliefs he never knew he had until they were challenged. But when he is faced with a stark moral dilemma will his new found integrity stick? Can he stop running?

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon.co.uk Here

Buy at Barnes & Noble Here

Buy on Kobo Here

Buy on every format you care to name from Smashwords Here

Free Version here

Categories: Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BTSeMag Feature!

For the month of April, Gaele Hince  has featured  Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic in the BTSeMag, along with The Lustre and Compulsively Writing  Fiction:My experiences in Self-publishing in 2011Please visit the BTSeMag to see! (It’s on page 43.)

In honor of this feature I’m giving away a print copy of Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic on Goodreads!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Don't Judge a Book By Its Magic by Kate Policani

Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic

by Kate Policani

Giveaway ends May 01, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Categories: My Books, Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Review: Stalking Shadows by Tahlia Newland

Stalking Shadows

Book 2 of the Diamond Peak Series

by Tahlia Newland

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy

Read my review here! 

Synopsis: Ripped from the safety of our world and thrust into a strange hidden realm on a quest to save her mother, Ariel aims to confront the Master Demon, but first she must defeat Amic, the bodyguard that’s trying to kill her. In order reach the safe haven of Sheldra, she must pass through dangerous terrain and battle demons, spirits, rogue Magicians and her own conflicting emotions.

Ariel wants to retain a clear focus on the task at hand so, despite Nick’s protests, she insists of a friends-only relationship with him. But the very thing she hoped would simplify her quest only complicates it with emotional, energetic and hormonal turmoil.

Despite Walnut’s continued guidance, Ariel finds herself constantly forced to rely on her own resources. Will she find the inner strength and wisdom she needs to defeat Amic and continue her journey?

Buy Stalking Shadows on Amazon

Buy for Kindle UK

Buy on Kobo

Buy on Smashwords

Visit the Goodreads Page

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Book Marketing Companies Update

I’ve been crazy busy lately! Sorry about the infrequent posts but I’m refinancing my house, doing taxes, enrolling kids in school, and other paperwork. Midwinter is also doing a number on my Coffee Equalization Coefficient. But here is an update on book promotion companies. I heard about a stinker recently and found some sites with personal testimonies, so I added those.

**These ratings for book marketing companies are all based strictly on customer experience and opinion. This is a running list and I will be happy to add other customer opinions of book marketing companies to this list. To include your ratings, please comment on this post or email me at katepolicani@gmail (dot) com.

3/7/2013

Company Name Type of service Pass? Costs Comments
99 cent Network Listing Fail $45 No obvious return for money and no visibility of book on site. No answers to emails inquiring about where to find the book
AtoMr Book Blog Tours Tours, Book Buzz Pass $99 Did ” an awesome job” “super happy with the results” “booked blogs that get awesome traffic and have a lot of avid readers”
Archway Publishing Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services     See author Solutions
AuthorHouse Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services     See Author Solutions
Author Solutions Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services Fail   Additonal names: Trafford Publishing, AuthorHouse, iUniverse Inc., Xlibris,

Ripoff Report

“I simply cannot get anyone to respond to my e-mails on a book I am publishing with the company. The company says my book has already gone on sale, though they are obligated to provide me with a sizeable number of free books for my book launch – they have not and are not responding to e-mails….”

Bewitch-ing Blog Tours Tours Fail   “half the people who signed up didn’t post and only 3 did reviews even though it was supposed to be 15”
Book-Daily Listing Fail $49 “amount of sales doesn’t seem to be worth cost”
Book-Whirl SCAM Fail    Scam Report Another Scam Report
Goddess Fish Promos Tour Reviews Neut. $30 “didn’t break even” but supplied publicity
Inno-vative Online Book Tours / Reading Addiction Tours,  Amazon Reviews Fail $100 “A big flop, didn’t follow through as they had promised” “Three blogs didn’t post at all. The ones

who did post had very low followings, and NONE of them posted their review on amazon. Lame excuses from staff.” Bloggers posted ebook giveaway when customer didn’t offer them/wrong day. The ones who did post the correct giveaway all posted separate rafflecopter forms, preventing a fair winner or forcing customer to send 20 prize packs

“Hasn’t given me any sales OR amazon reviews. Stay away from them.”

