BOOK REVIEW # 2016-049 - TRIVIA MADNESS 2: 1000 FUN TRIVIA QUESTIONS

When I saw that Bill O’Neill offering the KINDLE Edition of this book for free I jumped at the opportunity at the opportunity to add it to my collection of non-fiction books.

While the author has set up this book in the same manner as he did in Volume 1, this time I can see the logistics for this doing so better. I enjoyed the fact that in this volume he has expanded the scope of the trivia being to include categories other than those which the first one had contain.

If anyone is interested in starting an on-going Trivia Contest at your church, community center or neighborhood bar/pub; than this book along with the author’s first volume of Trivia Madness would serve quite well in making that endeavor a reality, which is why this book is getting 5 STARS from this reviewer.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R1RIUBBLS96EYL

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3A6DZQC2JM1B0

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-048 - THE COLOMBIAN MONSTERS

I’ve read/reviewed practically all of the books Jack Rosewood has written so far in his collection of books of serial killers we’ve had in this country and I’ve found each one to be an interesting and informative reading experience reading the deprived and diabolic individuals which have existed here in the US. And if you couldn’t imagine that the fairer sex would have able been capable of committing not one, not two, but a series of heinous murders; he’s made sure to include one.

This author has now decided to set his sight internationally in order to illustrate that these maniacal individuals exist in the rest of the “civilized” world and has chosen to begin with three of the most infamous individual who all came from Colombia and who Mr. Rosewood has correctly described as being monsters due to what they’ve done to their victims, essentially all of them being children, as well as their sheer numbers: Luis Garavito, Daniel Camargo Barbosa, and Pedro Lopez.

Just read what the author wrote in the introduction to this book:

“…The three men who have set records for their kills each targeted children, using various tricks to lure them away from safety, including candy, money, and various disguises. And while it is unfathomable that together these three men are believed to be responsible for the deaths of more than 500 children, what is even more impossible to believe is that the punishments in no way fit their crimes…

…Each is the stuff of nightmares, and while Garavito is still behind bars and Barbosa is dead at the hands of a fellow prisoner, Lopez is free, his whereabouts unknown, making him a likely subject of many a horror story told ‘round a campfire…”

The stories of these three might be able to turn the stomachs of some readers who consider themselves psychologically strong enough to handle what I feel are extremely gory details of their actions.

As in the rest of the bookS he’s written, the author has included information of the childhood background of his subjects which could have set the stage for their actions.

For having taken the time to collection the information needed to write this book, and for presenting it in an enjoyable reading manner I’m giving this book 5 STARS.

The best things in life are free, which is why I consider myself fortunate to have once again won a mobi.file copy of this book through a giveaway the author had on LibraryThing. The above as always has been my honest opinion.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R87ITN4Z8TXQ9

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RHUPYM784MBY1

 

 

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S THURSDAY MARKETING/PROMOTION IDEA # 5

You’re interested in getting the word out to a MASSIVE AMOUNT of individuals all at the same time. Despite how proficient you might be it’s a monumental task which will take an equal amount of time, more time than you’d want to take, especially if you’re interested in reaching a new audience.

These days we’re in luck THANKS to http://www.thunderclap.it/en.

At THUNDERCLAP.it you tell people about yourself, your project [ie promoting your book] and other information all in attempt to garner enough support so your message will be sent out. If you fail to reach your goal of 100, 250, or 500 supporters, you’re message doesn’t get sent out.  If you’re successful it will be sent out to everyone               who is following your supports on: FaceBook, Twittter, and Tumbler.

To see what a Thunderclap campaign looks like after you’ve set it up and it gets approved, I would appreciate your kind support in the one I currently have running

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/40478-got-3-wips-waiting-to-be-born

 

Remember:  Knowledge is USELESS unless it is SHARED !!!

 

Until next time have a GREAT WEEKEND with your family and a GREAT WEEK with whatever you do !!!  :-) :-) :-)

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S THURSDAY MARKETING/PROMOTION IDEA # 4

As you give so shall you receive; powerful words and quite true when it comes to promoting your book[s]. That is why I want to expand at what I had given as an idea last time. Seek out a 501c3 charity where you can offer to do a book signing and would be giving them a dollar for each book you sell. And depending on your generosity you can say that you’ll also be giving them a portion of your royalties that you receive for the month of _____. 

