books – Page 24 – USA Today Bestselling Author DelSheree Gladden

The Review Police

How far is too far when it comes to making sure reviews are legit?

Amazon has been getting attacked for their policies toward certain publishers, and I’ve tried to give them the benefit of doubt. There are always two sides to a story, right? Well, my doubts are piling up. Amazon has done a lot for indie authors who want to self publish, and I appreciate that. What I don’t appreciate is the fact that they think they are the Review Police.

Over the last month or so, Amazon has decided to crack down on reviews they suspect MIGHT be biased in even the tiniest way. I’m all for people not being able to buy fake reviews. Amazon is taking this concept to a ridiculous level now.

I tend to write a lot of reviews. I run a book review blog, which accounts for a good portion of my reviews. I’m also An Author, which means I know a lot of other authors. Shocking, I know. Authors, especially indie authors, are great about helping each other out. We review for each other all the time because we know how hard it is to get reviews. Does that mean we aren’t honest? Of course not. I’ve given 3 and 4 stars to books written by some of my closest writing buddies. In fact, authors are notoriously critical readers. According to Amazon, though, if you are an author, it’s possible–and even likely, in their opinion–that you know every other author on the planet. If you have an Amazon Author page, they’ll most likely flag your review as biased, simply because you’re an author and might have a vague connection to the author or the book you’re reviewing. They’re even going back a removing past reviews done by authors for this same reason.

What else will get your review kicked back? Get ready, there’s a whole list.

If you have a book published with a traditional publisher, you’re not allowed to review for any author with the same publisher, even if you’ve never met, spoken to, chatted online with, or emailed that author. Amazon sees it as a conflict of interests, because you might be trying to help your publisher sell more books and aren’t being honest in your review.

If you GIFT a copy of your book to someone, there’s a good chance they won’t be allowed to post a review. Amazon is likely to consider this as payment and refuse to post their review. It doesn’t matter that this is one of the few secure ways to send a copy of your book to a reviewer, or that this might have been part of a giveaway you were running, or just a something nice you wanted to do. Amazon doesn’t care about the reason behind the gift, just that it might conflict with their narrow sense of “fairness.” Switch to using Smashwords to send Gift Copies.

Same goes for sending someone an Amazon gift card. Amazon may very well consider this as payment to a reviewer, even if you sending someone a gift card had nothing to do with them–at some point–writing a review for one of your books. So, it may not be to your advantage to offer an Amazon gift card as a giveaway prize anymore. Stick with Paypal or Visa.

Immediate family has always been out as a review option on Amazon. They’ll kick back the review if they see you have the same home address or bank account because that person “has a vested interest in the success of your book.” Fine. But, this policy is tightening up as well. If Amazon realizes that your extended family or close friends are indeed associated with you, there’s a good chance they won’t post their review. It doesn’t matter if the really did read your book and did in fact enjoy it. Amazon doesn’t care.

Many authors are now creating online Street Teams, dedicated readers who want to help promote your books by tweeting, posting, handing out bookmarks, etc. If you’ve got yourself a street team, KEEP YOUR MEMBERS SECRET. If Amazon finds out a reviewer is a member of your street team, kiss any reviews from that person goodbye. Amazon believes street team members may receive “perks” that have monetary value, such a bookmarks, or heave forbid, a signed paperback copy or tote bag. How dare an author thank someone for helping to promote their name, right?

There are probably even more reasons a review might be kicked back, but so far, these are the ones I’ve had to deal with.

How does Amazon find out whether or not someone is your friend, or on your street team, or might have met you once in a coffee shop ten years ago? Who knows. They’ve become the books world’s equivalent of Homeland Security, apparently. It’s really pretty shocking to realize they are digging into reviewers personal lives that much. It’s invasive, and over the line, frankly. As I said at the beginning, I think reviews should be honest and never paid for for, but what Amazon is doing will only insure that reviews and readers alike start relying more on Goodreads or Shelfari for reviews. Many authors will no longer post reviews on Amazon, and I’m considering going the same way. Amazon’s quest for bookworld domination is only pushing more readers and authors away.

Crafty Authors Vol.1: Ribbon Bookmarks

Want to learn how to make some awesome, one of a kind book swag for you new book?

I’m going to attempt to show you how to make some really fun Ribbon Bookmarks!

If my pictures are fuzzy, it’s because I used my phone camera. I’ll use my real camera next time! Also, if any of the direction don’t make sense, just leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll try to explain it better 🙂

So, here we go!

