626

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks, Penang! There's a new picture of a woman on my page of supporters, so I assume that's you.

Tom, I see no eagle.

Please, guys, leave a comment - on that page - so I know who is giving me their support. You're great for doing this. And Penang, we've never had an online connection, so I'm really pleased you saw fit to contribute to the campaign. Yes, I've heard of Thunderclap - just today, actually, in a blog by a so-called expert who listed the things an author shouldn't do to promote, and Thunderclap was one of them. Hey, it's all a crapshoot, I guess. In the beginning I wrote the freakin' books and sat back waiting to be discovered. Well, that didn't work! So now I'm being prodded into the digital age and tryining all these promotion tools - many of which are urged by my publishers. At least they won't be able to say I didn't try. I never went into this to make a buck. But it would be nice if I get some recognition for the stories that came out of my imagination that people who read them enjoyed. That's my bottom line.

Thank you all. The folks at TNBW are nonpareil!

627

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

And what does Virginia Wolfe look like? There's a picture of a young man, or woman, I guess; I thought it was Sol changing his pic. Is that you, Dags?

628

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

They don't even give initials, Tom. What picture did you use?

629

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks, Dags! Twitter is fine. I haven't seen it come up yet on my Headtalker page, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for it.

630

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

One more thing: After you click on the support button(s), please leave a comment so that I know who you are. Headtalker only gives me the Facebook pictures/Twitter avatars of the supporters, and I want to thank you all personally - and know who will be at the top of my list for campaign reciprocation. Thanks!

631

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Which of you wants to be in my Top Fifty? Sixteen supporters so far; thirty-four slots left to be included in my eternal gratitude. smile

632

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I need 36 more supporters! Be the first on your block to join me! No money involved! Just click on the above link, then my Headtalker link, and click on your support in whatever social media sites you participate in.  If you haven't yet considered a Headtalker campaign for your published, or soon to be published, books, I would recommend it. It's free to sign up. And as I said, I'll reciprocate support for any of you who launch a campaign.

633

(34 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I just started a Headtalker campaign for my book, "The Sincerest Form of Flattery," that will be released on May 15. To all those who read the book here at TNBW - or any other members! - I'm asking for your support. Go to this link: https://twitter.com/johnldeboer/status/ … 5527778304 and you'll get a link to my Headtalker URL. Then all you have to do is click your support. I need 50 supporters before the promotion is shared with all the supporters' connections on social media. I would be happy to reciprocate for any of you with Headtalker campaigns. Thanks! And thanks, Domebuilder, for being one of my first supporters.

634

(10 replies, posted in Marketing Your Writing)

Okay, I'm taking back what I said - kinda. I checked the reviews I received for my books on Amazon. For one, all had the "x people found this review helpful" tag, despite being non-verified purchases. For another, one had the tag (again, a non-verified purchase). For a third, none had the tag. All were good reviews, so that is eliminated as a factor. It seems, then, though it's a small sample size, that the theory I posed above has some flaws. smile

635

(10 replies, posted in Marketing Your Writing)

Hey, Norm. The number of people who found the review helpful is what I was getting at. Are there a large number of those who found non-verified-purchase reviews helpful? Just asking.

636

(10 replies, posted in Marketing Your Writing)

I posted this thought in another forum, but I think it bears discussion here. While accumulating a lot of good reviews can help publicity, I have a feeling that, unless the reviewer is a "pro" with a prolific record of reviews, a review without the "verified Amazon purchase" imprimatur will likely be discounted by a prospective buyer, who doesn't know if the review is by someone who got the freebie in a give-away promotion, at a book-signing, or at a bookstore other than Amazon - or who is just a buddy/family member of the author and thus immediately suspect! smile  Since you can click on the "this review was helpful" button, and Amazon tags reviews with "x readers thought this review was helpful," a way to check this theory of mine is to see how many non-verified-purchase reviews get this "helpful" tag. So if any of you have evidence to the contrary, let me know, because I hope I'm wrong.