The best time to do this is when they’re having some sort of event where a book signing would fit in. Depending on the circumstances the organization might post something about your donation on their web site. If you’re lucky the event might have some media coverage and if they interview you, mention your royalty donation. And then who knows what might happen next. The portion of your royalties doesn’t have to be a lot, even 5% I feel would be acceptable. You might consider rounding up the percentage to round off your donation. Remember to keep your documentation as the donation might be used as a business expense and therefore deductible

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-047 - TRIVIA MADNESS: 1000 FUN TRIVIA QUESTIONS

I found this book to be refreshing change from the various genres I usually read. The book is a wonderful collection of trivial knowledge from the arts we all love: movies, music and television; and the level of difficulty ranges from everyone has to know the answer to this question to I had no idea, which is sure to please practically every trivia aficionado. When it came to the questions regarding television, the author has included both American and British programs [programmes] so be prepared. It came as a surprise to me that I actually knew the answers to the number of questions I did.

The author, I feel, should have arranged the questions contained in the book into chapters/categories instead of the hodgepodge manner he did. Having the answers to each question immediately after the questions serves a purpose, yet, anyone who’s really into trivia would have preferred the questions/answers to have been numbered and placed at the back of the book. However, this would have been quite practical for the paperback edition of the book where it is quite easy to turn back/forth but rather impractical for any e-book edition.

Because of this, somewhat of a quandary has developed here regarding the rating I should give. Since the vast majority of readers will be getting the e-book version, I’m giving this book 5 STARS.  I've received a free download from Amazon for this book through the author's giveaway on LibraryThing and the above has been my honest opinion.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/REQBVWNBGTPLI

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RJUTKGUSEUSAG

STATUS REPORT # 75

The drought of my not winning giveaways so I’ll have another book to read has essentially ended. However, the authors whose books I’ve won haven’t been sending me them as fast as I would like which has resulted in a backlog in this point of the reading/reviewing timeline.

In years past I seldom sat down to read any books. No. Let’s be honest about this. Since graduating college I haven’t allowed myself time to read books, which is probably due to all the BORING textbooks I had been forced to read back then. Children whose parents had forced them to do things they didn’t really want to do, usually wind up hating to do them later in their lives.  So I became a child all over again when it came to books.

Now in the pass 19 or 20 months since having started my 2^nd second career since retiring as a Book Reviewer I’ve read/reviewed a surprising total of 285 books. Not only have I found it quite enjoyable reading the vast genres of novels I’ve done, I found it has also improved my writing skills as it having in my re-reading and editing for my WIPs. In fact it has allowed me to start a third manuscript in what I consider to be an uncharted territory in my so far limited career as a romance author, that of an erotic/GLBT novelette.

When I started to review books I never would have imagined that today my Amazon Reviewer Ranking would stand as it does as I’m writing this blog post at 5,123. I love it when an author whose book I’ve reviewed writes back and tells me that I’ve been able to understand her intentions when she wrote her book, including on about three conclusions what had influenced her; and on one occasion it had also been in her title selection.

With my WIPs being 80% - 90% completed I’m just waiting to raise enough funds so I can finish the writing process and hire an editor so I can begin the next stage of the self-publishing process.

Oh YES, before I forget my dear OH is continuing to improve and I’m hoping that shortly we’ll be able to return to living our lives as it had been prior to everything which had been turned upside down.

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-046 - FOREVER AND ALWAYS

I love it anytime a novel, especially a romance one, triggers a sound to start playing in my mind; and this happens to be one of these times. The song which I heard this time happens to share the almost the same title, “Forever and for Always” by Shania Twain’; just read the lyrics to the song to get what I’m referring to as it pertains to Susanne Mathews’ novella

In your arms I can still feel the way you
Want me when you hold me
I can still hear the words you whispered
When you told me
I can stay right here forever in your arms

And there ain't no way
I'm lettin' you go now
And there ain't no way
And there ain't not how
I'll never see that day

Cause I'm keeping you
Forever and for always
We will be together all of our days
Want to wake up every
Morning to your sweet face, always
Mm, baby  …

…In your eyes (I can still see The look of the one)
I can still see The look of the one who really loves me (I can still feel the way that you want)
The one who wouldn't put anything
Else in the world above me (I can still see love for me)
I can Still see love for me in your eyes (I still see the love)…

The author has made sure to include just the right amount of conflict to make the storyline interesting; and has developed the characters to a point where her readers can complete their visualization on their own. For allowing her readers to step into Brandi’s shoes I’ve given this novella 5 STARS.

I received an e-book copy of this book through Marie Lavender’s Crazy Romance Giveaway and the above has been my honest opinion.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R1CQHQAC93GZA4

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R24XLVSE6AR02V

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-045 - WHO HANDLES RETURNS? AND, MAYBE, REPAYMENT

For those of us who had been alone when small

Then became someone’s older sibling can relate to this all.

 

We all had Mom to play with us all the time

We sang, and had fun when we read books together occasionally in rhyme.

 

Remember we much we hated it

When this all ended and we had a fit.

 

‘Cause Mom now spent all her time with this new kid

We ran away to our rooms to cry as we hid.