iUniverse Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services     See Author Solutions
Kindle Daily Nation Listings Fail $160 “no results” (used to be great but saturated with too many books)
Kindle Promo Indie Book Listing Service Tweets Pass £15 “actively promotes books”
Nurture Your Books Tour, Promo, Nat. Press Release Fail $995 Paid for services and “nothing happened” Multiple calls and emails got no reponse. Emails to everyone in the company finally got a response and offer  of the book tour but couldn’t make the other person contact me. Customer resorted to refund through the credit card company.
Orange-berry Summer Splash Tour Tours TBA $25 Slots at tail end of month-long tour with 99 other authors, At least one event didn’t happen, never saw promised review, Orangeberry currently compensating author with discount second tour.
Partners in Crime Tours TBA    TBA
Pump Up Your Book Tours Fail   Ripoff Report
Promo. Book Tours Tours, Release parties Pass x2   Facebook Page Increased by 700 fans, Twitter increased by 450 Follows, newsletter increased by 150, “booked blogs that get awesome traffic and have a lot of avid readers”
Schiel & Denver book publishing, editing, marketing, printing, distribution Fail   Ripoff Report

“I did not get one on one author support.  I did not get a quality product.  I did not get the immediate response that they promised.  As a matter fact, every time I called the main line and requested to speak to a manager, they were always in a meeting and the call was never returned.”

Shades of Rose YA Tours Fail $7.50, $15 Newer company with small following, had trouble filling tours, do refund when cannot fill tour.
Sizzling PR Tours Pass -1

Fail -1

$15 -$75 “Nice people and very affordable.”

“90% of the blogs were adult blogs/romance/erotica for a YA book”

Smith Publicity Var. Neut.   “Stellar results, high prices.”
Trafford Publishing

*See also: Author Solutions

Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services Fail -1   See Author Solutions (Trafford was acquired by Author Solutions on April 2009.)
Xlibris Self-publishing, marketing, bookselling/promotion services     See Author Solutions

 

Here are some useful Links:

http://www.authormedia.com/3-signs-of-a-publishing-scam/

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/02/happy-valentines-day-from-writer-beware.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/suwcharmananderson/2012/06/01/valuable-lessons-from-self-publishing-survey/ This was a fascinating one on what seems to work/not work for author promotion.

Categories: Publicity | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

New Review: Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat

SpiritOfLostAngels_Cover_KINDLE

Spirit of Lost Angels

by Liza Perrat

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Read my review here: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/spirit-of-lost-angels-by-liza-perrat/

Spirit of Lost Angels is available as a print and e-book:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Smashwords

Synopsis:

Her mother executed for witchcraft, her father dead at the hand of a noble, Victoire Charpentier vows to rise above her impoverished peasant roots.

Forced to leave her village of Lucie-sur-Vionne for domestic work in the capital, Victoire suffers gruesome abuse under the ancien régime of 18th century Paris.

Imprisoned in France’s most pitiless madhouse – La Salpêtrière asylum – Victoire becomes desperate and helpless, until she meets fellow prisoner Jeanne de Valois, infamous conwoman of the diamond necklace affair. With the help of the ruthless and charismatic countess who helped hasten Queen Marie Antoinette to the guillotine, Victoire carves out a new life for herself.

Enmeshed in the fever of pre-revolutionary Paris, Victoire must find the strength to join the revolutionary force storming the Bastille. Is she brave enough to help overthrow the diabolical aristocracy?

As Spirit of Lost Angels traces Victoire’s journey, it follows too, the journey of an angel talisman through generations of the Charpentier family. Victoire lives in the hope her angel pendant will one day renew the link with a special person in her life.

Amidst the tumult of the French revolution drama, the women of Spirit of Lost Angels face tragedy and betrayal in a world where their gift can be their curse.

P1130161 - Copie (3)

About the Author:

Liza grew up in Wollongong, Australia, where she worked as a general nurse and midwife for fifteen years.

When she met her French husband on a Bangkok bus, she moved to France, where she has been living with her husband and three children for twenty years. She works part-time as a French-English medical translator.

Since completing a Creative Writing course ten years ago, several of her short stories have won awards, notably the Writers Bureau annual competition of 2004 and her stories have been published widely in anthologies and small press magazines. Her articles on French culture and tradition have been published in international magazines such as France Magazine and France Today.

