reviews

reviews

The tag ‘reviews’ refers to book reviews mostly written by Chalita Majang or Owen Jones on Megan Publishing Services https://meganthemisconception.com

Reviews of Books on Amazon

Published by Owen Jones on 22 July 2018

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Reviews of Books on Amazon

Reviews of Books on Amazon

The Reviews of Books on Amazon

I have been with Amazon for a relatively very long time – since a few weeks after it started, I think, but I can’t help thinking the the people at the top  – the ones running the firm (that might not include Jeff Bezos, the guy who set it up) are buffoons. Why? Well, let’s start with the question of reviews of books on Amazon.

They tried to fix the problem of sham reviews of books on Amazon, but all they ended up doing was punishing small authors by hunting through their friends’ lists to see whether somebody on one of those lists had written a favourable review and then deleting it. This does not stop more affluent or well-known authors from having fake reviews of books on Amazon posted, because they have access to a larger group of reviewers.

Please don’t get me wrong, fake reviews are not good – they are often called ‘sock puppet’ reviews. However, many readers become pen-pal friends of their favourite writers these days, and what is wrong with that for Heaven’s Sake?

Having said that, Amazon is quite happy to let Trolls leave ten-word shyte reviews without ever having proved that they have read the book (by having purchased it – called ‘a verified purchase review’).

No, they’re fine!

But why are they? I don’t understand…

The current Reviews of Books on Amazon policy stinks because it favours famous authors with representation in the form of an agent or and publisher, so it should be changed, but that is unlikely… just look at how Amazon rewards their top Kindle Unlimited authors with tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses leaving most people with an income under $20.

Another problem with reviews concern series. ONE woman didn’t like ONE book in a 24-part series but her review is attached to all of those books!

Is that mind-blowingly bonkers or what!

The other issue that they fall down on is taxation. Amazon is the only on-line company that I know of that makes the vendor, writer, in my case, work out the tax and add it to the cost of the item, book, for each country the item is sold in!

This is Stone-age lunacy!

I do all my own work myself, and am expected to work out the various taxes for fifteen countries for each of my 140 books?!

Aren’t repetitive mundane tasks what computers are supposed to be good at?

Put it this way: Amazon is by far the biggest on-line retailer of books, but it is the only retailer who forces its authors (and every other vendor) to do this.

I think that the CEO of Amazon should pack it in and grow sweetcorn. Let them head-hunt someone who really knows about taxation and fairness.

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All the best.

Owen

Podcast: Reviews of Books on Amazon

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Beware Amazon Book Rankings!

Published by Owen Jones on 23 June 2018

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Beware Amazon Book Rankings!

Beware Amazon Book Rankings!

Beware Amazon Book Rankings!

If you are a reader, or a writer, you probably use Amazon book rankings at some time or another. Even if you are a bookshop owner’s dream and buy your latest reads locally, the chances are that you do your research online and, therefore, on Amazon.

And why wouldn’t you?

‘What could be wrong with that?’ you might ask.

The answer is: nothing, as long as you are aware of some of Amazon’s weirdest policies.

I will come clean here, and say that I am a writer, and I know many writers, just as you know many people in your profession, trade occupation or hobby. I have about 175 books on Amazon and other online book retailers, and I have been doing it for about six years.

A few years ago, I forget how many, but let’s say three or four, the powers that be in Amazon decided to attempt to wipe out the widespread practice of ‘sock-puppet’ book reviews. Some unscrupulous authors, literary agents and publishers were buying a book on a false account and then leaving a gushing review about it.

They might do this a hundred times or more – at least enough times to boost the said book into the Amazon book rankings top-ten charts, which would ensure that it sold significantly more.

Beating Amazon Book Rankings

Buying hundreds of books was beyond many independent authors, so they might just open dozens of Amazon accounts in false names, or get their friends and family to write reviews for them. I’m sure that you can see what I am getting at.

You see, many, many readers choose their next read from the top-ten lists.

So, in attempt to combat this, Amazon decided to spy on authors’ social media accounts and delete any GOOD reviews from people that the author knew.

This is a bizarre method of dealing with the problem, because those who use fake accounts won’t appear in anyone’s friends list. On the other hand, many authors, myself included, end up becoming friends with some of their readers.

