Posts Tagged With: Goodreads

1 Star Rating Silliness on Goodreads

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Michelle Proulx

So following the re-release of Imminent Danger, I was over on Goodreads doing some editing — making sure the new purple cover shows up when you search for the book, making sure the reviews transferred over from the old edition, etc. And I discovered something very odd.

A gentleman named John Hayward (probably not his real name) had given a 1 star rating to all three of my published works — i.e., Imminent Danger, as well as the two free short stories. Fair enough. He hates my writing. A bit weird that he didn’t bother reviewing any, just slapped on 1 star ratings and called it a day, but whatever. No, wait, that is really weird …

So I went to his profile page. He joined Goodreads December 2014. He left three 1 star reviews — all for my books — on the same day in the span of 3 minutes. He hasn’t posted a single rating or review since then.

Yeah, something fishy’s going on.

I contacted Goodreads about it — this guy is obviously trolling — and I got an email back from them yesterday. The bottom line is they do have a system in place for removing false ratings and reviews, but this user didn’t have enough red flags on his account to justify an investigation. Basically, they were sorry about it, but they can’t do anything. They were very professional and polite, and they urged me to contact them again in the future if I found more suspicious circumstances.

Here’s a screencap of Mister Hayward’s profile page for your viewing enjoyment:

john hayward 2

And here’s his profile page if you want to see for yourself: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/37879516-john-hayward

I don’t blame Goodreads for not taking down this guy’s ratings — they have a system, and I get that. So that leaves me to wonder what I’m supposed to do about it. It also makes me wonder what this guy’s deal is. Did he really, honestly, truly read all three of my books, hate them all, and create a Goodreads account just so he could leave 1 star ratings? Is he someone I’ve pissed off, and he’s trying to get back at me via online ratings? Is it some random troll just passing through? Only time will tell.

Thus ends my tale. Any insight is welcome and appreciated!

 

Unrelated media of the day:

Prepare yourself for some major feels (i.e., sad feelings) …

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/NLtCD9V

Categories: My Works, Self Publishing | Tags: , , , , , | 53 Comments

So I got my first 1 star review …

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Michelle Proulx

That’s right — Imminent Danger has officially acquired its first 1 star review. I won’t post the link here, but if you hop over to the Imminent Danger Goodreads page, you can check out the review for yourself.

As you can probably imagine, it makes me sad that someone out there paid money for my book and didn’t enjoy it. It also sucks because no one likes to hear their work merits a mere 1 star rating — essentially, that if the book were graded as a test, it would get a measly 20% and flunk the course.  And I’m not going to lie — it kind of crushed my emotions when I first saw the review. But then I remembered that I’ve weathered much worse than this — namely, receiving a bad review in person to my face — so I think I’ve calmed down. More or less. Mostly.

Now, it’s not very classy to go line by line through a bad review and dissect it, potentially shaming the reviewer in the process, so I’m not going to do that. The only thing I’m going to bring up is this — that I really don’t understand why people feel the need to leave nasty reviews when they haven’t even read the entire book. The reviewer admits they stopped at chapter 10 … which is like reviewing a song when you’ve only heard the first 45 seconds. I just don’t get it.

I mean, yes, if the book is truly so horrendous that you literally can’t bring yourself to read any further, and feel it’s your civic duty to warn off other readers before they spend their hard-earned free time and money on a disgusting and despicable piece of literature … sure, go ahead and leave a review without reading the whole book. But I’m pretty sure (like 90% sure … maybe 85% …) that Imminent Danger isn’t a hate-filled, vitriolic piece of filth.

Okay, fine, I’m a little upset. But I guess that’s what happens when you get a bad review. I’ll get over it! I had some gravy-smothered mashed potatoes and watched an episode of Chuck, so I’m well on my way to recovery. Just needed to vent a little bit. I’m better now. I just need to remember that different people are different, and that there’s no such thing as a book everyone likes.

Sigh.

 

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Categories: My Works | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 97 Comments

Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies has arrived!

