Apologies, again, for not replying to this when you posted it–I kept thinking I’d have a release date for my next book in what I hope will be a Wise Words series–but it’s taking longer than I’d hoped. I know there are rules here about bumping threads.
But, belatedly: Thank you for getting the book, and I hope your niece enjoyed it!
On another front:
A second slam-review, possibly from a competitor, has been posted on my book’s page. Among those who make CreateSpace books, there are those who think that competitor’s reviews, intended to sink a book and prevent browsers from giving it a look, can be identified by two common elements:
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The reviewer will claim to be unpleasantly surprised by some feature of the book that should not have been a surprise, since it’s mentioned in the book’s Description and/or is readily visible in the Look Inside preview (or even on the cover). The reviewer will express shock that this feature exists and will claim to feel bamboozled by the author.
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The reviewer will state the opinion that ‘this book was clearly thrown together in an evening’ or words to that effect. The claim here is not only that the book is slap-dash, but that the author is trying to con readers.
As an example, here’s a hypothetical review of a work:
(Ben Jonson, is that you?!?)
But seriously, folks, the two points made by the down-raters are not legitimate for my book. On the ‘how long it took to make’ issue, I would challenge anyone to look at my source materials—all listed, with URLs, at the back of the book—and try to duplicate my pictures. No one but the most skilled graphic artist could do it in less than a couple of hours, per picture, and most (like me) would take many more hours than that to make each picture. “Hundreds of hours” is no exaggeration for the amount of time it took me to make this book.
On the pictures being ‘gray lines with shading’: yes, it’s true that this is NOT the traditional “black lines outlining white spaces” type of book. But that can’t be a surprise to any buyer: I mention it in the book-page Description and on the back cover of the book (readable with the Look Inside feature). And anyone who is signed in can see several of the pages/pictures for themselves with the Look Inside. There shouldn’t be any shock, when the book arrives, that it’s not made up of black lines outlining white spaces.
Sorry to minge on at such length, but the fact is that a couple of bad reviews CAN sink a book’s chances to be seen by site users. And I really did work very hard on the book (and hate to see dirty tricks rewarded!) So I’m letting readers of this thread know that if they did get a copy of the book and liked it, I would be VERY grateful for a review of any length, even just a sentence. Some reviewers use screen names and some use their real names—either works.
Thanks in advance to anyone who considers doing this; I do appreciate the kindness involved in taking the trouble to do it.
US page is at: http://www.amazon.com/Wise-Words-SHAKESPEARE-Coloring-Adults/dp/0692538070