She has completed four novels and one short-story collection – Friends, Family and Other Strangers From Downunder – and is represented by Judith Murdoch of the Judith Murdoch Literary Agency.

Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in an historical series set against a backdrop of rural France. The second in the series – Wolfsangel – will be published this year, and Liza is busy working on the third novel in the series – Angel of Blood Roses.

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New Review: Love and Other Subjects by Kathleen Shoop

ShoopLove150RBG

Love and Other Subjects

by Kathleen Shoop

Genre: Contemporary, Women’s

Read my review here

Five stars

I gave Love and Other Subjects five stars and I’m submitting it to Awesome Indies!

For every woman who wonders if she chose the right career…

In Love and Other Subjects Carolyn Jenkins strives for two things—to be the greatest teacher ever and to find true love. She’s as skilled at both as an infant trying to eat with a fork. Carolyn’s suburban upbringing and genuine compassion for people who don’t fit effortlessly into society are no match for weapon-wielding, struggling students, drug-using colleagues, and a wicked principal.

Meanwhile, her budding relationship with a mystery man is thwarted by his gaggle of eccentric sisters. Carolyn depends on her friends to get her through the hard times, but with poverty-stricken children at her feet and a wealthy man at her side, she must define who she is. The reality of life after college can be daunting, the road to full-fledged adulthood long and unscripted. Can Carolyn take control and craft the life she’s always wanted?

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes & Noble

Buy on Kobo

DSC_0008kathie_photo_outside_snow

About the Author:

I’m married with two children. I’ve been seriously writing for almost a decade although I dabbled much earlier than that! I’ve had short stories published in four Chicken Soup for the Soul books, am a regular contributor to a local magazine, Pittsburgh Parent, and have had essays in local newspapers as well.

I have a PhD in Reading Education and have worked in schools for over twenty years. I work with teachers and their students in grades k-8 and am lucky to learn something new from them every time I walk through their doors. This experience was a huge help in writing LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS–a quirky, post-college coming of age story.

My first novel, The Last Letter (2011 IPPY Gold Medal–Regional Fiction, Midwest, 2011 Indie Excellence Finalist Award for Historical Fiction and Regional Fiction, 2011 International Book Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction and Best New Fiction), was a fascinating trip through history, punctuated with fictional characters and events. The idea for the story grew from my great-great grandmother’s letters (see My Dear Frank for the complete set of letters!) written during the year of her engagement to Frank Arthur. The beautiful letters are the inspiration for the novel, the seed from which The Last Letter’s characters and their voices grew.

I’ve also written women’s fiction–LOVE AND OTHER SUBJECTS– and have written another historical fiction novel, AFTER THE FOG, set in 1948 in a town not far from Oakmont, PA. AFTER THE FOG is also an award winning book–silver IPPY and WINNER in the literary category of the National Indie Excellence Awards.

Right now, I’m finishing up a 20,000 word short love story for an anthology and am also using my characters and setting from THE LAST LETTER as per reader request to show what happened between the two timelines in the original book! I hope readers will enjoy the fact I write about varied eras and places and that they will love each book for its unique setting and time.

 

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Putting your best words forward

What impression are you leaving?

What impression are you leaving?

I have to tell you something you’ve probably already heard before, but if you haven’t it could save your writing career. As an author, you need to put your best foot forward. This sounds simple and even trite, but it isn’t always easy to do.

I get lots of review requests lately, which I love! In one author’s review request, the synopsis was disjointed. There was no flow to the description of the book. Unfortunately it was also filled with grammar errors and even included a mistake by the author in pasting the synopsis in the email. Needless to say, I was not eager to read the book. The subject sounded interesting, but the mistakes scared me away.

Authors rely on those short pieces of our work to open the door to new readers. If the only chance we might have to gain a reader scares them away instead of drawing them in, we aren’t going to enjoy much success.

When you send your book to your editor, include a page or two with your synopsis, acknowledgments, author bio, and any other advertising info that goes along with your book. These are just as important as the body of the writing. Most editors will gladly include these in your editing, because their reputation is invested in your book almost as much as yours is.

