The Importance of Reviews

Hard as it is to admit, reviews have great importance--not just on Amazon, but everywhere. Of course I'm speaking about good reviews. I've been fortunate enough to get mostly good reviews--but not nearly enough.

Does that mean not many people have read my books? I hope not.

I've never been a best seller, but I do have a loyal following. And though I do write for readers who say they are anxiously waiting for the next book, whether it be a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery (and yes, one is coming soon) or a Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel (the next one is written just waiting for my critique group to hear it all the way through), I also write because I love my characters and want to know what is going to happen to them next.

Since I am their creator, I have to write another book to find out.

Not having many reviews can work against the promotion for a book in a couple of ways--too few and readers wonder why more people didn't leave their opinions.

There are some promotion sites who won't let the author promote unless they have a certain number of reviews, and for one I investigated recently, the required number was twenty!

One of my friends is trying to get 50 reviews for her book and is actively recruiting readers to write one in many creative ways. And she is getting close to her goal.

I'm not sure I could approach the dilemma in quite that way, but it would be nice to see more reviews on my latest books:

Dangerous Impulses written as F. M. Meredith and Raging Water written as Marilyn Meredith.

And on Kindle for only .99 you can try out Deadly Feast.

And if your tastes run more to the horror vein, check out my YA Christian horror, Deeds of Darkness.




















 Hoping for more reviews, I am



Comments

Hi, Marilyn,

Reviews are important. Many readers look to see what's already been said about a book before they will consider buying it. In addition, librarians order books on the basis of reviews. It's not an ego thing with me nor do I care about fame or popularity. It's a matter of whether or not a book will sell.
Kevin R. Tipple said…
Are you looking for real "reviews" or the two sentence comments posted at Amazon? To me that is a crucial difference as the authors who push for 50 or some other magical number usually just wnat folks to post something positive whether or not they have read the book. I think readers are getting wise to such practices.

The librarians I know certainly know about the practice and discount those "reviews."
Jacqueline, I think reviews are important, and I don't care about fame either, but would like sales too. Actually, what's the point of writing if no one reads what you've written?

And Kevin, you are one of the best reviewers around, but aren't you swamped with books? I'll send you a copy of Dangerous Impulses if you'd like.
Kevin R. Tipple said…
Swamped is one word for it. Buried is another. lol

Still, feel free to send anything my way.
Anonymous said…
Recently I had a bad experience with a review on Barnes & Noble. Someone who had not read my book took it upon themselves to go in and leave no text comment, but only give me 4 stars "to make it look authentic". I had 5 stars all along and this immediately kicked it down to 4. I was not happy. Luckily, others who had read "We Are Different Now" went in and commented and kicked it right back up to 5 stars. I love comments, but only from those who have actually read my book.
I know that reviews are important because so many people base their decision on whether or not to buy a book on them.
I'm not one of those people. As a matter-of-fact, I've never read the reviews before ordering a book. Why? Because one man's garbage is another man's gold. Each of us has different tastes and I don't want to let someone else's opinion influence me one way or the other.
Marja said…
Marilyn, I'm embarrassed to say I have both books and just haven't had time to read them yet. I will do reviews on them as soon as I possibly can. I enjoy your writing and look forward to the books, but things keep slowing me down.
Marja

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