Creative Reviews discussion

I have recently noticed that we have a few great members of the group who are also GR Librarians. As you know GR Librarians are a wealth of information. So if you have a question that needs answering post it here and hopefully our group Librarians will answer!

Thanks, Cambria, for creating this helpful feature. I have a new biographical novel coming out late March. My publisher has sent review copies to Library Journal, Choice, Booklist etc. I would like to supplement her efforts, but am not sure how best to go about it—direct mail to selected libraries? Reviews in other periodicals or blogs read by librarians? Any advice will be gratefully received.

http://germainewrites.com

Germaine wrote: "Thanks, Cambria, for creating this helpful feature. I have a new biographical novel coming out late March. My publisher has sent review copies to Library Journal, Choice, Booklist etc. I would lik..."

You're confusing Goodreads Librarians with actual Librarians. Goodreads Librarian are special Goodreads users who can edit book pages here at Goodreads.

What a gaffe! Thank you, Experiment, for setting me straight.

Are there, by chance, any "actual librarians" in the group who might offer advice?

I would like to change the cover and title of this expected publication: 'The Taint: Meng'.

I'm now calling it 'The Taint: Gods and Monsters' (my original title from many years ago). The new cover will be done by my cover artist, Eirylsa, so I'd rather have a 'no cover available' than the one that's there now.

Can anyone tell me how to do this?

Thanks, Georgina.

Georgina wrote: "

I would like to change the cover and title of this expected publication: 'The Taint: Meng'.

I'm now calling it 'The Taint: Gods and Monsters' (my original ti..."

Done. Also, the way to edit your books is to visit the book page and click on the gray-colored "Edit Details" at the bottom-left corner of the book's info (like ISBN and edition language).

Experiment wrote: "Georgina wrote: "

I would like to change the cover and title of this expected publication: 'The Taint: Meng'.

I'm now calling it 'The Taint: Gods and Monsters..."

Thank you Experiment!!

I joined the GR librarians group because I was distressed to see that a couple of my books on my to-read list have become unknown books by unknown authors. And of course I have so many books on that list I can't remember which ones they were!

Now I know didly-squat about GR librarian issues so I won't be answering any questions here but I do have a question for Librarians in this group.

Several of my favourites authors (some long dead) have no profile pictures or details. If I can source public domain images for them and details say from Wikipedia or elsewhere, can I add them to their profiles?

For instance:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

I found a portrait here:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=X...

Am I allowed to do this? Should I instead start a new topic in the GR Libs group?

Georgina.

Georgina wrote: "I joined the GR librarians group because I was distressed to see that a couple of my books on my to-read list have become unknown books by unknown authors. And of course I have so many books on tha..."

Yes. Key word is public domain. =D

Experiment wrote: "Georgina wrote: "I joined the GR librarians group because I was distressed to see that a couple of my books on my to-read list have become unknown books by unknown authors. And of course I have so ..."

Great. I'll make sure that the images are PD! Ditto the details. Is Wiki o.k for both, in terms of reliability of sources?

Georgina wrote: "Experiment wrote: "Georgina wrote: "I joined the GR librarians group because I was distressed to see that a couple of my books on my to-read list have become unknown books by unknown authors. And o..."

Yes. I know other Librarians have used its info. Just remember to cite.

Experiment wrote: "Georgina wrote: "Experiment wrote: "Georgina wrote: "I joined the GR librarians group because I was distressed to see that a couple of my books on my to-read list have become unknown books by unkno..."

Thanks Experiment! Will do.

I've added the other TBR novels in my series to my GR books, and I'd like to alter the series entry. Can I ask for help?

This book is placed as the first in 'The Taint' series> But I'd like to change this so that it is merely a short story in the series (no number). I'm re-releasing it, expanded and revised in a later book in the series (Gods and Monsters).

This is how I'd like the series to be numbered.

#1
#2
#3
#4

Many thanks if anyone can help me with this.

:) Georgina.

Fixed, Georgina. =)

Experiment BL626 wrote: "Fixed, Georgina. =)"

You're too good Experiment! Thank you :) Georgina.

