Do Blurbs and Reviews Sell Books?

Every writer covets a great review from Publisher's Weekly, but how many readers base their purchases on reviews? Nothing I've written so far has grabbed PW’s attention although one of my novels, Murder on the Interstate, has earned some good comments, starting with a nice blurb from bestselling mystery novelist, Carolyn Hart: "Careen into crime with two intrepid sleuths who outwit terrorists in a fast-paced plot taken from today's headlines. A page turner."                                                                                                                                                       Unfortunately, it didn’t jump start book sales, nor did Lefty Award Winner J. Michael Orenduff's colorful review, which I love:


“Murder on the Interstate burns rubber right out of the gate and exceeds the speed limit on every page. With all the car chases, gun shots, screeching breaks, and crashes, the movie version could be the sequel to one of those car-heist action-films. Except for the fact that the protagonists are two women approaching Medicare, and their vehicle is a motorhome. Dana and Sarah are stalwart, clever and funny characters, and author Jean Henry Mead caroms them from one tight situation to another as they weave along the Interstate and into a high stakes mystery.”

I thought, WOW, that ought to stir up interest, but it must have only reminded readers of the tire tracks on the first cover, which has since been changed. Marilyn Meredith’s great blurb came next:

“Full of surprising twists and turns, Jean Henry Mead has produced an RV adventure with her two senior sleuths in hot pursuit of a murderer, but the tables turn and the two women learn that not only are they in danger but so is our national security. An exciting mystery that will keep you turning pages."

Book sales numbers barely budged. I thought maybe the counter was broken or everyone hated the cover. I received several additional reviews, including one of my favorites from Earl Staggs, who said:

"I don’t expect an amateur sleuth novel to start fast. I expect to spend time getting to know the protagonist, then get a feel for the setting, and maybe get to know another character or two before the story begins to move forward. That doesn’t happen in MURDER ON THE INTERSTATE. Jean Henry Mead kicks it off in high gear and doesn’t slow down. This is the kind of novel I enjoy.”

By then I was in the midst of a virtual book tour and Molly’s online review had this to say:

“This was good. REALLY good. REALLY REALLY good. So good, in fact, that I have GOT to go back and get the first two in this series! It was a LOT better than I was expecting. It really gripped me and kept me hanging on, until I was, sadly, on the last page. I couldn't believe the ups and downs and twists and turns it took me on. FANTASTIC!”

Readers didn’t take Molly seriously, so I decided the book’s salvation rested with Kindle and Nook. Murder on the Interstate is now available on Amazon.com in this county as well as in the UK and a number of other countries ebook and print editions. And I'm hoping to attract a narrator to record the novel in an audio edition like eight of my other books.

Are readers forsaking print editions for ebooks? How about you? Do you still prefer print or have you joined the ebook revolution? I asked that question in 2012. Now I'm asking if readers are forsaking ebooks for audio books?

And do reviews influence your book buying habits? Writers (and publishers) want to know. :)

Your Own Personal Critic

William G. Tapply wrote an interesting article about acquiring a personal critic to read your work—someone you can trust who is well read: a spouse, who may also be a writer; a literate friend who won’t just tell you what you’ve written is great, or someone who can “read your manuscript with fresh eyes and give you straight-forward feedback that will help guide you through the vital process of revision.”

Even well-established novelists such as Stephen King rely on others to look over their work. Fortunately for King, his wife Tabitha is also a writer. He’s been quoted as saying that his wife has always been an extremely sympathetic and supportive first reader . . . but she’s also unflinching when she sees something wrong. “When she does, she lets me know loud and clear.”

Tapply says that sympathy and support as well as unflinching honesty is what you need from a personal critic. He suggests the following guidelines:

~ Don’t expect your critic to be an editor. Simply ask for an impartial read.

~ Have your critic read the manuscript with a pen in hand and write his or her views in the margins. Don’t expect the critic to censor himself, but simply write down whatever comes to mind.

~ The most useful feedback is what doesn’t work for the reader.

~Tell your critic not to worry about hurting your feelings. You want candor, not kindness.

~ You’re not asking for solutions because repairing what’s wrong is your responsibility.

~ However, if your critic has ideas about how you can handle something differently, you should be receptive to suggestions.

~Ask that your critic notes her emotional responses to the story, both positive and negative.

~ Ask that notations be made if a passage is boring. All your critic has to write in the margin is “Ho, hum,” or if confused, “Huh?”

~Did your reader skip parts or an entire scene? Have him note it in the margin.

~Did anything in the story contradict itself or seem inconsistent?

~Were any of your characters or events unbelievable?

~ Were there any factual errors?

~ Ask that any words or punctuation marks be circled that don’t quite ring true.

And because criticism is much easier to give than take, ask that your critic write you a letter that points out and explains the most important observations and overall responses to your story. When you receive your marked up manuscript, give yourself at least a week to absorb the comments. Then, if you feel like screaming, hopefully no one will hear you.

For those of you unable to leave comments, try downloading Google Chrome. It works for me!

Caol Shenold's Mystery We Write Book Tour

A nurse for forty years and a writer/artist for nearly as long, Carol Shenold has published three mysteries and an urban fantasy novel as well three nursing textbooks and numerous articles. Her website states: "The monsters under the bed might be real."

Carol, how has book publishing changed your life?

Having books published has allowed me to realize a lifetime dream of sharing my love of reading and creating with other and bring them some pleasure in escape.

Have you used your 40-year-career in nursing as background in your mystery plots?

So far, I haven’t used my medical background in my books. Writing is an escape for me so if I were writing medical mysteries, it would be too close to what I do every day, as much as I love what I do. Plus, I like the paranormal mystery so much more than medical.

Which of your professions as writer, artist or nurse bring you the most pleasure?

I don’t think I can pick just one. Art I do for fun and relaxation. Writing, I need to do plus it’s just so much fun. Art and writing are sides of the same coin involving the creative process, which has been part of me ever since I was a youngster designing dresses for my paper dolls. Nursing was a goal for me from grade school and has been the perfect career for me.

What’s the biggest disappointment you’ve had in your writing career?

Writing hasn’t been a disappointment other than failing to reach the NY Times Best Sellers list or receive any six-figure advances.

What’s the best thing that’s happened?

Meeting other writers over the years and making long-term friendships with fellow word lovers has been one of the best things about writing, that plus the pleasure you receive when someone enjoys your work.

Have ebooks sales surpassed your print editions?

Ebooks seem to sell better than print since my books are sold through Amazon and Kindle but are not in brick and mortar stores.

Advice to fledgling writers?

Learn your craft and be persistent. Never stop writing and submitting. Never stop trying to improve. Write what you love, not what you think the market wants. Readers know when you’re really invested in what you write.

Thanks, Carol.

You can visit Carol at her website: http://www.carolshenold.com/

and her blog site at http://carol-carolsinkspot.blogspot.com/