Thursday
Sep232004
Share the Love
Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 01:33PM
I love sharing great books--always have, always will. Call me a Book Fanatic, I don't mind. The only thing better than discovering and enjoying a fantastic book, is passing that experience on. We're going on an online adventure this week, and I'll admit it now, because I know you'll soon figure it out: This adventure is kind of self-serving, in a way, but I'll do my best to make it good for both of us.
The Rebel Housewife Rules is now available from Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere. (You knew that, right?) And as the books go out to the hands and hearts of eager readers, I look forward to reviews--the good, the bad, and the ugly. (We've actually had at least one of each so far--mostly good!) As a writer, now as an author, the best thing to happen in a day is to get a response, to know that someone has read what I've written and there was a connection--
"WOW! It was terrific!!"
-- Carolyn G.
"It sometimes seems as if you know exactly how I'm feeling--"
-- Kay L.
That is an incredible feeling--and the reason to write.
Because I want MORE (greedy bitch that I am)--and I'm willing to compensate (stay tuned for the next Rebel Housewife Online Contest!), we're going to take a field trip to Amazon.com. I want to show you how easy it is to write an online book review--to share great books!
Do as I do, not as I say (and I'd never done a review on Amazon before)...
so here it is:
1. It's got to be a book you really love. I reviewed a book I recently read and fell in love with: Dancing Naked...In Fuzzy Red Slippers by Carmen Richardson Rutlen (coincidentally, the subject of Rebel Reviews this week!). Writing a negative review is not worth the time and effort, since negative energy tends to stick to you in a cosmic, karma-like kind of way--it could ruin your whole day. Besides, life is truly too short--don't even finish a book you don't like. Find something you LOVE--that makes it easy to share. Let's take, say, for example...The Rebel Housewife Rules!
2. Locate the book on Amazon.com. Again, just for example, here's the link to
The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss.
3. You'll notice, if you scroll down the page, just past the fabulous review from Publisher's Weekly, there is a "Customer Reviews" section, and in our case, at the time I am writing this, it says "Be the first person to review this book!" (Soon that will say, "Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.") Click on the highlighted link to go to the review area.
4. If you have never reviewed on Amazon, they will guide you through your "About Me" information so there will be a reviewer info line to include on your review.
For example:
Reviewer: "Sherri Caldwell,"RebelHousewife.com" (Atlanta, GA, USA)" links to my "About Sherri Caldwell" page on Amazon's Friends & Favorites Area.
(It's not all that complicated--give it a try!)
5. And with that, it's time to review your book! It's very easy, since there are only four questions:
1) How do you rate this item? (1 to 5 stars, 5 is the best)
2) Please enter a title for your review:
3) Type your review in the space below:
4) I am over the age of 13. (check the box)
6. And then you PREVIEW and PUBLISH your review--but before we get there, let's step back for a minute and talk about the review itself, and help write a review:
a. Amazon has General Review Writing Guidelines, so definitely check that out with the link here or at the bottom of the review page (see "Submissions that do not follow our review guidelines will not be posted). It's only one page, and there is some very helpful information there.
b. In addition: Keep it short, sweet, and to the point! The Review Guidelines suggest 75 to 300 words, and advise against "Single-word reviews. We want to know why you liked or disliked the item." But some reviewers tend to be long-winded--they outline each chapter and draw conclusions, compare and contrast, and point out parallels in other books and authors from The Bible forward...Why read the book after all that?! More than anyone wants to know, in general. Make it easy on yourself, and keep it simple.
c. Write as you would talk to a close friend--from the heart, not the head (except for spelling and punctuation):
1) Cover the basics that apply with the FIVE W's:
Who, What, When, Where, & Why.
2) Your overall opinion is most important--and why?
3) What did you like the most about the book? Why?
4) How did the book make you feel?
5) Who would you recommend this book to or for?
7. Now, with your 75 to 300 word review--short, sweet, and to the point--you can PREVIEW and PUBLISH for the world. And there you have it!
Amazon is such a powerful tool--we've barely touched the surface of communication and community resources available at Amazon.com, but the Customer Reviews--for Readers, for Authors, and for the Community--are one of the biggest reasons I love to surf and shop at Amazon. I hope you will, too!
P.S. The "compensation"--and the next REBEL HOUSEWIFE ONLINE CONTEST is a FREE LIMITED EDITION Rebel Housewife Coffee Mug shipped to the first TEN (10) Amazon.com reviewers of The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss. Be sure to email me a copy of the review and your mailing address if you are one of the Top 10 Rebel Housewife Rules Reviewers.
