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.
652 2015-04-07 14:43:15
Re: Impact of Reviews on Sales (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. 
653 2015-04-06 20:13:02
Re: Impact of Reviews on Sales (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.
654 2015-04-06 18:34:47
Re: Impact of Reviews on Sales (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! 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.
655 2015-04-06 15:54:16
Re: a little Easter egg for your basket (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.
656 2015-04-06 15:15:26
Re: Book release (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.
657 2015-04-06 10:41:11
Re: Book release (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
658 2015-03-31 22:33:38
Topic: Deadline and chapter threes (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.
659 2015-03-29 13:05:20
Re: Acknowledgements (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Hey, Madison. Moving to Germany now? Wow! Better book sales there? 
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!
660 2015-03-27 21:55:33
Re: Acknowledgements (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!
661 2015-03-27 21:18:04
Re: Acknowledgements (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Janet, it's supposed to be about MY book! Always marketing, huh? 
662 2015-03-27 18:54:58
Re: Acknowledgements (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."
663 2015-03-27 17:19:31
Re: Acknowledgements (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Oops. I already wrote that you were "world famous." Want me to change it?
664 2015-03-27 16:17:15
Re: Acknowledgements (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Sure, Cathy. Should have thought of that!
665 2015-03-27 13:24:35
Re: Acknowledgements (14 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Last chance, guys. I'm sending the Acknowledgments page to the publisher later today. Speak now, or forever...
666 2015-03-26 12:56:30
Topic: Acknowledgements (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
667 2015-03-25 01:24:17
Re: Answers to POP COP QUIZ #12 (1 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
8. The Woods - Harlan Coben
10. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane
670 2015-03-19 14:58:03
Re: Drug injection (5 replies, posted in Thriller/Mystery/Suspense)
Sodium thiopental causes unconsciousness in 30-45 seconds. It's used in the induction of anesthesia but has largely been replaced by propofol.
671 2015-03-17 21:49:58
Topic: Book release (7 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
For all those of you who took the time to read "Teammates," wanted you to know that it will be released as "Skeleton Run" on April 14. For a look at the cover and a peek at the first chapter, visit: www.facebook.com/redadeptpublishing.
672 2015-03-16 20:02:48
Topic: Strongest Start (2 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Sol, you might have covered this in the old site, but when do the judges for the entries start reviewing them? When they come in, or do they wait until the deadline and then start? The latter would make more sense, since it would allow for revisions based on reviewers' comments to be included in the final product.
673 2015-03-16 19:53:10
Re: POP COP QUIZ #11 (7 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
That's "In the Electric Mist," Allen. Based on the answers deemed correct already, I'd have to guess that John Goodman is the character actor who appeared in all of the movies on your list.
674 2015-03-14 20:37:57
Re: You Should Check the Label (2 replies, posted in Cop Shop)
What do you call cannabilism of relatives? Eating Grandpa out of house and home?
675 2015-03-14 11:09:37
Re: I finally did it (22 replies, posted in TheNextBigWriter Premium)
Good for you, Claire! As one who read the story on TNBW, I can attest to its excellence, so better late than never!
