Genuine people who are willing to take their time to write honest reviews are all too hard to find. Reviewing is a thankless task. Yes, the reviewer might get a free book, but for the amount of time they spend that can\u2019t be considered compensation.<\/p>\n
Sadly, honest reviewers seldom publish reviews on works they dislike. Why sadly? Because in the Amazon age we are inundated with 5 star reviews that almost invariably purport to love the works of whatever author they are supposedly reviewing. There should be balance in all things. To expect everyone to love your work is a pipe dream.\u00a0 Yet this seems to be the case – especially in the so-called “reviews” posted about independent authors’ works.<\/p>\n
Independent authors need honest reviews more than they need fabulous, yet fake ones. If we are lucky enough to get any reviews at all, we really need them to be honest. Why? For a number of reasons:<\/p>\n
So you see, there really is no such thing as an honest review that is bad. Honest reviews either promote our work, or they help us improve it.<\/p>\n
We independent authors already have a well-deserved reputation for producing writing that falls far short of anything published by a traditional publishing house. The more “great” reviews that promote sub-standard work, the worse this will be for all – writers and readers alike.<\/p>\n
I take my hat off to real reviewers everywhere.\u00a0 I’ve written a couple of reviews myself, and I know just how difficult it is to capture the essence of a work without spoiling it for the readers. In case you’re interested to read a couple of those I’ve written, here are two: Godspeed<\/a>, by February Grace.\u00a0 The Sowing<\/a>, by\u00a0Amira Makansi.<\/p>\n If you’d like to read reviews written about my work, well you might find the ones I particularly like here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don’t waste your valuable time reading reviews at all.\u00a0 Don’t let someone else tell you what you’ll like and what you won’t.\u00a0 Instead of reading flagrantly positive reviews from questionable sources you should never trust, read the free sample every single reputable publishing system provides. Make up your own mind about the quality of the writing.\u00a0 You’ll be giving the real underdogs, namely independent authors, a chance by doing so.\u00a0 You’ll be glad you did when you uncover a gem in the midden {yes, you may have to wade through a lot of excrement, but that will make the gem that much more beautiful when you find it :)}.<\/p>\n And now, let me put my words where my mouth is… a sample of my first book is available right here, right now, right in your browser, completely free, with no download necessary, and no troublesome returns either<\/a>.<\/p>\n By the way, if you’re a reviewer I’d love you to look at my work with as critical an eye as you wish.\u00a0 I am nearing the end of implementing edits on Beltamar’s War right now and would love to send you a fresh off the editing block copy in the electronic medium of your choice, PDF or .MOBI {Indeed I’ve just taken hours of that editing time to post this.}\u00a0 If I can tempt you to review me, please visit [Reviewers<\/a>], where you’ll find information on how to contact me.<\/p>\n …and his ilk.\u00a0 Those who compound the problem of blatantly biased reviews by going to extreme lengths in attempt to silence anyone who might give them a bad review, thus ensuring they never get bad reviews.\u00a0 And when they do get bad reviews, they then go to extraordinary lengths to discredit such reviews.<\/p>\nBut the real bottom line?<\/h1>\n
Further thoughts on authors like Ben Coulter<\/h1>\n