DISCLAIMER: Nice reviews only--if you trash my book, I'll send you a broken mug!!
The Rebel Housewife Rules is now available from Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere. (You knew that, right?) And as the books go out to the hands and hearts of eager readers, I look forward to reviews--the good, the bad, and the ugly. (We've actually had at least one of each so far--mostly good!) As a writer, now as an author, the best thing to happen in a day is to get a response, to know that someone has read what I've written and there was a connection--
"WOW! It was terrific!!"
-- Carolyn G.
"It sometimes seems as if you know exactly how I'm feeling--"
-- Kay L.
That is an incredible feeling--and the reason to write.
Because I want MORE (greedy bitch that I am)--and I'm willing to compensate (stay tuned for the next Rebel Housewife Online Contest!), we're going to take a field trip to Amazon.com. I want to show you how easy it is to write an online book review--to share great books!
Do as I do, not as I say (and I'd never done a review on Amazon before)...
so here it is:
1. It's got to be a book you really love. I reviewed a book I recently read and fell in love with: Dancing Naked...In Fuzzy Red Slippers by Carmen Richardson Rutlen (coincidentally, the subject of Rebel Reviews this week!). Writing a negative review is not worth the time and effort, since negative energy tends to stick to you in a cosmic, karma-like kind of way--it could ruin your whole day. Besides, life is truly too short--don't even finish a book you don't like. Find something you LOVE--that makes it easy to share. Let's take, say, for example...The Rebel Housewife Rules!
2. Locate the book on Amazon.com. Again, just for example, here's the link to
The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss.
3. You'll notice, if you scroll down the page, just past the fabulous review from Publisher's Weekly, there is a "Customer Reviews" section, and in our case, at the time I am writing this, it says "Be the first person to review this book!" (Soon that will say, "Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.") Click on the highlighted link to go to the review area.
4. If you have never reviewed on Amazon, they will guide you through your "About Me" information so there will be a reviewer info line to include on your review.
For example:
Reviewer: "Sherri Caldwell,"RebelHousewife.com" (Atlanta, GA, USA)" links to my "About Sherri Caldwell" page on Amazon's Friends & Favorites Area.
(It's not all that complicated--give it a try!)
5. And with that, it's time to review your book! It's very easy, since there are only four questions:
1) How do you rate this item? (1 to 5 stars, 5 is the best)
2) Please enter a title for your review:
3) Type your review in the space below:
4) I am over the age of 13. (check the box)
6. And then you PREVIEW and PUBLISH your review--but before we get there, let's step back for a minute and talk about the review itself, and help write a review:
a. Amazon has General Review Writing Guidelines, so definitely check that out with the link here or at the bottom of the review page (see "Submissions that do not follow our review guidelines will not be posted). It's only one page, and there is some very helpful information there.
b. In addition: Keep it short, sweet, and to the point! The Review Guidelines suggest 75 to 300 words, and advise against "Single-word reviews. We want to know why you liked or disliked the item." But some reviewers tend to be long-winded--they outline each chapter and draw conclusions, compare and contrast, and point out parallels in other books and authors from The Bible forward...Why read the book after all that?! More than anyone wants to know, in general. Make it easy on yourself, and keep it simple.
c. Write as you would talk to a close friend--from the heart, not the head (except for spelling and punctuation):
1) Cover the basics that apply with the FIVE W's:
Who, What, When, Where, & Why.
2) Your overall opinion is most important--and why?
3) What did you like the most about the book? Why?
4) How did the book make you feel?
5) Who would you recommend this book to or for?
7. Now, with your 75 to 300 word review--short, sweet, and to the point--you can PREVIEW and PUBLISH for the world. And there you have it!
Amazon is such a powerful tool--we've barely touched the surface of communication and community resources available at Amazon.com, but the Customer Reviews--for Readers, for Authors, and for the Community--are one of the biggest reasons I love to surf and shop at Amazon. I hope you will, too!
P.S. The "compensation"--and the next REBEL HOUSEWIFE ONLINE CONTEST is a FREE LIMITED EDITION Rebel Housewife Coffee Mug shipped to the first TEN (10) Amazon.com reviewers of The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss. Be sure to email me a copy of the review and your mailing address if you are one of the Top 10 Rebel Housewife Rules Reviewers.
DISCLAIMER: Nice reviews only--if you trash my book, I'll send you a broken mug!!