Hi, there, everyone. Whew, what a rollercoaster few days I’ve had! The free giveaway on Kindle is over, with 3,974 copies given away. It’s only been a few days, so it’s too early to give you a full report, but I got my first new review just two days into the giveaway, and boy, what a gem it was!
This is a huge relief, as free giveaways are apparently notorious for attracting bad reviews – people grab freebies without regard to genre, read them, don’t “get them”, and feel disappointed enough to complain. I hope more will come in the next couple of weeks as I have actually seen a huge spike in KENP – more than 2,500 pages read over the last four days. If it was anyone reading this, could you please post a review on Amazon? Apparently I need to get to about 60 to attract BookBub’s attention, and I’m now at 33.
I have no explanation for this KENP spike, by the way. I have contacted Amazon and they have confirmed that during free days people with KU get my book outright – so why such an influx? Sadly, I shall never know, as I have now taken Shizzle, Inc
Speaking of which, I would like to get about 3-5 beta readers for Indiot, is anyone interested? This would be different from an Advanced Review Copy – if you’ve registered for my Permanent ARC list (see the floating banner to the right), you will automatically get a copy. This is more about helping me work through the current draft. I myself have never been a beta reader, and I have not done that with Shizzle, Inc, but I’ve given some thought to who I’d like to help me:
- Beta readers get to read and privately review a book before it is copyedited. This could be exciting, or disappointing, depending on how you look at it. You will not have a chance to be surprised at reading the finished book. (By the way, each beta reader will get an autographed paper copy as a thank you, when it’s released in July.)
- You generally like humor and chicklit, and you’ve read Shizzle, Inc and liked it enough. If you didn’t “get” it, you will probably be disappointed with Indiot. Not only the storyline relies on the knowledge of the previous events, it is similarly unrealistic and off the wall. That’s just what I do…
- You will have time to read about 70,000 words in the first two weeks of May. Sorry for the tight timeline, but I’m only looking for a high-level review, there would be no need to do copyediting – I will hire a professional editor to do that.
- You would be willing to critique my work in a constructive way – “this is shit” and “this is perfect” would be equally unhelpful. I’m looking for things like “this did not make sense” and “why did she do X when she said Y just before?” and maybe “you should develop the scene Z more.”
- I would give preference to Americans. Sorry! It will depend on how many people express interest, but I might have to make this call, as the novel is set in the US and I need all the help I can get, being a Russian-Down-Under. By the way, comments such as “Americans would say bla-bla instead of blah-di-blah” would be very welcome.
- Sorry for the #5. On the more inclusive side, any gender or age is welcome. I’m still blown away by how many guys have left reviews on Amazon – could this be the beginnings of dudelit?
This is all I could think of – if you have any questions or suggestions, please ask away! If you want to beta-read Indiot, please email me on ana.spoke (AT) yahoo.com.
Thank you in advance!
Ana Spoke, author 
Hi Ana
I have started a new gig on Fiverr and would beta-read it if you could leave me a review. I dont read horror or erotica so I dont know if it is one of those genres.
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Thank you for the offer, Colm – I gather from your response you have not read Shizzle, Inc? Sorry, I’m looking for people who have – otherwise it’s a bit difficult to get what’s going on.
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Just a quick comment on Giveaways. I did one recently for a paperback, not an ebook, and found that one of the winners runs a second hand book business on eBay, and yes, you guessed it, my book appeared for sale in his page! I doubt he had time to read it, but there you go, s*** happens!
I did ask him what he thought of the book, and whether he had time to write a review. give him credit, he did and it was very flattering. but it only happened because I followed up.
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Haha, oh no…btw, following up against Goodreads giveaway rules – be careful, if someone complains, you can get in a heap of trouble…
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Thanks for the heads up!
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I’ll read. American.
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Awesome, thank you! Have you read Shizlle, Inc?
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On the top of my list.
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Will you be able to read it by 1 May? It would be better if you know the story line, plus who knows, you might hate Shizzle, Inc 🙂
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Started reading it today. It’s funny.
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Awesome 🙂 please let me know your email address – you can email me at ana.spoke(at)yahoo.com
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Till I reached no.4 I was hopeful and then at no.5, I lost all my chances! Non American! 😞
Lol!! With lots of love and best wishes Ana! 😍😘
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Sorry, Syeda! But I would love to send you an ARC – are you on my ARC list?
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No worries at all Ana! I am very happy for you! Well I don’t know about the ARC list. I’ll check up in a few hours. 🙂
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I would love to read for you. I loved shizzle, Inc. and would love to give a review on this new book. I am American.
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Thank you, Vicki! Can you please email me your email address? It will be a pdf.
