Michelle’s Comments (group member since Apr 27, 2017)

Michelle’s comments from the Beta Reader Group group.

Emmanuel wrote: "Hi Michelle,
Do you have a set deadline?"
Hi, Emmanuel! No deadline. :) If you would like a copy of Cycles, please email me at michellelowe7@gmail (dot) com
Thank you!

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for my YA epic fantasy story. It's 102930 words. I've already edited it thoroughly using ProWritingAid, but I could always use another set of eyes to go over it. Here's the blurb. If interested, please contact me. Thanks! 😊📚

After waking deep underground inside a cave, our unknown hero digs herself out, only to find limited clues about what has happened to her. Unable to remember anything, including her own name, she leaves the cavern searching for answers. While in the forest, she comes across a lone hunter named Jaxith, who is attacked by vicious wolos. She saves his life, and, in return, he brings her to his home in Meadowcrest Village. Jaxith gives her the name Octavia.
In the Qavia Empire, Emperor Xaryus, and Empress Kala, set their sights on conquering the world’s largest shipping hub, Gitia, and become the wealthiest nation in the known world. To sack this well-guarded city, an army is needed. An alchemist named Lord Skard steps in and uses newfound magic to produce indestructible soldiers called the Carven. A battle between sides is fought, with Qavia standing as the victor. The Fall of Gitia creates chaos all over the world when goods are no longer being distributed. Things become much worse when Emperor Xaryus refocuses his agenda and goes off to war against the entire world with the goal of reshaping it to serve under the Qavia banner.
A season goes by, and a shortage of vital medicines endangers the villagers of Meadowcrest Village. Octavia, Jaxith, and two others agree to travel to the city of Ladabiso in the jungle lands to retrieve everything the village needs. During their quest, the group encounters obstacles, dangerous bandits, deadly storms, and the dreaded Carven. All the while Octavia tries to discover her own past, and for better or worse, find out who she is.

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for my YA epic fantasy story. It's 102930 words. I've already edited it thoroughly using ProWritingAid and have had a few others read over it, but I could always use another set of eyes. Here's the blurb. If interested, please contact me. Thanks! 😊📚

After waking deep underground inside a cave, our unknown hero digs herself out, only to find limited clues about what has happened to her. Unable to remember anything, including her own name, she leaves the cavern searching for answers. While in the forest, she comes across a lone hunter named Jaxith, who is attacked by vicious wolos. She saves his life, and, in return, he brings her to his home in Meadowcrest Village. Jaxith gives her the name Octavia.
In the Qavia Empire, Emperor Xaryus, and Empress Kala, set their sights on conquering the world’s largest shipping hub, Gitia, and become the wealthiest nation in the known world. To sack this well-guarded city, an army is needed. An alchemist named Lord Skard steps in and uses newfound magic to produce indestructible soldiers called the Carven. A battle between sides is fought, with Qavia standing as the victor. The Fall of Gitia creates chaos all over the world when goods are no longer being distributed. Things become much worse when Emperor Xaryus refocuses his agenda and goes off to war against the entire world with the goal of reshaping it to serve under the Qavia banner.
A season goes by, and a shortage of vital medicines endangers the villagers of Meadowcrest Village. Octavia, Jaxith, and two others agree to travel to the city of Ladabiso in the jungle lands to retrieve everything the village needs. During their quest, the group encounters obstacles, dangerous bandits, deadly storms, and the dreaded Carven. All the while Octavia tries to discover her own past, and for better or worse, find out who she is.

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for some insight for my steampunk manuscript, The Age of the Machine. It's the first book of a new series, which is linked to my steampunk/fantasy series, Legacy. All I ask is some honest input before I submit the book to my editor. If you're interested, please contact me anytime. Thanks!

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for some outside insight for my steampunk manuscript, The Age of the Machine! It's the first book of new series, which is linked to my steampunk/fantasy series, Legacy. All I ask is some honest input before I submit the book to my editor. Below is a link to the first chapter. If you're interested, please contact me anytime. Thanks!
http://www.michellelowe.net/wordpress...

Thanks everyone for the advice. I've already posted a warning in Reddit and aim to do the same in other writers' forums. I did try to find where to leave a review on the website, but either I'm missing it, or there's no way in doing so until this so-called "editor" posts only good reviews on his site, which given the fact he's horrible, seems just about right. I have found another editor and she's wonderful and I feel like I'm back on track again. I'll even be able to sign copies of the book at this year's WonderCon. Yey! It is a shame when people like this joker takes advantage of authors, it really does stamp a bad name on the field they're supposedly working in. And I agree that when something like this happens, a writer should speak out and warn others so to try sheering them away from these unprofessional sorts.

Ari wrote: "Please let me know who he is...I would hate to run into him.


Michelle wrote: "I didn't hire him through Goodreads. If anyone wants to know the guy I'm talking about, I can message you the website..."

