Why is Book-Girl.com an important part of your book marketing? For a better understanding of Book-Girl.com, read the anatomy of a writer's struggle. Read "A Writer's Tale", the story of Sean, a young author's ten year saga to be published.
A Writer’s Tale
Sean had always dreamed of being an author. After several years as a top reporter, Sean, quit his paying job to focus on his dream. He spent several years on his craft. He attended writer’s conferences and workshops and would arrive home exhausted each night, but never too tired to write.
He borrowed money and went into debt to keep writing fulltime. He got a second mortgage on his home and ran up his credit cards, all to keep himself home to write his book. But this process kept him as financially stretched and pressured as he could be.
He wrote several books before he found the confidence to allow people he didn’t know to read his newest book, College Uncensored. When they loved College Uncensored, he decided he was ready to be published.
He spent four more years of submitting query letters and writing samples before Sean found an agent. The agent had to get him a publishing deal—but, finally--it happened! College Uncensored had captured the attention of a large publishing house who loved his book. The publisher then went through numerous editing rounds and took another two years to launch it in the marketplace.
The publisher sent out preliminary ARC copies to reviewers and -- they loved Sean's book. They wrote fine reviews recommending College Uncensored and Sean crossed his fingers that the book would be loved by his friends, and new fan club of readers.
The first day Sean’s book was released and became available in every major bookstore around the country and online bookstores, Sean was up late and watching its availability on Amazon at 2:00 AM. As Sean watched his book on Amazon, Amazon had not posted the reviews by the professional reviewers who praised his book. They had amateur reviews by people that have given the book 1 out 5, blasting it for its explicit sex discussed on the college campus. They didn’t like the way the college kids talked. The reviewer said it wasn’t worth the money. On top of that Amazon was selling advertising of a competitive book, The Reality of College underneath that read:
People who came to buy College Uncensored by Sean Underdog, didn’t buy this book.
Instead they purchased The Reality of College by One Upman.
There was a picture of competitive books, promotional pricing, and links to The Reality of College by One Upman.
Under that was a new book review he hadn’t read. It read:
"College Uncensored is not worth the paper it is printed on. I really hoped to read something that was interesting, but Sean Underdog is a terrible writer. He had no plot, the characters were all boring and I kept falling asleep—every paragraph. I wasn’t convinced for a moment that this guy has ever driven by a college let alone been there. This book is definitely not worth the money, even when it’s a penny. If you want a good book, don’t waste your money on this one. Read The Reality of College by One Upman instead.
1 out of 5 stars 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. -- G. Bowser<
Sean was shocked. Hurt. He had his site set up to first refer to Amazon, but if his friends, family and those that were responding to the 2,000 mailers he sent out to visit his site and then Amazon, they would see this horrible review and be referred to other books.
He reflected how he spent 10 long years of intense labor building to the moment of his book's release. He had started his project when he was 40 years old and made years of sacrifices for his beloved project. Now he was 50 years old and the moment of reaping the rewards from his labor would not happen. He scanned down to read the next review.
"Poor writer! I’m so angry that I spent money on this book. I read a good review on this book, but they were sure wrong! College Uncensored had unbelievable sex scenes that were there for no reason. And the whole idea that the Dean of the College would have a slush fund, be sleeping with the teachers and the students is ridiculous. The “climactic” scene where the Dean strangles the girl so she won’t talk--would just never happen. It was unbelievable that a Dean would cut up her body and drop her into the Atlantic Ocean from his airplane and then have some parts of her wash ashore.
There’s no way that College Uncensored is a true story. I have a friend who checked if the book took place at the Ivy League school where the story is set, and it is public knowledge on campus that this book is total fiction. Sean Underdog better not write a second book, because this book is a bomb. Underdog, don’t quit your day job and readers, save your money. There are much better books out there."
1 out of 5 stars 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. -- S. Caruthers
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Sean was beside himself. He was journalism major from Purdue seeking a Pulitzer for his work and dedication on the true crime story. Not only was the story true, but also Sean’s keen investigative skills were brave and gripping--and worthy of a Pulitzer.
He hoped the reviews would drop down as other positive responses grew. But they didn’t. The poison pen had sullied the waters for him. He called Amazon to ask if they would help him. They wouldn’t. His publisher called and cancelled his second book deal already spelled out in his publishing contract.
Years later, the bad reviews are still there. Amazon would never acknowledge the out of the country reviews. They continued to run ads under his book claiming people who came to his page, "never bought THIS book, instead they bought THAT BOOK on another page, and his book sales, income, and future writing career were hindered by the public slander. The spoiler that spilled the plot and story was allowed to stay on the site. Amazon would not take down the spoiler for the book. Sean never allowed for another of his books to be published.
Two years later Sean learned that the reviewers weren’t from the USA. They were from another country and write for religious publications. They are with an organization that systematically reviews and bombs books that mention erotic or sexual subject matter. Not an authentic review, the reviewers never read his book. They were against the sexual nature of Sean’s frank writing.
So who was hindered in the story? Sean, his wife and children, and grandchildren heirs, Sean's agent, Sean's agency, Sean's editor who stuck her neck out for the book, Sean's publisher, Sean's assistant, Sean's editor, Ingram and other distributors, numerous booksellers around the country that wanted to promote the book, other young writers that can see what is going on, and then Amazon--who shot themselves in the foot, unaware that they are partnering with writers everyday on their site.
Book-Girl's Mission is to promote and exalt the writing of all types of fiction and non-fiction books and to assist readers with informative and upbeat reviews of books in their favorite genres.
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Book-Girl's Mission is to promote and exalt the writing of all types of fiction and non-fiction books and to assist readers with informative and upbeat reviews of books in their favorite genres. |
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