Writer Beware

One of the unfortunate problems facing the self-published author is sorting out the scam artists from those who are genuinely helpful.  A key resource in figuring that out has been the group Writer Beware.

Well, I am pleased to note that Victoria Strauss of that blog has won the Independent Book Blogger Award for best publishing industry blog.  Victoria, keep up the good work!

Another Chance at Free Books

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Pirates of Mars

by Christopher Gerrib

Giveaway ends May 25, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

REVIEW: Summer's Journey

Title: Summer’s Journey

Author: Summer Daniels

Genre: erotica

Price: varies (see link)

Publisher: Amazon Digital

ISBN: Varies

Point of Sale: Amazon

 Reviewed by: ChrisGerrib

Here at POD People, we received a query from Summer Daniels.  She had three volumes of erotica, billed as the “true erotic journey of a recent divorcee.”  I don’t usually review erotica, and Emily Veinglory, my co-blogger, writes it, but I decided to give Ms. Daniels a shot.

The three volumes are really short stories, each one running about 6,000 words, detailing the journey of Summer Daniels.  The (presumably fictional) Summers had divorced (topic of Volume 1) and in which she meets Mark, another recent divorcee who wants to “take control” of her erotic journey.  His way of wooing is very 21^st Century, involving personal web sites and the like.  Volume 2 and 3 get more into the meat of the matter, so to speak.

Now, the key factor in evaluating erotica is seeing if it generates a reaction in the reader.  (“Reaction” – yea, that’s the ticket!)  So, by that standard, I have to evaluate Summers’ Journey as a success.  Volume 1 generates the reaction of “what happens next” while Volume 2 and 3 provide an explicit view of what happens. 

Ms. Daniels is not one for laying out scenery, and her assignations happen in a generic upper-middle-class suburban America, but for this particular story that works well.  Sometimes in erotica the best thing the writer can do is get out of the way.  The volumes are priced at either $1.99 or $2.99, although there is a Collection One for $5.99 that has all three volumes included.  I found Ms. Daniel’s journey interesting, and look forward to later editions.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Synthetic

Title: Synthetic: Rise of the Siren
Author: Shonna Wright
Genre: Sci fi
Price: $0.99
Point of Sale: Amazon Kindle, Nook
Reviewed by: Emily Veinglory

I stumbled across this book about a week a go when it was free for some reason.  (Not 'Amazon Prime' free, but actually free free).  It is 99c now and still a steal at the price.

Synthetic is a surprisingly complex, ornate, riotous, near-future steampunk romance adventure. You really have to read it to believe it.

Basically a women with amnesia is making synthetic lifeforms that look like mythical creatures and can live forever. She gets a chance at freedom when forced to help a rich old woman transform herself into the perfect woman.

But that is seriously only the beginning as a bizarre cast of human, animal and synthetic characters crawl through a bizarre castle-slash-catacomb-slash-film-set trying to uncover the schemes and crimes that brought them together. Motivations shift, violence and betrayal is all around.

There is so much going on in this story that it really is impossible to explain. 'Synthetic' is not perfect but its sheer exuberance and rococo inventiveness makes this a story I would heartily recommend to anyone.

9/10

Rock It Reads

Speaking of seals of approval, now we have Rock it Reads. The idea seems to be that we can trust traditionally published authors to tell us which self-published books are worth reading. It seems to focus on romance and related genres.