Supplies:

Ribbon

Grosgrain ribbon is preferable, but I’ve used sheer ribbon as well.

Grosgrain ribbon is the one that kind of looks like corduroy, but it’s not fuzzy. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about (since I explained that really poorly), just ask someone in the fabric section at Hobby Lobby or Joanne’s. Or Michael’s if you’re lucky enough to have one in your town, which I am not.

Metal Ribbon Ends

You’ll find these in the jewelry section of your favorite craft store. They look like little metal mouths 🙂

These come in a variety of widths. Just make sure you get ones that match the width of your ribbon.

Bottle Cap Charm (or some other kind of charm you can put your graphic on)

These are in the jewelry section as well. There are all different shapes and sizes. You might find some fun charms you want to use too.

Headpins and Eyepins

The headpin look like standard sewing pins. Use these if you don’t need to attach anything else to it like a charm or ring.

The eyepin looks a little like a sewing needle. The eye on the end is for attaching charms or rings.

Beads and Charms

Find beads that match your book cover, or charms that have something to do with your book.

I like to keep an eye on the clearance section at Hobby Lobby and pick up little packs of cute beads here and there.

Jewelry Pliers/Wire Cutters (or regular pliers)

You’ll need these to pinch the Ribbon Ends closed and bend your Pins. You can use any pliers for the ribbon ends, but these work best for bending pins. If you use regular pliers just be careful if you don’t want to scratch up the metal.

Jewelry Findings

Depending on what design you do, you may need a few other jewelry findings like little metal rings. If you’re planning to make a lot of these, get a jewelry starter kit from a craft store and it will have a good variety you can play around with.

Making the Bookmark:

Step 1:

Cut your ribbon to about 7″ since 6×9 is a popular paperback size right now.

Slip the Ribbon Ends onto the end of your ribbon and use the pliers to pinch them onto the ribbon. Do this on both ends.

Step 2:

Assemble your charms/beads/etc. onto your Head/Eyepin. This is the one I did for Wicked Hunger 🙂

Attach the pin to the Ribbon End by clipping the excess and bending the end of the pin into a loop around the Ribbon End eye, or using a metal ring in between to make it easier.

Step 3:

Attach the Bottle Cap Charm (or whatever you decided to use) to the Ribbon End using a metal Ring.

Step 4:

What you put inside the Bottle Cap is up to you. I have painted the initials of my book title on some. For this one, I printed little versions of my book cover and cover symbols. You can shrink down your book cover in photo editing software then have them printed on card stock or photo paper.

Step 5:

Then I cut out my pictures and glued them onto the bottle cap to finish it off.

This one has the symbol from the cover of Wicked Hunger on it.

Some of the charms you can get have a plastic holder you just slip the picture into. Square or rectangle charms are much easier to work with than round ones 🙂

One batch of supplies will make A LOT of bookmarks!

Hopefully this was helpful! I hope you have fun making your own Ribbon Bookmarks. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and click the “Notify Me” button so you’ll get an email when I answer. Thanks for stopping by and check back for instructions on wire bracelets, key chains, and a few other fun swag creations.

My Writing Process Tour

Welcome to the next stop on the My Writing Process Tour!

The lovely Dorothy Dreyer of “We Do Write” blog invited me to participate. So here we go!

1) What am I working on?

This picture on the left feels like an accurate representation of what I’m working on right now! Let this be a lesson to writers who want to write more than one book at a time. You end up like me, in the middle of 4 different series!

Right now I’ve just started writing the third installment of my Someone Wicked This Way Comes Series. This third book will be titled, “Wicked Glory” and it will be the final book of the series.

I’m also in the middle of writing Oracle Lost (Escaping Fate #3), Invincible (Aerling Series #3), and the second Date Shark book, which doesn’t yet have a title.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I love to take real myths and legends and incorporate them into my fictional stories. I’ve included all kinds of topics, from Native American myths and Aztec gods to Maori creation stories and Egyptian lore.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I try to focus many of my stories on making readers think about what they are really capable of. They don’t have to be facing down a monster to find their strength. They don’t have to have special powers or strange abilities to do something amazing, either.

4) How does my writing process work?

My writing process has changed quite a bit over the years. I used to write completely by the seat of my pants. I never outlined and I just went with an idea until it either proved interesting enough or it bottomed out.