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

Happy Saturday, everyone! For today’s post, I’m psyched to share with you some self-publishing news from the blogger we all know and love — Mister Charles E. Yallowitz, author of the Legends of Windemere series! The big news today is that …

Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies has arrived!!!

Well, technically it arrived a few weeks ago. But it’s still new and exciting! So …

Buy it Here!

Allure Final Cover (2)

Book Blurb:

The epic adventures of Luke Callindor and Nyx continue after their journey down the L’Dandrin River in Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower.

Reeling from his failures in their previous adventure, Luke leads his surviving friends to his hometown.  With his mind frayed and his confidence fractured, Luke must face the family and fiancée he left behind.  It is a brief homecoming when the vampire Kalam attacks the village, forcing Luke and Nyx to break into his lair for the key to resurrecting a fallen warrior.  It is a quest that will force both young heroes to reach new heights of strength and power that they never knew they had.

Can Luke and Nyx escape the lair of Kalam?  And, what role will the orphaned gypsy Sari play in their looming destiny?

*     *     *

Wondering what you’re in for? Check out the praise earned by the first two installments of this high fantasy series.

wattpad beginningReview Excerpts for Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero:

“I greatly enjoyed the vivid characters, the gripping plot, and the refreshingly unique writing style (present tense). ” – kdillmanjones

“This is a sophisticated and delightful read. I recommend this book to lovers of Fantasy or to General Fiction readers. The story is compelling enough to entertain a wide audience.” – John Howell

“One of the things that won me over was the bouts of humor. Especially in the beginning. “This is not possible! I am a Paladin!” I thought I was going to die with delight.” – C.N. Faust

rsz_prodigy_cover_finalReview Excerpts for Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower:

“Something I find unique about this fantasy novel that I don’t often find in others, is that the hero, Luke Callindor is rather of the unlucky variety. He does not get everything he asks for, he stumbles, falls, gets knocked down (literally)and taught lessons as he goes. This is helping him to grow into the hero that was promised in the first book.” – Ionia Martin

“Nyx is such a strong personality. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and more of the other characters, new and already known, with the rich tapestry of Windemere unfolding in between intense actions scenes and moments of kindness and budding friendships.” – Danielle Taylor

“Almost like the Harry Potter series. The books start out so young and innocent, but by the last book – watch out!”  –  Momto4Booklover

*     *     *

Charles author photo B&WAuthor Biography:

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.

Contact:

Blog-  www.legendsofwindemere.com

Twitter-  @cyallowitz

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/CharlesYallowitz

*     *     *

To celebrate the debut of Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies, Mr. Yallowitz is also holding a Goodreads Giveaway! The prize is a paperback copy of ALL THREE LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE NOVELS.  Winners will be picked at the end of December.

Categories: Self Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Last call for alcohol! (And by alcohol, I mean my Goodreads Giveaway)

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

Hey guys! Just a quick post to remind everyone that my Goodreads Giveaway for Imminent Danger And How to Fly Straight into It closes tonight! As of this writing, there are 6 hours left on the clock, so hop over and get yourself entered ASAP!

Here’s the blurb (for anyone who hasn’t heard me prattle on about the book a million times before):

A fun, flirty, fast-paced YA sci-fi/romance novel of cosmic proportions!

High school junior Eris Miller thinks she’s having a bad day when her roommate’s boyfriend catches her stepping out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel. Then she gets abducted by scaly six-armed aliens with a strange fondness for the color blue, and her day suddenly gets a whole lot worse.

Trapped on a spaceship bound for the slave markets of Sirius B, Eris fears she’ll never see her home again. But then fate whisks her away from her reptilian captors and into the arms of Varrin, a fast-talking space pirate who promises to deliver her safely back to Earth. He claims to have her best interests at heart, but Eris soon discovers that her charming rescuer has a hidden agenda.

As they race across the galaxy, outrunning a villainous figure from Varrin’s past, Eris begins to realize that their relationship is putting her planet, her life, and her heart in imminent danger. She knows that trusting Varrin could prove deadly … but what other choice does she have?

 

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Categories: My Works, Self Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

New website for my book!