When people point out errors in your book, your blurb, your website, or wherever, LISTEN. Of course, you should check on their accuracy. But they may be helping you. Never mistake a technical correction for a personal attack. Unless you are writing about grammar, a criticism of your grammar can only help you.

If you laugh off someone’s criticism and feel like it’s no big deal, then you are also laughing off your own success. Take them seriously, even if they are wrong. If you don’t take their advice, it’s appropriate to tell them why.

I have received criticism for my writing as well, and some helped me to fix major mistakes in my work. Others were a matter of preference rather than correctness, and others still were items that I had discussed with my editor and deferred to her judgment. Still, I explained these to the person kind enough to point them out.

Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes Microsoft Word seems possessed, deleting important bits and allowing strange mistakes to remain after I thought I deleted them. We understand that. Just know that a stranger will view their first glimpse at your writing as your best.

If you treat your writing like an unimportant hobby, that’s how it will stay. Nobody is interested in rocketing you to fame when you don’t really care. To succeed as a writer you have to approach it as a business with all the professionalism required by a job. Even more, it’s a sales job, so your audience’s first look might be your only shot. Make that shot a bulls-eye!

Categories: Publicity | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t Judge a Book by its Magic by Kate Policani : Review, Author Specials and Giveaway

Don’t Judge a Book by its Magic by Kate Policani : Review, Author Specials and Giveaway.

Big thanks to Gaele for her great review! Drop on by her blog to win a copy.

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Blog tour and reviews: Lichgates and Treason by S.M. Boyce

Lichgates

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it, and Kara Magari is its next target.

Kara has no idea what she’s getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she’s thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying things that want the Grimoire’s secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, and most want to control the new-found power the book bestows upon her. Even if Kara does escape, Ourea will only drag her back.

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known of life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer.

There’s no going back now.

Read my review: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/lichgates-by-s-m-boyce/

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA UK Germany |  France Spain | Italy

Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads | Book Trailer | VIP List 

Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

Treason

urea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.

Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned.

Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.

To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.

Read my review: http://katepolicanisreviews.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/treason-by-s-m-boyce/

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads VIP List 

Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

 

About Boyce

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries, and she updates her blog a few times each week to keep you entertained.

Connect with Boyce

Website | Blog | Advice for Writers

Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube

Goodreads Page | Amazon Page

Categories: Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Virtual Release Party: Tahlia Newland’s Review

 

Author extraordinaire, reviewer, and host of the Awesome Indie’s site, Tahlia newland has reviewed Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic! Thank you, Tahlia, for your review!

I am is giving away one paperback and one ebook copy of Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic on the Awesome Indies site. To enter, like The Awesome Indies and Kate Policani on Facebook, then leave a comment on the Awesome Indies post saying which format (paperback or ebook) you would prefer.

Don’t forget to drop by Tahlia’s site to see all her fabulousness!

Categories: Self-Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Virtual Release Party: AM Day’s Review

 

AM Day has posted her review of Don’t Judge a Book By Its Magic. Thank you, AM Day, for the power-packed review!

Please visit the review here: http://anovelperspective.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/new-release-review-dont-judge-a-book-by-its-magic/

AM Day is a burgeoning new author And OWNS IT! She has accomplishments under her belt that make her a bona fide pro in other areas of my life. She’s a single mother who has raised a fully grown man-child, a daughter old enough to vote, and her youngest daughter, who will be old enough to vote next year. She’ tackled many odd jobs and the field of freelance journalism. Ever try to raise a family on a freelance salary? It’s like living on commission, but she’s grateful for the opportunity given.

Categories: Book Launch | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Release Ideas

Book Release Ideas. An Examiner article.

Categories: Examiner | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Virtual Release Party: Tima Maria Lacoba’s review

Are you ready for another review? Tima’s review is live now. Thank you Tima for the review!

Please visit Tima’s review here: http://bloodgifted.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/a-fellow-writers-release-party-kate.html

For the last seventeen years Tima taught English and History in a high school in southern Sydney. Before taking up teaching she was a practicing archaeologist, working on several digs around the world.

Two years ago she resigned teaching and surrendered to the itch of writing. After many years of reading and correcting students’ creative writing tasks and essays, she decided it was time to write her own.

Categories: Book Launch | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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