I could name six or seven right now off the top of my head – people I correspond with, but have never met. So, I (and they) have two options: either to pretend we don’t ‘know’ one another like secret agents in a comedy show, or let Amazon do its worst.

I choose the latter, and consequently have lost well over a hundred reviews on just my flagship novel, Behind The Smile.

It is a silly policy, but it also means that the top-ten lists that many people choose their books from are inaccurate.

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: Beware Amazon Book Rankings!

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Megan’s Free Audiobook Club

Published by Owen Jones on 27 April 2018

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Megan's Free Audiobook Club

Megan’s Free Audiobook Club

Megan’s Free Audiobook Club

Have you caught the recent bug for audiobooks? Or is it audio books? The trend is so new that the jury is still out on the nomenclature, but I am going to use ‘audiobooks’ until it becomes ridiculous to continue to do so. Enter Megan’s Free Audiobook Club!

Anyway, I didn’t even realise that there was a fad for audiobooks until the beginning of 2018, when an article caught my eye and I followed the thread for an hour or so.

Now, I have four audiobooks of my own work and eleven more in production, and I have established a club where other enthusiasts can meet up. Well, more than that actually as I plan to hand out free copies of my audiobooks to members, and perhaps I will obtain audiobooks from other author friends to give away too.

The group is free to join, is called ‘Megan’s Free Audiobook Club’ and is hosted on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/megansfreeaudiobooks/

The details are explained on the group’s page, but basically, I will publish a list of the books I have to hand out with a reference back to a fuller description on this website. Then if you want a copy, just ask for one and you will receive a code to download a free copy.

Audiobooks often cost upwards of $20, so that is a pretty hefty saving. The only thing that I will ask of you in return is a short, honest review and that it be completed within a month.

NB: I am not even asking for a favourable review – just an honest one!

If you have never written a review before, don’t worry about it! I am not expecting a Sunday Times quality 🙂 Just in your own words…

In fact, I will put up a short template that you can follow to write your review to get novices started. Here is the link to that:

http://meganthemisconception.com/writing/how-to-write-a-book-review/

Please pop over to Megan’s Free Audiobook Club now and join up… I would love to meet you.

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All the best,

Owen

Podcast: Megan’s Free Audiobook Club

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Something Must be Done and Crazy Medicine

Published by Owen Jones on 17 November 2014 1
Something Must be Done and Crazy Medicine

Something Must be Done and Crazy Medicine

 

‘Something Must be Done’ and ‘Crazy Medicine’

by Matt Carrell

Review by Owen Jones
*****

‘Something Must be Done’ and ‘Crazy Medicine’ ( a short story in the book ‘Thai Lottery’)

I read ‘Crazy Medicine’ first, but a year or two ago. I think I found it on Carrell’s web site as a sampler. Then I was given it together with ‘Something Must be Done’.

Since I had enjoyed it so much the first time, I read it again. It is set in Thailand and gives an accurate impression of how most girls work with caring Mama Sans in the Land of Smiles.

All too often writers with personal agendas give the  impression that the Mama San is some sort of greedy pimp only in it for the money she can screw out of the girls and their clients.

However, this is not my experience. They are usually ex-working girls themselves, who either are in a stable relationship or are getting too long in the tooth. They often fulfil the roles of Agony Aunt and Mrs. Fix-it for the younger, inexperienced girls.

Carrell brings this relationship out perfectly in this story..
The second story is set in the UK and the USA. It considers the question of how external forces beyond one’s control can severely affect one’s life.

I liked this story relating to juvenile gun crime very much as well.

Both shorts tell tales that invite the reader to make moral judgements, but Carrell does not force his own opinions upon us. Rather we are shown aspects that he finds important and encouraged to think about them.

I wholeheartedly recommend that you read both of these short stories, but I don’t know where you’d find the first one.

Perhaps Mr. Carrell would provide the link in the comments box below.

Amazon Image   Thai Lottery… and Other Stories from Pattaya, Thailand

Reviews only, of  ‘Something Must be Done’ and ‘Crazy Medicine’, by +Owen Jones

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