637

(10 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Speaking of "restaurant," the owner of such an establishment should be a restaurateur, not a restauranteur to be grammatically correct from the French, though this seems to be going by the wayside (like alright for all right), as my Merriam-Webster also lists restauranteur as acceptable. I'm old school, so I also don't like splitting infinitives. Instead of striving "to boldly go where no one has gone before," I would rather endeavor to go steadily, and correctly, to the place where  an infinitive is kept together and thus prevent an editor from getting heartburn. Sorry, Trekkies.

638

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

If you'll notice on your reviews, it'll say if it was a "verified" purchase from Amazon. This, I assume, is to prevent an author lining up all his family and buddies (to whom he gave the books) to pad the reviews. Regarding sales at bookstores and signings, etc., Amazon would have no idea if that  applied. And, frankly, they are only interested in purchases from Amazon. The potential buyer (from Amazon) likewise would tend to discount non-verified purchases, it seems to me. But I could be wrong. A good way to determine this would be to see how many of your non-verified reviews got a "x people found this review helpful" comment.

639

(7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Thanks for your support, guys! Madison, my published novels are on my profile page under Published Books. Of those, I know you read The Flame all the way through. I think you read The Side Effect, but I'm not sure. Skeleton Run was written when you were "AWOL" from the site, and Get the Picture? Is a reworked version of a novel I wrote before you joined TNBW, I think. Anyway, summaries of them all can be found on my website, www.novelsbyjohnldeboer.com , to refresh your memory.

The Sincerest Form of Flattery will be released May 15, with pre-order available April 17. That one is a sequel to GTP, and, again, I can't remember if you read that one. How Little We Know is my last completed novel  and is sitting with my publisher now; I have no idea when that will be coming out.

Will your novel be available in paperback? I prefer to have the actual book in my hands to read - and display! Plus, although I've read it, if I buy a copy, then my review will then "count." I've learned that reviews from folks I've given my books to are considered non-objective.

Again, you guys are great! It's been a real pleasure to talk shop with you here!

John

640

(9 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Just got a kick at all the chapter threes that appeared today on my home page. Today happens to be the last day of the Strongest Start contest. I hope all those procrastinators will stick around now and continue to workshop the remaining chapters on TNBW. We'll see.

641

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Hey, Madison. Moving to Germany now? Wow! Better book sales there? wink Yes, it'll be available on Kindle. Don't think you read that one. But I did get you a mention for The Flame, the book about that conniving woman, though I used the pen name you had at the time. Thanks, and good luck with your book!

642

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

CONGRATULATIONS!! I'm tickled pink! It's a good thing I'm typing this, because I'm speechless (though you should see the smile on my face)! Way to go, Dags. I knew it would happen. Let's trade autographed copies, okay? No, wait. In order for a review to "count" on Amazon, it has to be from a a verified purchase. So tell me when it will be coming out, and I'll get me one!

643

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Janet, it's supposed to be about MY book! Always marketing, huh? big_smile

644

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Actually, and technically, we're all world famous, right? TNBW writers live in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Australia, and Asia. We got the six continents covered, and I think that qualifies for being world famous! So I better change it to "critically acclaimed." One can be "famous," after all, without being "acclaimed." wink

645

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Oops. I already wrote that you were "world famous." Want me to change it? smile

646

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Sure, Cathy. Should have thought of that!

647

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

Last chance, guys. I'm sending the Acknowledgments page to the publisher later today. Speak now, or forever...

648

(14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)

I'm in the process of writing the Acknowledgments page for The Sincerest Form of Flattery, scheduled for pre-order on Amazon on April 17, with a release date of May 15. I am including a special mention for all the authors who gave of their time to review the entire novel: Irene Hamilton, Nathan B. Childs, Dagnee, Janet Taylor-Perry, Ann Everett, C.E. Jones, Terri Weiss, Audra Middleton, R.M. Keegan, Eric Krajcik, Debbie Lampi, Jeanne M. Bannon, Judy Suchan, Mike Jackson. If I've forgot someone, please let me know. Also let me know if you'd rather not be mentioned or if you'd like your name be something else or spelled differently. Thanks!  Jack

649

(1 replies, posted in Cop Shop)

8. The Woods - Harlan Coben
10. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane

650

(5 replies, posted in Thriller/Mystery/Suspense)

Nope.