 

No matter what our parents told us to try to make us feel better,

We wanted them to play with us now instead of sometime later.

 

But as time went by

We learned not to cry.

 

For just like LeAnne who in the time finally knew

We all learned to like our parent’s second child as we grew.

 

It’s nice to have someone who sometimes depends on you

To play and have fun when Mom’s time with us becomes so few.

 

Ms. Gherghel has in her book written a wonderful tool for all parents who are now expecting a second child and want for explain to their first about their becoming the older sibling in a manner which they can easily relate to.

There’s something special about stories which happens, as I’ve stated in some of my other reviews, when they’re written in rhyme. They become more attention getting to the young readers reading them. Just think about your reading your first Dr. Seuss book, which can probably still can remember.  Given the spacing of the rhyme this book has been written in, I believe the author had in some manner been influenced by him.

For having given parents a method to tell their first child about their having a second one I’ve given this book 5 STARS.

I’ve received an e-book copy of this book from the author through her LibraryThing giveaway in return for my honest opinion.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/review/R2VGRXNYIKBM76

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1GUNR69NZVUWU

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-044 - TOVI THE PENGUIN GOES TO LONDON

This is the second book in the Tovi the Penquin series by Janina Rossiter I’ve won through a giveaway on LibraryThing that I’ve had the pleasure of reading/reviewing.

In this outing Tovi and his friends are off to London because it’s raining and since they had nothing to do. However their plans get ruined because they found rain in London as well. Instead of feeling discouraged they decided to make the best of things by seeing as much of London as they can in the time they’ll be spending there. Once again the author has subliminally communicated to her young readers an important message about getting disappointed and to just make the best of things.

While the illustrations match the narrative wonderfully, the author has thrown in some British English like, “ask them round.” This book should delight its beginner readers and in the end I’ve decided to give Ms. Rossiter 5 STARS for her endeavor in this volume of the Tove the Penquin series.

US: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1IILUKRVMSX6T

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3AY7GJJ5Q6K7W

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S THURSDAY MARKETING/PROMOTION IDEA # 3

One way of getting some attention regarding your book is to get something written about yourself in a newspaper. It is here where those of you who live in a town, especially a small town, have an advantage of us city dwellers. Small town newspapers tend to love to write about their residents, and even more so when it comes to revealing a neighbor has published a book.

The downside of this is usually the why didn’t you tell me about your publishing a book before, I thought we were friends. Most times, I believe, this would have been caused by the other individual’s sheer jealousy, so be prepared.

One of the best ways to get this done is to have this infoation released in conjunction with you doing a book signing at the town’s public library where you’ll be donating a portion of each sale to the library.

If your book has been published by a publishing house contact them to see if they would be interested in working with you on this endeavor. Otherwise, skip the book signing and just allow your local newspaper to write an article about you.

If you’re self-published, like most of us are set-up your own timetable.  Contact your library, and if they agree to your book signing, tell them not to say anything until you’re ready to do it. This will allow you time to order your books.

Remember, if you’re selling copies of your book, you’ll need to collect sales tax on each sale.  To make it easier on yourself, and to avoid having to handle coins, raise the price to the next whole dollar and divide by your tax rate. Now sell the book at this new price and add back in the sales tax

Example:

List Price: $ 9.95

Whole Dollar: $ 10.00
Divide by Tax Rate: 7.50 %  [$10.00/1.0750] = $ 9.30

Selling Price: $9.30

Sales Tax 7.50 %  = $ 0.6975
Total:  $ 9.9975  or $ 10.00

NOTE :

You’ll need to check with your state’s tax laws regarding this matter before proceeding.

If you’re self-published like I am, then you’ve already learned writing the book was the easy part. Now you’ve got to promote/market it, and you’ll have a lot of hurdles you’ll have to jump to over and to make sure you’re doing it right; which is why I’ve decided to share some maketing/promotional ideas I’ve picked up along the way.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-043 - SECOND CHANCES: AN ANTHOLOGY

With all the genres I read since starting my 2^nd second career since retiring as a Book Reviewer I believe this is the first book I’ve read/review in the Christian Romance.

Having written a MG/YA paranormal romance novel myself I found it refreshing to read something which focuses on the more loving aspects of love and romance instead of sensually and sexually intense many of romance readers tend to read. This is not to say someone who reads the any of the three stories contained in this book won’t be able to fantasize about being the female protagonist; I believe they will, because I did.

Each of the four wonderful authors of this book: Julie Jarnagin, Susan Crawford and Rene Gutteridge/Cheryl McKay have created a world in which the prime importance attached to it is the potential value and goodness of real everyday people and their needs, both personal and spiritual; instead of an artificial one which some might consider fake and sinful.

