- Joined
- Dec 1, 2011
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Western North Carolina
- Website
- 46ascending.org
You nailed it on that one. I found out real quick that self published authors have a hard time getting reviews from both readers who only review trad published books and reputable review companies. I just took what I could get at the time being naive about this stuff anyway. Plus these reviewers were cheaper than Kirkus and others that I checked out on the net. The most expensive one was around $150 I believe.
I have been told by others that my book is hard to categorize, which is fine by me since that was the intention all along. But to simplify what my book is about, it is simply a parody/satire of fiction fantasy from TV and the movies over the years. My Amazon Link goes more in depth about it.
Hi Star Chaser -- I seem to be at about the same point as you -- first indie book which is hard to categorize, and I am trying so hard to get reviews. I have gotten advice from some of the same fine folks here who are helping you now and I wanted to pass along two more things that might help you.
1. I paid $67 to a company called Book Rooster which promised 8 - 10 objective reviews on Amazon.com. I was dismayed to learn -- here and after the fact -- that payment for reviews is considered dishonest. Then I was then glad to learn that Book Rooster keeps the money for "administrative costs" and pays the reviewers nothing. (Although they do had out some freebies.) Okay so at least it isn't cheating. However, it is one route I still cannot recommend to you as this was over two months ago and so far only 1 review (not 8 - 10) has been posted.
2. Folks here generously list review sites but many are fairly niche and it seems to me that you are in very good shape if you write paranormal romances for young adults. (I also do not). Many sites will not accept electronic books (mine only comes in that form) or self- published ones. So, I tried googling "indie books" "reviews" and "science fiction" (science fiction begin the closest thing to a "genre" that my book has) and ended up with 18 sites that do accept accept indie books for review. I am now happily querying away. Perhaps a similar search under "satire" would help?
Anyway -- very best of luck to you.