I've found another Tasmanian writer on GR! I read about him in our local classifieds this morning, goggled his books and found them on amazon. Then I struggled to find him on GR. This is his profile (I've just sent a friend request--he's new to GR):
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86049...

I can't find his Author page though, nor either of his newly released books on GR.

This is his author page on amazon with his books listed:
http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Gregor-Hodge...

And his website listed on his profile page that confirms this is him:
http://www.brucegregorhodge.com/

Anyone know why I can find his books on GR? Can anyone help?

It's been fixed already :)

I just became a GR Librarian and am going to learn how to "Do Things" too :) I've joined the GR Librarian Group and will have to read there but it sure seems that Experiment is our personalized CR Librarian (haha)

Great! Maybe you can figure out why my book's cover isn't showing up yet. Actually, no, don't 'tell me because I had planned to use that "issue" as my first excuse to delve into the GR Lib. group :)

I also know as soon as I upload my own copy of the book to KDP, Amazon's totally separate ASIN will feed through and NOT merge automatically with the ISBN version on GR right now. I'm not sure why GR help tells authors that this will happen (you can have only one OR the other) but it doesn't happen. They should get their story straight. I know how to fix it (combine editions) but it's aggravating that the instructions warn about something and then the site does something else instead.

And now I'm rambling...clearly need more coffee! Glad you're here to be our expert, Experiment :)

-Friday (Marjorie F. Baldwin)
aka -sry (Sarah, The Webbiegrrl Writer)

My friend and cover artist E.M. Lawrence has joined goodreads. She's set up her profile and I previously set up her page (as she is listed on my books as the illustrator.)

Her profile:
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86...
This is her author page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...


Eirlysa has clicked on the link 'Is this you?' (yesterday). Does anyone know how long it usually takes for the user profile/author profile to be combined?

Georgina.

@Marjorie
Hey, no problems. Glad to help. ;)

@Georgina
A few business days. Although it might take longer at the present because of the glitches that are plaguing GR after the last big update 2-3 days ago.

Georgina wrote: "My friend and cover artist E.M. Lawrence has joined goodreads. She's set up her profile and I previously set up her page (as she is listed on my books as the illustrator.)

Her profile:
http://www...."

So long as she has a book out or coming out they should have merged the two when they created the Author profile. That's what they did with BOTH of mine (Webbiegrrl was created before Dicky's Story came out but I had it on Smashwords in the Nanowrimo catalog and Friday was created as an Author just last week - I no longer HAVE a Friday user acct)

She's not the Author on any books--the ILLUSTRATOR on yours--so I have to wonder, is an Illustrator allowed to have an Author account here? Seems like that should not happen given that AUTHOR accounts are for Authors of books. I'm not discounting her amazing talent as an illustrator, just saying that's not being the AUTHOR of the book and Goodreads Author accounts are setup to be used by book authors, not book illustrators. Forex, she does not hold the copyrights or publication rights to the books she illustrator or covered so she has no rights to be listed as the "author" of them. Goodreads is focused on the rights holders. I think. I'm not positive.

If I were you (or Eirlysa) I'd write to the Goodreads admin staff. They are PHENOMENAL at communicating via email, usually within 24 hours.

Thanks Experiment :) I've noticed a few glitches in the last couple of days, especially in the notifications.

No, illustrators are listed too, also editors, but although it gives an author profile it says illustrator on the listing. Officially Eirlysa will receive a percentage of any books we sell (I offered that rather than just paying for the image as I'm an artist too and I know how much energy goes into creating a piece from scratch and on commission). In fact, I didn't set up her page, I merely added her name as my illustrator on the listing, and GR set her page up automatically.

:) Gina

I am reading this book at the moment: Wonder Tales: Six French Stories of Enchantment, but in the kindle edition. I know we are not supposed to add amazon links but this is it on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Tales-eb...

Is it possible for a librarian to add the kindle edition to the GR listing please?

Thank you, Gina :)

Georgina wrote: "I am reading this book at the moment: Wonder Tales: Six French Stories of Enchantment, but in the kindle edition. I know we are not supposed to add amazon links but this is it on amazon:
http://ww..."

Here you go:

Yay, Experiment! Thanks! :)Gina.