As I’ve ended up with less time to write and more deadlines to meet, I’ve had to adjust my process. Outlines have become a regular part of my writing, as have character sketches. More of my research is done before I start writing so I have less mistakes to go back and finish as well, which is kind of nice!

Now to tag the next authors who get to explain what goes on in their heads…

Amanda Strong (author of The Awakener)

Gail Wagner (author of Donegal Sidhe)

Jesi Lea Ryan (author of the Arcadia Series)

Invisible Book Trailer

Check out this awesome fan made book trailer for INVISIBLE! This was made by Chloe O’Grady!!

Thanks so much! I love the trailer!!

Invisible Book Trailer

My Crazy Corner: Introducing Delsheree Gladden, author of Wicked Hu…

My Crazy Corner: Introducing Delsheree Gladden, author of Wicked Hu…: What kind of teen wants to feed on pain and suffering? Definitely not your average high school crowd. The Roth siblings, however, have spe…

Stop and get to know the characters of Wicked Hunger a little better and enter to win a copy of Wicked Hunger!

Wicked Hunger Official Tour

Book Title: Wicked Hunger

Series: SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes

Author: DelSheree Gladden

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Length: 95,000 words/240 pages

Publisher: GMTA Publishing LLC

Presented by: As You Wish Tours

Setting, Setting, Setting

We’ve all heard that in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. How true is that in writing?

Where you set your story can have a big impact on the rest of the book. Knowing how to choose the right setting, and knowing how a setting will affect not only the development of the plot, but how the reader perceives the characters and book as a whole is very important to a book’s success. People who grow up in small, rural towns may view the world a little differently than life-long city dwellers. Renters have a different outlook on a broken faucet than someone who owns their home. Someone who grew up in the mountains may have different day to day activities than one who grew up near the beach. The setting can impact so many aspects of a story that it is very important that the right one be chosen.

The first step in choosing a setting is knowing what types of settings you are prepared to write about. In other words, what settings to you know enough about to accurately recreate? Don’t write about living on a farm if you’re never so much as touched an animal that wasn’t a house pet. Readers who know about feeding pigs or mucking stalls are going to know that you have never done either. This doesn’t, however, mean that you can never write about a farm just because you’re a city kid. It means that you need to get to work researching, reading, and most importantly talking to people who have firsthand experience. An interview might seem daunting, but most people are happy to share their expertise.

What type of setting does your story require? It may be challenging to write a complex spy thriller with lots of action in a town of 100 people living in rural Iowa. Think about what events are going to take place in your novel and find a setting that is appropriate for traditional high tea, bird watching, corporate espionage, or whatever you plan to write about.

Another aspect to consider is how do you want your characters to be affected by the setting? Are they overwhelmed by moving to a big city for the first time? Are they about to be swept up into high class or political intrigue? Also, consider how familiar you want your character to be with the setting. They may be an old pro, or a newbie struggling to tread water. Is the environment hostile or restive? Create a setting that will impact your characters in a way that helps you further the storyline.

Just like a poor real estate selection, a setting that doesn’t meld with the characters and plot can significantly hurt the readability. Consider every aspect of how a setting will impact the characters, plot, atmosphere, and pacing. And don’t forget to do your research and make it as realistic as possible. Don’t give readers an excuse to put your book down.

SYNOPSIS

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Delsheree Gladden’s first book in her new YA series SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a WICKED HUNGER~~~Susan Stec, author of Dead Girls Never Shut Up and The Grateful Undead Series.

AUTHOR BIO

DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually teaching yoga, coaching gymnastics, reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, and The Destroyer Trilogy. DelSheree’s newest series, The SomeOne Wicked This Way Come series, follows Vanessa and Zander Roth, siblings with an uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering that will either gain them limitless power or lead them to their deaths.

AUTHOR LINKS

BOOK LINKS

Enter to Win a copy of Wicked Hunger!

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Tour Wide Giveaway

Tour Stop | Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden

Update!!!

The Official Blog Tour for Wicked Hunger kicked off yesterday! I’m a day late sharing the news because I was out of town, but here’s the link for the kick-off post on Julia Hendrix blog, As You Wish Tours.

Stop b for my guest post on 10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer and enter to win an ebook copy of Wicked Hunger!

Tour Stop | Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden

Wicked Hunger Book Blitz!

Wicked Hunger (SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes, #1)by DelSheree Gladden
Published: July 9, 2013
Publisher: GMTA Publishing
Synopsis:
Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious. Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories. One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wicked Hunger

by DelSheree Gladden

Giveaway ends July 31, 2013. See the giveaway detailsat Goodreads.