Here's his website. Yeah, keep your work and money away from this guy. http://www.pubsolvers.com/

I didn't hire him through Goodreads. If anyone wants to know the guy I'm talking about, I can message you the website so to avoid running into the same problem like me.
Elisa, that's a great idea! I think I'll do that today. Thank you!

Pamela wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think a small claims court challenge would make him pay up?"

Thank you, Kirsty. I'm not sure. I thought about looking into it. If any..."

Thank you, Pamela. I think all us writers need a heck of a lot of luck, don't we?

Kirsty wrote: "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you think a small claims court challenge would make him pay up?"

Thank you, Kirsty. I'm not sure. I thought about looking into it. If anything, this experience has made me a tad wiser. I'll never again hire an editor who doesn't offer refunds or not send back work before all payments are made. :)

Michelle wrote: "Kirsty wrote: "It's a little concerning, though, that you say you hired a 'proofreader' for 'development editing'. Did this guy state he was an editor or a proofreader? The two are very different.""
You're right. They are different. He claims that he's a proofreader/ editor. I paid him for development editing and got little in return for it.

Alexander wrote: "That's so horrible. Thanks for the warning. Our manuscripts are our babies. They're precious and I'm sorry you sent yours to someone untrustworthy. I've freaked out in the past that beta readers wi..."

I haven't any trouble with beta readers and I hope you never do. You're completely right. Our stories are so apart of us and entrusting them to someone else to help get them ready for the world is a personal experience. What's really upsetting is that I'm out some cash I could've used to go ahead and pay for another editor and now will have to resave the money to do so. *Sigh* The life of a writer.

A warning to all writers out there! Be sure to do your research on any editor you hired. Last October, I hired a so-called proofreader for development editing on my manuscript, let's call him Mr. Rip Off, and told him I needed it before Christmas so to give over to reviewers to read and review before its release. We settled on a price and I paid half of it upfront, thinking Mr. Rip Off would be getting to work on what I sent. Weeks go by and I receive nothing back, only excuses about why he hasn’t sent anything. Before I paid Mr. Rip Off the last bit of the amount he suddenly told me he doesn’t send ANY material until the final payment is made, which I was never made aware of. (RED FLAG!)
By this time, I had just lost my mother and so didn’t argue about it. I paid him and instead of receiving the first round of edits right away, I waited until early December when I receive the manuscript, and after I review the “work” he did I sent it back asking if he planned on being more heavy-handed on the line editing during the second round. He promised he would and I asked how long it would be. Mr. Rip Off said "5 days or so. So Wed or Thursday I am thinking." That was on the 9th of December. Days and days go by without a word and on Friday the 15th I ask how the editing is going (Again chasing him for the work he promised.) and his response was, "Hi, getting there. I think tomorrow evening. I really do not think you have much work left."
Monday rolls around and I ask again if Mr. Rip Off can send the manuscript back soon. By now, I can’t release my book on Christmas because, well, it’s after Christmas. Again, he promised to have it back and of course Mr. Rip Off never did. Finally, on the 21st I tell Mr. Rip Off that I don’t feel that this is working out and that I want a refund. Not the entire amount, mind you, just the bulk of it and he keeps the rest for the “work” he already put into it. Not only did Mr. Rip Off refuse any kind of refund, but he attacked me by saying it was my fault for breaking the contract because of payments, to which he never mentioned beforehand when I needed to slice up the final payment into two. Mr. Rip Off was just cool with me paying him. Even though he received full payment in November, I never received my manuscript and that’s why I wanted to take my business elsewhere. Mr. Rip Off refused and even took a slight compliment, I gave him and threw it in my face, saying, “See, I was helpful, you said it yourself!” At first, he was willing to negotiate a refund and then quickly changed his mind when I asked what he had in mind, stating that he’d have my book returned after 36 hours. This, after Mr. Rip Off claimed he’d been working on it that evening and to which he never offered proof of that claim. So, I get it back and to no surprise, the editing is lousy. Now I'm having to hire another editor to polish my work, which Mr. Rip Off ought to be thankful because if I were to publish my book and name him as the editor, it would've ruined him. But I care about the quality of my own work too much. So be weary authors. Make sure the editor has good credentials and offers refunds if things don't work out, or else you'll end up with your own Mr. Rip Off.

Greetings and salutations, everyone! I'm in the works of trying to get all six of my fantasy/steampunk books ready and released before 2019. The first novel is out and the second is being edited. I'm now looking for anyone willing to beta read the third installment, Legacy-The Underground. It's 89,186 words and I've edited it myself rigorously. If you'd like to beta read for me and give downright honest reports throughout, I'll gladly add your name into the acknowledgments plus a mobi or epub copy of the first and second book when the second it ready if you want them. Here is a link to the first couple of chapters if you'd like to take a peek. http://bit.ly/2zbAXni
If interested, please message me here. Thanks!