I have unpublished two of my individual fairy tales on smashwords. Therefore, in three weeks, smashwords will also remove them from Kobo, B&N, Sony ect. They aren't available on amazon individually either (but they are as the four combined: Fairy Tales for Freya. )

These are the two books on GR:
The Woman of the Well
Crystalline

Do they now need to be removed from my books?

Thanks. :) Gina.

I think GR keeps also out-of-print books on record... so especially if you have reviews on the single titles, you should probably leave them (and maybe add a link to the single titles at the end of the collection's blurb?)...
but Experiment is our biggest expert! :-D

I'll wait for Experiment, but good idea about the link to the collection. :)

Barbara is right, GR forbids the removal of OOP books. It's best to think of GR as an archive because based on its archive-like rules that is what GR essentially is.

It's fine if you add a reader's advisory in the book's description saying how the book is OOP and how the reader can acquire the story in another book or collection or whatever. That's what the book description is there for. :)

Did my answer help?

Yes, absolutely! Will add it in the description today. (They are still in my collection, and also in my writing section.) Thanks, Experiment. :) Gina.

O.K I added this note in the description:

"Please note: this story is now OOP, however, it is included in 'Fairy Tales for Freya' and may be found in Georgina's Writing."

Is this suitable?

Not really. Very few readers know what OOP means. I only know what it means because a few of my friends are authors such as yourself. Moreover, the sentence is kinda roundabout it.

I went ahead and changed it to this to save you the trouble:

Reader's Advisory: This edition has been discontinued and republished in Fairy Tales for Freya.

I believe this way is more straightforward.

You've done it too! Thank you again, Experiment! :D Gina

How do you remove an unwanted review or rating from your page? The person says they will remove their review but not the rating and I want both of them removed.

We can't.

You still have a good average rating for your book though.

Personally I'm going to 'like' all reviews of my books, no matter what the rating. Readers are different, I think we have to accept that not everyone will like our work. Besides, a two star rating means 'it's o.k'.

Hey, I've had plenty of ones on Barnes and Noble for my fairy tales. All reviews and ratings are good. It means that people are reading our work (my take anyway). :)

I'm sure that Experiment will be able to answer your question for you though.

I just read the review in question, Justin. I think you're doing yourself a disservice by asking the reviewer to remove it (IMHO). She had some great things to say about your work too! That review would draw me in to read the book.

Justin wrote: "How do you remove an unwanted review or rating from your page? The person says they will remove their review but not the rating and I want both of them removed."

What Georgina say: we can't. No one can except the reviewer herself. Unless the reviewer post something incredibly offensive like a racial slur or a gore-y picture, then GoodReads will not do anything. No, saying a book is worth only to wipe one's bum does not reach to that height of offensiveness. Think bigotry and death threats.

Moreover, I would advise you to step back, take a deep breathe, and relax. Right now, the "Review removed at Author's request" is already troubling enough for readers to see on GoodReads.

Georgina wrote: "I just read the review in question, Justin. I think you're doing yourself a disservice by asking the reviewer to remove it (IMHO). She had some great things to say about your work too! That review ..."
You are very right, she did have some nice things to say about it but I personally took offense to it when she said she didn't like the style to which it was written, that's how I as a writer wrote the book and I put alot into it and for someone to not like the style just gets to me

I understand your reaction. I know for some authors, criticisms can seem personal. But knows that knows it's not personal (unless said criticism *directly* address you as a person).

That said, no writing style is immune from criticisms. It's one of those things that is very good to criticize about. Think back to high school when the teachers forced us to read books we didn't care for because it was written in a way that was beyond a teenage's comprehension and modernity. Like Shakespeare. There's a writing style I absolutely, positively do not care for.

I think we have to distance ourselves from our work, for our own sakes and for others. Writing style is distinctive and it's true it can be a love or hate thing. My take--a reader is always right in their own opinion. I loved 'Lord of the Flies', but I'm in a thread where others hate it. They aren't wrong, and nor am I.

And yes, Experiment, I totally agree about Shakespeare!