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Glad your giveaway went well! I wish I could be a beta reader but I haven’t read the first book yet. I also am not very good at giving specific feedback. I hope you can find amazing beta readers who will give you great feedback 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I understand – I don’t enjoy critiquing others…I was a professor once, for a very short time, and oh boy, I loved teaching, but hated giving grades…
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You’re welcome! Yeah giving grades would be tough too!
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Hi Ana. It’s good your reaching out to Beta readers, so long as they do add constructive criticism, that is (as you pointed out in #4). Now, based on my review of Shizzle, Inc., I’m not sure you’d want me to participate as a Beta reader, but if for whatever reason you don’t find who you’re looking for, I would be happy to Beta read Indiot. Just let me know for sure and I’ll send you an email. Who knows, my perspective may give you insight into a different side of things that you wouldn’t have thought otherwise.
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Hi, Bryan, actually, I would very much like for you to beta read – your review of Shizzle, Inc was critical, but constructive and it seems that you’ve enjoyed it while finding things to improve. Would you be able to do it within the first two weeks of May?
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Based on my current schedule, I don’t see an issue with finding the time to read it during the first two weeks of May. I’ll send you an email so you’ll have my address. Thanks. Look forward to it.
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Great, thank you.
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Ana, I would enjoy being one of your beta readers. I’ll be on the road in May, but there are a lot of down hours out there, perfect for reading. Let me know. I am not registered at Amazon or anywhere else, if that matters …
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Thank you, Pete! Have you read Shizzle, Inc?
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I’d offer to beta read, but I know I can’t make the deadline. I hope you get some good feedback though.
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Thank you very much for offering! Maybe next time, then – I hope this will be a worthwile learning experience for me. Have you read and reviewed Shizzle, Inc? If so, sign up for my permanent ARC list, and I will send you and ARC before the book is released to the general public.
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No, I haven’t read it, though it looks cute.
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Thank you 🙂
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Ana,
I would like to be a beta reader, if you still need one. Yaz.
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Thank you, Yaz – have you read Shizzle, Inc?
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Not yet. My book club meets soon…I plan on suggesting your novel.
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That would be awesome, thank you! Unfortunately its a must before reading the second. If you do get to read it by June, I would be more than happy to send you an ARC (aiming for late June release of ARC and early July release to the general public).
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I’ll read it. Book club or not! I’ll let you know when I finish. I’ll go to Amazon to get it. Thanks. Can’t wait! 🙂
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Thank you, Yaz!
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Should have done that a while ago! Better late than never.
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Are you kidding, I can’t stop smiling 🙂 Thanks again. Hope you like it – its not everybody’s cup of tea.
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So, I was going through some of the other blogger comments on beta-reading requests. One was from Ghagri. And, that’s going to rush my reading now:), in a good way. I am an American with Indian background. Been here…almost 40 years. Yaz
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That’s awesome! Let me know if you finish it by early May and still feel like reading the next one…
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Hi Ana! I’d love to and I had intended to because I understand you have an Indian component to it. But though I bought Shizzle Inc I haven’t got around to reading it yet. And also I am not American, alas!
Maybe we can exchange beta reads in the future!
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Hi Gargi – actually, I would love for you to read it, since I’ve never been to India and also because I’d love your input into Indian names I chose and a few Indian words I’ve used in the dialogue. Even if you’d rather read Shizzle, Inc first, I’d love for you to read a draft at any point before mid-June. What do you think?
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Sounds good! Dropped you a mail as well 🙂
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Great, thank you, Gargi! Expect a PDF around 1 May.
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Sounds good! Dropped you a mail as well 🙂
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There’s no way I can make the deadline. My sister is getting married in the first 2 weeks. but if you were to ever need a reader in the future I’d love to.
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Thank you, Meghan! Happy to send you an ARC in June – are you on my permanent ARC list? The sign up form is in the floaty banner on the right.
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Hi, Ana. I just read a survey about bestsellers. I thought you might like it http://blog.smashwords.com/2016/04/2016survey-how-to-publish-and-sell-ebooks.html
I think it could help you with your sales once you’re ready to publish Indiot. All the best.
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Thank you Ronel! Very exciting – looks like I’m on the right track with fiction series and pre-release…
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I just though I`d say thanks for the advice on your blog.
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Thank you for letting me know! Made my day 🙂
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Pingback: Around the Web – Who wants to beta-read Indiot? — AnaSpoke.com | Ms. Bird Lady: The Intellectual Blog
Thank you for sharing!
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When you do a broad Scots book you can count on me to beta-read. Your blog is great and I’m a fan :0)
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That’s awesome – thank you Mac! Who knows where she ends up…and thank you for supporting my blog 🙂
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