Devi Ansevi's Blog: Devi Does...Dialogue - Posts Tagged "bell-book-and-erotica"

Here's a grateful shout-out to Bell, Book, and Erotica, a new blog site that promotes and reviews indie and self-published authors of erotica. No, they haven't reviewed any of my books - not yet. The reason for the shout-out... They actually responded to my email.

Check out their clean, elegant site - they've posted a couple of great reviews. And the evocative candle flame rating system is a wonderful nod to the site title.

As an indie/self-pub author, who is trying to do it all - write, edit, promote, improve my writing, get involved with author communities, work a "real" job to pay bills - it's the pearl-in-the-oyster-irritant to get my work noticed.

I'm talking about promotion.

Yes, it pays to promote. In the sea of new books, one must find ways to get one's own book noticed. But I'm hesitant to spend money, not knowing what's reputable, what's not, and how to get a good return.

Review blogs are a "free" promotional method. I say "free" because it can take a lot of time just to submit the request in the proper format. I don't begrudge the time: review bloggers are inundated with requests from eager authors. Anything that helps a reviewer quickly spot a book worth considering is good.

Here's the thing. Most times, I don't hear back at all. Similar to an HR department that gets hundreds of applications for a posting, only applicants invited to interview hear back. For the rest, it's null. Void. The great emptiness between stars.

I beseech you, bloggers, turn on an auto-reply. Let the pitifully grateful author know the email was received. You know, something like this:

"Thank you for your review request. We usually respond within six weeks if interested. If you don't hear back, take the hint. Sincerely, The Reviewers"

Since we're wishing (and that's also free), how about a form reply, a check box that indicates why my book was NOT selected for review:

"Thank you for your review request. Your book will not be reviewed because:
___ No one here liked your blurb.
___ You need other reviews before we'll write one.
___ Your other reviews are negative, go away.
___ Your review request was poorly written, go away.
___ We're too swamped now, go away.
Sincerely, The Reviewers"

I know, I know. Easy for me to ask. Perhaps each reviewer gets hundreds of emails a week.

But it's an insular little world inside an author's mind. Without knowing why I don't hear back, I begin to imagine reasons. Darkly humorous, darkly paranoid, or simply dark reasons.

Imagine my delight when, responding to an invitation to submit books for review, I received a reply within hours from Bell, Book and Erotica. Not just a reply, but a welcoming response, an offer to review my book - albeit in 4-6 weeks.

Why such a long lead time? Because, despite the site being open only a week, the reviewers already have THAT MUCH backlog.

An indicator that we need many more blogs? that we need lots more guest reviewers on these blogs? that readers - and by extension, authors - place an enormous weight of credibility on bloggers' unpaid reviews?

Can't emphasize enough how lovely it was just to get a reply. Much less a courteous, encouraging one. Bell, Book and Erotica is a site run by self-published and indie authors, who understand what it's like to try and get your work noticed. Kudos to their reviewer team for starting off on such a hospitable footing.

Wishing you joy in (good)reading,
~Devi

Exciting news! Bell, Book and Erotica has posted a Q&A with yours truly about my newest novel, Fate's Arrow: Soulmates Book 2.


They also posted what I think is a well-balanced review of the book. I like knowing what can be improved in my writing - reviews are as helpful for writers as for readers IMHO. To paraphrase one of the positives by reviewer Mr. B: lots of hot sex. To paraphrase one of the critiques: occasionally I get too "sex-ed" in the sex scenes. If you're intrigued to know more, check out the complete review!

This isn't the first time I've written about Bell, Book and Erotica here. BB&E is a new review blog run by self-published/indy authors. I've continued to be impressed by their professionalism and courtesy, and enjoy reading their thoughtful reviews.

See the excerpt of the Q&A below and be sure to check out the entirety at their site (of course because it's amazingly funny and interesting!). Plus, trivia - you'll learn why I wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid.

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Excerpt: Q&A with Devi Ansevi
Q: How long did it take you to write the book?
A:Jenna’s story had been waiting to be told from the instant she had that first phone conversation with Aiden in Their Wish List: Soulmates Book 1. I wrote Fate's Arrow: Soulmates Book 2 in a bit less than a month, including soliciting beta feedback and final editing.

Q: Where did the ideas for your characters come from? Are they based on people you know? Do they have similar traits?
A: Most of my characters are based on combinations of people I love. For Jenna Caylon, the main character in Fate’s Arrow, I borrowed a Vegas friend’s potty mouth and sense of style. From another friend, I borrowed height, brazenness and sexual adventurousness. My own damn-the-torpedoes directness (and frequent sticking of foot in mouth) cements it all together – and gets her in trouble, just as it does me!



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When you visit BB&E, please take 60 seconds to leave a comment on their site, let them know what you think. They're interested in your feedback.

Wishing you joy in (good)reading,
~Devi

Does anyone else do this: Download an erotic book and skip to the naughty bits.

You know, to decide whether the author is a good writer.

Bell, Book and Erotica knows how readers like us think, and they've started a section called The Knicker Drawer (for readers 18+ only).

As of the time of this post, you can read excerpts from four authors, including a sexy hot tub scene from my novel Their Wish List, and from talented and very hot authors C.A. Bell, Lucy Felthouse, and J.Z. Dietz.

Happy (good)reading,
~Devi