Also as a reviewer, I'd be mighty upset if the author told me to remove my review. I am super careful with indie writers. I do not read and review anything I couldn't give at least three stars to. But I don't feel it is professional to respond to reviews with anything else but a 'like' or a discreet thank you. Nor do I ever comment on people's currently reading status, of my own books! Creepy, authors stepping in on the reading process!

I'd be thanking her, leaving the review and 'liking' it. It would do you good, everyone knows that it's subjective. Your politeness would speak in your favour.

Please don't take this as a go at you, Justin! Nothing could be further from my mind. Just my thoughts, and clearly it is a well received book of poems, so you don't need to worry overly much :) Gina.

Justin, just as a lurker, can I say: I got curious, read that review, and it only has a postive effect on me. Because I like rhyme. She doesn't like rhyme in her poetry, but I certainly do.
This is so often the case with negative reviews: they object to (and draw attention to) aspects that others find an attraction.
Still, I know how you feel.

Exactly! In the back of your mind you're thinking, 'Yeah, she didn't get it, but maybe I will!'.

You should see the reviews for my fairy tales on Barnes and Noble. They are all over the place, lots of ones, some fours and fives (for the same stories), and some very amusing comments too. I've had a '19 pages deleted' and a '?' and a 'Is it the fotedt he loves or what.'. Yes, it took me a while to figure out what fotedt was too. :)

It's part of the course. I go with the Penguins of M's philosophy: "Just smile and wave, boys. Just smile and wave."

Thanks everyone and yeah I do kind of regret asking now but I'm still torn and I guess naturally Im gonna be for a while. I dont hate it cause its 2 stars or her honest opinion I just hate that she was so about the style and how its written, to me its like not liking Stephen King for writing Horror even though thats what to expect..yeah nobody likes how Shakespeare writes but you appreciate it for what it is even though you don't get it and I don't think she did even though there was good comments as well.

The last message she sent it was as if she was telling me I was not accepting of negativity and then just went on about how she stands by being honest..FINE..I wasn't saying she wasn't but it was like I was defending myself in the end and not the review so i didnt bother writing back..
I am accepting of negativity..just do it toward what was asked of you and not the person..sorry thats just how I feel

It is a hard one, isn't it? Sometimes the feedback is constructive, but writing style is subjective, no matter how you look at it. I certainly couldn't find anything constructive in the '19 pages deleted,' that I once received. Yeah, it did serve a useful purpose in making me feel like drinking several, stiff drinks in a row (which, I'll admit, I did) but not much else besides. Sometimes, being creative, and putting yourself out there, just sucks. It would be easier not to (and less expensive in terms of liquor bills) but, I suppose we are suckers for punishment :) Good luck with all! Gina.

Georgina wrote: "It is a hard one, isn't it? Sometimes the feedback is constructive, but writing style is subjective, no matter how you look at it. I certainly couldn't find anything constructive in the '19 pages d..."

She rips me on her blog and goes as far as talking about the conversations we had here in messages and then says I'm in the wrong about it all..ugh..I never wanted this and now it makes me look like a total arrogant prick who can't take critizism and it's not even like that at all..big misunderstanding idk..it's only one persons opinion but it just still sucks and adds onto the other bad stuff im already going through

Most authors (and editors and agents) agree that it's never a good idea to respond to a negative review in any manner -- you always wind up looking bad. However, here's an interesting alternative perspective:

Why Authors Should ALWAYS Respond To Negative Reviews:
http://shar.es/qoq54

That's a great (and very funny) blog, Chris. I have one review (not negative) that I'd love to respond to, on Amazon. I'd love to hear more of their feedback, as it concerns an excerpt from the book that I'm working on now. I could really benefit from that feedback! I'd like to have them as one of my Beta Readers. So if anyone knows who Avid Reader is, point them in my direction! :)

Since I'm currently down on my luck and given all we've talked about anyone wanna read and review my book? I promise you 100% if you dont love it I won't insist you take it down lol. In fact I will appreciate it more for whatever your review is because of the last one..haha. just a thought, i'll look for poetry lovers, maybe they'll appreciate it for what it is..a Masterpiece!(pun intended)

Have you called for review requests in the review folders? I bet you'd get plenty of takers. I'm snowed under at the moment with my own work and a BIG to-read list. :)