Friday, April 18, 2014

Friday Friend: JL Oiler

Guest Post:
Hello and Thank You for having me here! For those who don’t know yet I am JL Oiler a Paranormal and Sci-Fy Romance author with Rebel Ink Press. When I sat down to ready this post I struggled with what topic to talk about, but after cruising about the various book sites and reading all the latest gossip about the latest releases I decided to address Reviews. Now some authors cringe at the word alone. Why? Because the opinions of readers drive our art. That being said, all in all what I want from a review is simple....honesty.

A review regardless of being good or bad should be based on true facts. I received a review one time that basically stated the reader enjoyed the story and characters but gave a poor review mark because it was "short". Hmm well when you get a story from most places it gives you either the word count or number of pages. So this complaint is like throwing a fit when you buy a box of Lucky Charms and discovering it has marshmallows. That information was right there at the start, you simply failed to read or look for it.

I can honestly say I enjoy someone who gets into the meat and potatoes of what I did right and what was wrong. Both let me sharpen my art and improve from one story to the next. It was one of the best forms of feedback we receive. With that in mind I honestly don’t like getting reviews from "friends" because it makes me question the validity. When reading a review of a fellow authors work I have on occasion searched out other reviews by the same individual to see if they are one of those nice folks who go through and give all their friends a shiny 5 star review. That’s just bullshit. It’s not an honest review and does the story or readers no justice.  I have the same opinion about reviews for rewards (such as money, or gifts). They by far remind me too much of the TV commercials where the guy starts off by saying “I’m not a doctor but I play one on TV” We already know the individual will say exactly what pleases those footing the bill.

So tell me, have you ever purchased a book based strictly on a review? What was the result, were the reviewers dead on or dead wrong?

Let me know and I’ll drop your name in a drawing for this snazzy SWAG package!

Thanks for Joining Me!
JL OILER


High Tides
Links:


Blurb:
Before the world we know rose above the waves, there was another. A world of magic, myth, and mayhem with Atlantis its crown jewel.

 Ruled by brother’s Kia and Finn, it was a place of indulgence and indifference to the rules of humanity, until the brothers allowed their pride and pleasure to rule them. Too late they discovered their triviality would curse all of Atlantis to an unimaginable fate.

 Alana Merrick always felt more at home with sand between her toes than shoes on her feet. Now calling the small islands off the coast of Belize home, she's living her dream. Little does she know the peace and relaxation she finds beneath the waves is about to become very turbulent. As the present and the past collide, Alana may find that there are fates worse than death and the lines between fact and fiction are blurry.

 You might never look at Atlantis the same way again…

Excerpt:
“You have grown as cold as the creatures you use so easily. They are what you have grown to love. For your indifference to those of your own, I curse you all. May the oceans come forth and consume you. Fins replace legs and arms as your kingdom disappears into the depths of the ocean floor. This is my gift for your indifference. You all shall become what you worship until you can be loved as both the men and beast you are.” She called out from beyond the winds and rain, which now pounded them. Waves began to slam the walls, the earth quacking moments before searing pain gripped both men as they watched in shock as Oceana transformed into a seagull and flew straight up and away.
The grand pillars and walls surrounding them split and crumbled, splashing into the now turbulent water. Kia felt himself free fall, his arms and leg flailing about as he descended with large chunks of stone into the cold, dark waters.

The ocean stifled the scream that attempted to flee Kia’s mouth, pushing the last gulps of air from his lungs as he attempted to fight his way back toward the surface.  His mind began to fog, his vision becoming clouded. His body felt strange, as though it were stretching, twisting, changing. Minutes passed, and with them confusion of why he was still alive.


16 comments:

  1. Hi Jeanne, welcome to Heroines with Hearts. First, let me apologize for the delay. :) I agree with you about reviews. I read them because I often find they go into more detail about the book than what the publisher gives and sometimes I like to know that before I buy them. And I'll read them to see what other authors liked or didn't like. But since we're not all the same, what someone else doesn't like, isn't necessarily what I don't like, so I don't always not buy because of a bad review. And, I always take them with a grain of salt, since you never know where they're coming from these days.

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    1. Jennifer I have discovered a grain (or in some cases a pound) of salt is always a good idea!

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  2. Great to have you here, JL. I have not mastered writing reviews. I hate to hurt anyone's feelings, so I am thrilled that you, a published author, want honest reviews.
    On writers sites, I often read complaints by authors who seem incredulous that anyone could find even one flaw in their work, and get angry that that reader would then dare to call out said flaw in a review.

    I also cannot imagine uploading a review for a book I had not read cover to cover--or at least trying truly hard to finish.

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    1. Ana I think the only way to grow as a writer is to have honest reviews, even if I get exactly what I ask for LOL.

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  3. Welcome to HWH, Jeanne. I agree that reviews should be honest, and I much prefer the reviews that give a genuine critique of a book rather than those which just say, 'I loved this book' or 'I hated it' without giving any real reasons for their opinion.

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    1. Oh I hate those....how hard is it really to defend your position if your truly love or hate something.

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  4. I try to write reviews that are honest and show why I like or hate them. I have just started reviewing lately so am still figuring out just how to write them.

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    1. Terrndeb just be true and know that there will always be those who hate or love you regardless. Biggest mistake by anyone is trying to please everyone and compromising your own beliefs.

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  5. Hi JL,

    So nice to have you at Heroines with Hearts today!

    I just love your cover...very sexy!

    A cover moreso than a review would make me pick up a book. I don't think I ever have read a book based solely on a review.

    But I have checked out reviews for books I haven't liked much, just to see if others concurred.

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    1. Thanks the cover is one of my favorites as well. I agree generally the cover grabs me first.

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  6. That's interesting, Debra. Checking reviews after you've read the book.

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  7. I, too, got a less than flattering review on one of my novellas because the reviewer said the story was short. I'm with you--why didn't they read the number of pages or the fact that it was presented as a novella and not a novel?

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    1. Yes they seem to ignore the nice part on there that gives word count lol

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  8. Congrats to terrndeb You have won a bundle of nice swag ...zip me a snail mail address and I'll send it out to you!

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  9. That is what I try to do. I won't leave a review that does not reflect how I feel about that book. Thanks.

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