For the wholesome romantic reading experience created by these authors, I’m giving this compilation of stories 5 STARS.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R11BN9L70OF326

 

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3OFZ2J4ODJ55P

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-042 - WHY SO SERIOUS

I’ve received a PDF.file copy of this book from the author in return from for my honest opinion through a LibraryThing giveaway.

This book is wonderful compendium of, as the author wrote for the book’s sub-title, 101 Jokes, Proverbs about work, money and other stuff. Why So Serious cuts to the chase regarding things we as adults take too serious and for which we should as Bobby McFerrin sings in his song from1988, “Do Worry, Be Happy.”

Anyone reading this book will find it hard not to chuckle as they read each of the items in the book, especially if they allow themselves a moment to contemplate on the wit behind each one.

I found it interesting that Mr. Sugard had set the age level for his book at 7 – 18. I feel that while the language is suitable for this age group I feel that the question raised here is whether or not he’d like it to be read by this age group. The reason I’m saying is that a great deal of the ideas the 101 items the book are communicating would need to have some explaining done for many readers in this age group and even if they were, the nuances related would simply be lost on them. It’s therefore up to the parents to decide if their child is ready to read this book

Given the above, I’m giving this book 4 STARS.

US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R36UDUMAJ7OW8R

UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A19QLCLVPLZH0B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBIN LEIGH MORGAN'S THURSDAY MARKETING/PROMOTION IDEA # 2

I know today’s not Thursday but if you’ve read my recent STATUS REPORT you’ll know and can understand why.

Regardless of what your religion might be we’ve all heard of “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

This, I feel, is especially for those of us who are authors. We’re usually, if not always, looking for ways to get the word out that our book[s] exist. We’d love to have others help us in this quest, but how many of us are willing to do the same for others.

In my quest to do this I searched the internet to find individuals who share this similar desire. I found a wonderful site [Rave Reviews by Nonnie Jules] just over two years ago. Prior to what’s been happening in my life since last March I had been quite active on this site. But as my participation diminished because of this, I noticed a reciprocal decline in getting the existence of my books disseminated out into the world.

When I originally joined this site it was free. Now there’s a charge of $25 for author-members, and $10 for readers. Here’s the link to this site so you can check it out for yourselves to see if this is something you might be interested in. If you do decide to join please mention my name, Robin Leigh Morgan [as if you didn’t know it already]

https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/join-here

 

STATUS REPORT # 74

As we ALL know it’s that time of year again when we have do gather our papers and head over to our wonderful tax preparer to find out whether we’ll need to cough up some more money to our UNCLE SAM, our cousin the governor, and depending where you live you might have another relative looking to get your monies.

Usually we’ve no problems. But this year, with all that has happened to my dear OH, we’re itemizing our deductions; which means looking for and compiling the documentation to back up each deduction we’re claiming.

Because of this, and the continued drought in my winning giveaways I’ve had until the end of March we forced me to look for free KINDLE books to read/review.  The good thing is, this drought appears to have come to an end as I won 6 books in the last three days. Now it all depends on how fast I will receive them.

With 280 reviews now on Amazon and with a Amazon Reviewer Ranking of 5,123, I can finally see myself fulfilling my dream, ever since I decided to start my 2^nd second career since retiring, in getting BELOW 5,000 before the end of this month.

So if you’re ever looking to get another book to read, or to give one as a gift, you’re always welcomed to check out my reviews on Amazon.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A19QLCLVPLZH0B

BOOK REVIEW # 2016-041 - BUSY DIZZY

I’ve received a KINDLE Edition from the author through her giveaway on LibraryThing.com and the following is my honest opinion.

As anyone who has had children knows can tell you; trying to communicate to them regarding certain things at their age is at times quite an arduous task, especially when it comes to their being disappointed or discourage. The author, Orly Katz, using her knowledge has done a marvelous in accomplishing precisely that by not trying to hit the child reading this book over the head about not being discouraged or disappointed when something doesn’t go the way you had wanted it to be. More important she hasn’t spoken down to the child either; which would have turned the child off to about what is being said. Instead Ms. Katz has made sure her book speaks to the child at their level, making it easy for them to relate to what they’re reading.

Credit for the success of this book must be given to the book’s translator, who did a marvelous job in keeping her translation to the intent of the book’s original language which had been made harder due to the rhyming element of the book. When you have a rhyming for a book’s the story aids in grabbing and keeping the child’s attention for the book, from the beginning to the end. If you have any doubts regarding this, just think of the Dr. Seuss you read as a child, I know I have.

For helping children in not being disappointed or getting discouraged, this book is getting 5 STARS.

US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RD3VRWHIOCS70

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A19QLCLVPLZH0B/