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

I was hit by the website-creation bug today, so I built a website specifically dedicated to Imminent Danger And How to Fly Straight into It. It’s just one of those free websites, so nothing fancy. And most of the content is the same as my main author website, michelleproulx.com. But hey, I figure it can’t hurt to have a website dedicated to your book, right? So without further ado …

Click here to check out my new website!

As I went to the site to grab the URL, I laughed out loud as I noticed how many times the words “IMMINENT DANGER” appear on the home page. What do you guys think? Too dangerous, or too awesome? Maybe a little bit of both?

In other news, I’m at about 17k words for NaNoWriMo, so a victory on that front definitely isn’t in the cards. Still, it’s been fun! And then besides that … work … more work … and possibly lunch if I ever get away from my computer and track down some food.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Don’t forget to enter the Goodreads Giveaway for Imminent Danger (link in the sidebar) if you haven’t done so already!

 

Unrelated media of the day:

I’ve been listening to this song on repeat for the past two days, so hopefully by sharing it with you guys, I can get it out of my head!

Categories: Random | Tags: , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Win a copy of my debut novel!

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen — it’s Goodreads Giveaway time! Wooooooo! I’m giving away four softcover copies of Imminent Danger And How to Fly Straight into It, and I can sign them to whoever you want if you win (you know, so you can give it away as a Christmas present or whatever).

A quick disclaimer before I share the link to the giveaway: it’s only open to Canada, USA, and UK, because shipping a book to the other side of the world is really freakin’ expensive. Sorry in advance!

Alright! Without further ado … here’s the link: Click here to win a copy of Imminent Danger!

Good luck to everyone who enters!

Unrelated media of the day:

Source: http://distractify.com/fun/fails/the-x-worst-asian-sign-translations-of-all-time/

Categories: My Works | Tags: , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Goodreads Giveaways … hit or miss?

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

I have decided to take a few minutes this evening to reflect on Goodreads Giveaways.

Brace yourselves.

My first giveaway for Imminent Danger And How to Fly Straight into It from waaaaay back in April was a pretty rousing success. I gave away two books to two lovely ladies, and I got stellar reviews back in response. Huzzah!

My second giveaway in July was … not quite as successful. I only gave away one book that time, and perhaps the Stingy Gods have decided to punish me, because the lady who won my book has yet to post a review. Of course, it’s only been three months, so I remain hopeful, but the second giveaway definitely wasn’t on par with the first.

Going on the concept of bigger is better, I’ve decided to launch another giveaway! The giveaway starts tomorrow, and ends on my birthday (December 19). I’m giving away four books this time, and since my success percentages thus far on receiving reviews from the winners have been 100% and 0%, I’m aiming to reach a nice, even 50% with this new giveaway. Wish me luck!

I’ll write up another post tomorrow with the link so you can actually enter the giveaway — if you want! I figure that even if you don’t necessarily want a copy, you could hypothetically gift the book to a friend or your favorite niece as a Christmas present. Win win win!

Anyway, fingers crossed that this giveaway works out a bit better than the last one. Happy NaNo-ing to everyone, and see you again tomorrow for that link I promised!

 

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Categories: My Works, Self Publishing | Tags: , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Cover Reveal: The Stone Kingdom (Book Two of the Wilderhark Tales) by Danielle E. Shipley

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

I’m pleased as pudding to announce that I’m taking part in a cover reveal today! The book in question is the lovely Danielle E. Shipley’s latest fairy tale novella, The Stone Kingdom (Book Two of the Wilderhark Tales). Plot summary and details are below, and the release date for the book is September 20th. I read this novella recently and I quite enjoyed it (review to come in the near future), so two thumbs up from me! Oh, and I know it’s book two in a series, but I had no trouble following the story, so don’t panic if you haven’t read book one.

And now … the cover reveal!

Stone Kingdom Cover, front

 

“Love and prince,

Both true, wed rose of white in realm of stone;

For blood begins,

But naught can be put right by blood alone.”

One thoughtless act is all it takes to bring the curse threatened on Rosalba’s christening day to pass. Now the princess must combine her desperate determination with the service of benevolent tailor Edgwyn Wyle to find the second half of the key to her kingdom’s restoration.

