Living with A Writer is Bliss. Sometimes.

Because there is always someone who has to put up with a writer, this MEME seems so, so right. AS entertaining as it can be exhausting.

But writer's aren't to blame, I mean, we can't help it. If we see an opportunity to be creative, we take it. Most authors are quite witty even if they are the wall flower at the party. Once you get them started, there's really no stopping them.

Enjoy.

Comparisons are Necessary in Order to Build Your Audience

It’s nice to get a review which offers comparisons to your book so those reading the review can get a clearer picture of your plot. i.e. “A great read for anyone who enjoys extensively built worlds, philosophical questions, and an ol' fashioned A.I uprising. Reminiscent of I-Robot and Do Androids Dream of Sheep, I really liked the core premise of the plot and the irony of the outcomes.”

If they’d read and enjoyed one of the books being compared to yours, then they know there is a good chance they will like your story.  That isn’t always the case of course, as not all reviewers draw comparisons. Sometimes your book marketing has to plant the seed itself in order for an audience to grow. This is especially true for Indy authors.

 I don’t think it too forward as an author of a certain genre, to offer comparisons in story, pace and setting to other books which share similar themes. You’re not claiming to be their equal, or to be as captivating a writer, you’re only suggesting that the works are similar in genre and story line.

Your back book cover will offer the synopsis, which should entice the potential reader to buy your book, but I wouldn’t draw any comparisons to other books there. I think comparisons need to be separate from the physical book and strategically placed within social media and other marketing outlets.

You know your book best, and as a writer of the genre you have likely read many books which take a similar stance on a certain theme like Artificial Intelligence and sentience. Even movies can be drawn as comparisons to your book if they share a theme. A.I. Insurrection could be compared to a film like Ex Machina, because of its ground-breaking artificial intelligence and the questions of its potential sentience.

All I’m saying is don’t shy away from drawing comparisons to your book if you think they’re similar to what your intended audience wants to read. Don’t say you’re as celebrated a writer as Dan Simmons just because you write complicated sci-fi - but if your book is about time-travelling monsters in a far-future setting, then Hyperion might be worth mentioning for it’s similarities in plot.

Be aggressive but be humble. As an Indy author you have to work a lot harder to get the word out.

Winning on the ratings game with Indy Sci-fi

It can be said that a smaller number of reviews and ratings still reflects a book’s worth. Whether you have over 100,000 reviews or under 100, the book is honestly represented by the reviews and ratings it has garnished. When looking for a book, reviews are important. They give a potential reader an idea of how someone else perceived the work. Even bad reviews from the right person will sway someone else to buy a book in spite of their scathing review.

Regardless, just because a book has 10,000 more reviews than another, as long as there are enough to offer an unbiased rating, I believe a potential reader can look at the star rating and feel confident in its rank. Of course, there are those who buy reviews. That’s never a good practice and Amazon knows how to deal with those. Then once it’s wiped from your book’s page you’re out a glowing review and over $100.

Still, not everyone reads reviews or would want to read over 100, so that’s why I decided to create a video series where I read the reviews I’ve received for my latest book, A.I. Insurrection. It’s a fun way to offer potential readers opinions on my book in short spurts.

Every author loves to see a new review or rating arrive for their book. It’s exciting. Reading a bad review is a bit deflating, but you can’t put something out there if you haven’t grown a thick enough skin to take the abuse a review can offer. I’ve grown a reasonably thick layer to repel the tears in my time, but the sensation lingers when bad reviews surface. Not every book I write is for everyone. I’d love to think otherwise but, oh well.

In any event, I haven’t received many truly bad reviews, but some are on the edge of complimentary and derogatory. So that makes it a bit of fun for the viewer while I read them aloud. Check out some of my videos on Youtube or my author page on facebook.

How an Indie Science Fiction Novel beat out Traditional Publishers

So, they say video is king, and I know they're not wrong, but I'm an author, not an actor and not one to particularly enjoy the spotlight. But, being in front of a camera rather than live in front of  250 guests at a wedding (which I have managed twice) was easier than I thought. Though I miss the wild applause, I don't miss the sweaty palms and pounding heart that accompanies a traditional 'speaking' engagement.

Yes, I have shot a few videos now which have to do with A.I. Insurrection. The first is an introductory to me - the author - and to the ratings my new Science Fiction novel has managed since it's February, 2018 release on Goodreads and Amazon. They are - happily - quite good. What is surprising though is how my book - an Indy - has far exceeded the star ratings of so many popular, traditionally published books. The video will sound those out for you at random, but know that just because a book was written by an independent author, so long as they've had it vetted and edited by others, it can easily best even an award winning author's star rating.

A book is a book. Judge it for that, not for the name associated with it. I think I see that happening more and more as indie authors continue to put out readable books which entertain and inspire those readers adventurous enough to take a chance on an Indy.

Watch the video where Michael Poeltl explains just some of the reasons to pick up his new sci-fi novel; A.I. Insurrection. You can see the video either on Youtube or on his author facebook page.

Find the book at www.mikepoeltl.com