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Excerpt: Chapter 3: No Happy Endings

“I want you to stay away from that girl,” I say.

“But she’s Laney’s cousin. I can’t avoid her without doing the same to Laney.”

“Maybe that’s just how it has to be, then.”

Giving up friends, it’s something Van should get used to, now, because it isn’t going to stop any time soon.

Van shakes her head. “No, Zander. She’s my best friend. I’m not going to bail on Laney like that.”

“You think she’ll be happy you stayed friends with her when you kill her pretty little cousin?” I snap.

Her head drops down, but I can still see the corner of her mouth twitching. “I can control it. I won’t hurt her.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“I won’t live like you,” she says quietly. “I won’t live alone for the rest of my life because I’m scared of hurting people.”

I sigh and close my eyes. “It’s not about being scared, Van. It’s about being smart. Stay away from her.”

For a long moment, she doesn’t say anything. Deep down, I’m hoping with everything I have that she’ll listen to me. I can’t go through it again. Oscar nearly broke me. She can’t expect me to go through that with her. I won’t make it. Please just listen to me, I beg. When she finally speaks, her voice startles me.

“She knows something.”

It’s just a simple sentence, but it ignites my anger like a match to a fuse. “She doesn’t know anything! Nobody does. Get that through your head and quit looking for answers, Van!”

My sister’s head snaps up and my hands tighten into fists at the determination in her eyes. “She knows something, and I’m going to find out what it is.” Then she throws open the door of the truck and runs away.

About the Author:I live in New Mexico with my husband and two children. I love expressing my creativity through writing and painting and I get a lot of my inspiration from my family and from the culture and beauty of New Mexico. I write mainly Young Adult urban fantasy, but my writing interests are ever expanding. I am also currently in the Dental Hygiene Program at San Juan College, so 90% of my waking hours are devoted to thinking about teeth for the time being! Author Links:Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

WICKED HUNGER Release Day!!!

Today is the Day!!

Today is the official release of WICKED HUNGER, the first book in my new series, SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes!

First…here’s a little bit about the book!

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One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

***

I want to give a big THANK YOU to Kitty Bullard at GMTA for taking on Wicked Hunger and being such a fabulous publisher!

Thank you as well to Amber Rendon for the gorgeous cover art! I just love how it turned out.

One more thank you…Thank you in advance to Julia Hendrix and Angela Fristoe for helping me promote this book.

Julia is putting together the blog tour for Wicked Hunger, which will launch next month. There are a few spots left if you are interested in hosting a stop on the tour. Check it out here.

Angela is getting a release blitz set up for Wicked Hunger that will run from Jul 17th – 21st. The blitz will be spotlights about Wicked Hunger as well as reviews. You can sign up to be a part of the blitz and get a FREE review copy of Wicked Hunger here.

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So…Where can you get your copy?

Kindle

Smashwords
Amazon Paperback
Createspace

B&N, ibooks, and other major ebook retailers coming soon!

Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

As a part of the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop sponsored by Bookhounds and I am a Reader Not a Wirter, I am excited to offer up all 3 books in The Destroyer Trilogy as a part of the Hop!

The Destroyer Trilogy

For Libby Sparks, turning sixteen means only one thing…death. Guardian rule demands she attend the ritualistic Inquest that will unveil her talents and secure her place in society. But that isn’t all that will be revealed in Libby’s case.

The more talents you have the better, at least to some degree. Four or five talents will guarantee you a life of luxury, but seven…that is the mark of the Destroyer. Libby knows her Inquest will reveal her to be the Guardians’ greatest enemy. Their law requires her death before her eighteenth birthday. If she lives, prophecy foretells that the world will fall into chaos and destruction.

Once her destiny is revealed, Libby is abandoned when her mother throws her out, her boyfriend tries to kill her, and her best friend shuts her out. Only Milo, a slightly grungy outcast, seems willing to be her friend—but Libby soon realizes he has secrets of his own. His secrets may very well have everything to do with her own destiny.

In order to make it to her eighteenth birthday, Libby must bury her talents and convince the world she is harmless. Her plan only lasts until Milo is put in danger and Libby is forced to choose. Abandon her friend to save her own life, or embrace her destiny and truly become the Destroyer.

To find out more about my books, you can visit me online at

DelSheree’s Blog * DelSheree’s Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Wattpad * Amazon

Check out all my books on:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords * iBooks * Libboo

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