The Stone Kingdom Book Two of The Wilderhark Tales

<> ~ <> ~ <>

An enchantress’s curse turns a spoiled royal into a beast; A princess’s pricked finger places her under a hundred-year spell; Bales of straw are spun into gold as a singing harp whisks down a giant beanstalk – All within sight of Wilderhark, the forest that’s seen it all.

You’ve heard the stories – of young men scaling rope-like braids to assist tower-bound damsels; of gorgeous gowns appearing just in time for a midnight ball; of frog princes, and swan princes, and princes saved from drowning by maidens of the sea.

Tales of magic. Tales of adventure. Most of all, tales of true love.

Once upon a time, you knew them as fairy tales. Know them now as Wilderhark’s.

 

Book details:

Full Title: “The Stone Kingdom (Book Two of The Wilderhark Tales)”

ISBN: 978-0-9891846-1-8

Genre: Young Adult Fairytale

Length: Novella (179 pages)

Release Date: September 20th, 2013

Future availability: Paperback (Amazon.com) and eBook (Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com)

 

Add “The Stone Kingdom” to your Goodreads shelf today!

 

danielle_author photoAbout the author:

Danielle E. Shipley’s first novelettes told the everyday misadventures of wacky kids like herself …or so she thought. Unbeknownst to them all, half of her characters were actually closeted elves, dwarves, fairies, or some combination thereof. When it all came to light, Danielle did the sensible thing: packed up and moved to Fantasy Land, where daily rent is the low, low price of her heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears, firstborn child, sanity, and words — lots of them. She’s also been known to spend short bursts of time in the real-life Chicago area with the parents who home schooled her and the two little sisters who keep her humble. When she’s not living the highs and lows of writing young adult novels, she’s probably blogging about it at www.EverOnWord.wordpress.com.

Categories: Self Publishing, Writing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Beta Readers — The Agonizing Wait

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

As much as I complain about how mind-numbing editing and re-writing can be, I actually do really enjoy the writing process. Although banging out that first draft is definitely my favourite part of writing, the subsequent months/years of editing can be quite fun, and it’s all worth it when you get to sit down and read your finished, polished, wonderful story.

But there’s one part of writing I absolutely cannot stand. And that part, my friends, is waiting for beta readers to read the manuscript.

It drives me crazy! Working for months and months to produce a piece of writing you think is finally ready for other human eyes to see, sending it off to a select few … and then waiting and waiting and waiting for them to respond with their critiques. Obviously, I’m incredibly appreciative that they’re bothering to read my story at all, and I recognize that reading an unpolished manuscript is time-consuming. But I want to get their suggestions and get started on revising now, dammit!

The obvious solution is, of course, to impose a time limit on the beta reading process. Except that doesn’t work, because my elite beta reading team knows that I value their opinions, and that I will wait as long as necessary to receive said opinions. Curse my dependency! Curse it!

I need another strategy! Any suggestions on how to increase beta reader reading time / productivity? Any suggestions on how to keep my sanity whilst waiting for the critiques to return? Any suggestions on how to deal with people at festival booths who ramble on about astronomy for thirty minutes and scare off potential customers while you smile and nod and wish they would go away?

Reminder: Enter the Imminent Danger Goodreads Giveaway!

Click here to enter — open to CA, USA, UK, and AU.

Unrelated media of the day:

Source: http://i.imgur.com/o1RsYCS.jpg

Categories: Writing | Tags: , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

New Goodreads Giveaway for Imminent Danger (link included!)

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Michelle Proulx

Hey guys — just checking in this morning before I head off to set up my festival tent at “The Gathering on the Green” (local arts festival), where I will be attempting to sell my book, Imminent Danger And How to Fly Straight into It.

Goodreads Giveaway Open!

As I mentioned yesterday, my giveaway for Imminent Danger is now open and waiting for all you lovely folks in Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia to enter. Here’s the link

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17246542-imminent-danger

Go forth, enter, and enjoy!

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Categories: My Works | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

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