Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Yeah! Reviews On Amazon

Well, three book reviews anyway. That's a start.

Two years ago in June, I published 16 books on Create Space Publishing owned by Amazon. I started out to publish one book and found the process so easy I decided to publish all my books. My thought was that if I was going to promote one book I might as well promote all 16 at the same time. The books are different genre so I had a better chance of finding buyers. They are sold on Amazon which doesn't mean much for an unknown author unless I'm willing to work at getting some attention placed on my books.

Correct key search words help book buyers to come across a list of books to choose from with best sales at the top and mine at the bottom. However, I've noticed my Amish books are creeping up in the list Amish, because they sell. Buyers haven't left reviews, but I had the feeling they liked my books because the number of sales kept increasing for all three Amish books. So I asked people I knew that bought my books and buyers from ebay to give me reviews. I can't review my own books where buyers are allowed so at the bottom of each of my Amazon book pages is a list of community discussions. I started a new discussion so I could talk about each of my books and submitted all the reviews I had.

This month to my surprise, a buyer bought one of my Amish books (A Promise Is A Promise) and left a review. She liked the book but thought I was too descriptive. She advised I should watch the use of adjectives. First time I've had a semi negative review from anyone. I could have let that go, but I wanted this reviewer to have a good opinion of me as a writer. Besides that, I was thrilled by the fact someone had finally taken the time to leave a review so I responded back to her in the community discussion that I was glad to finally see someone review one of my books and thanked her. She softened her next response by saying the amount of adjectives I used wasn't going to stop her from buying another one of my books. She liked my Amish stories.

Her second response made me feel a better but I was wishing I had another review that could top that first one. I lucked out. Recently, I joined Book Marketing Network. I searched through the groups to seek information that would help me with marketing and found Charlie Courtland's post about doing free reviews. Charlie is author of Dandelions In The Garden. She hosts the site http://www.bitsybling.wordpress.com where she gives her review of each book she reads and rates them up to five stars. If you want an opinion on the books she reads, check out her site.

I emailed Charlie about doing a review of A Promise Is A Promise the first book in my Nurse Hal series. She replied she'd be glad to and I could send the book PDF, ebook or in print. I emailed back that I'd like to send her a book. She wondered about the cost, but I wanted her to see the book in the form I sold it complete with cover. Writing isn't everything. It helps to have an attractive package (cover).

Charlie told me she was a content, thematic, style and overall impression reviewer. She focuses on the positive and intended to include a few "flaws" because she wants each reader to decide if these are important or will dampen their reading experience. That statement, uncertain author that I am, made me somewhat nervous. I was trying to balance out a flawed review on Amazon and hoped for a new one that was more positive.

I asked for Charlie's review because she puts them on Amazon (which is what I needed) and Goodread which I joined some time back. Charlie must be a fast reader. She goes through many books and gives a review on Goodreads and her website. Here is Charlie's review for A Promise Is A Promise-Nurse Hal Among The Amish (ISBN 0982459505) which came back in a few days.

Gems: Growing up in the Mid West I loved the style and tone of the story and scenery. No purple prose or overly nostalgic descriptions, but rather a simple and honest portrayal of daily life. Each character is original and thoughtfully developed. I whole-heartedly enjoyed this Amish tale and believed the contrast between the Plain and English, but also how it is possible to live together with understand, honesty and acceptance. The story is not overtly religious but rather focuses on the complexities of relationships and because of this drew me into the Lapp family.

FLAWS: This is not truly a flaw because I loved how the author wrote the story, but if a reader is looking for more action or twist based on a typical 'mystery' experience, you may be slightly disappointed. The family secret isn't so surprising, nor is it terribly shocking, but from the point of view of the Amish it is understandably shameful. I see this as a story about living up to a person's word and good old fashion romance and values.

Bitsy's Rating: 4 out of five stars.

I responded with thanks for such a great review. Charlie's response was -

I really enjoyed the book. I missed the characters after I stopped reading. It was refreshing to read a different type of novel and I could relate since I grew up in farm county in Michigan. I realize I write with a Mid Western accent. I love the 'voice'. I like the authentic language because it gives depth and thematic power to the story and characters.

Charlie is a personable lady that is easy to correspond with. I've enjoyed our emails and a positive look at my work from someone that doesn't know me. My family and friends were complimentary from the start when they read my books. At first that was enough to keep me writing though not enough to keep me from worrying I might not be as good a writer as I was being told. When my books started selling on ebay, I needed to know if I was giving the buyers their money's worth. I had personal email contact with each customer so I asked for reviews. The positive reviews came back as well as buyers buying more of my books because they like my stories. Since I put my contact information in each book package, I've sold books through my email to these same customers. That makes me more profit when I don't have ebay's deduction tacked on. Now I get emails from buyers (dare I say fans) wanting me to hurry up and finish the next book. That's given me confidence that I'm doing all right as an author.

I started a new thread Two New Amish Books on Kindle to advertise. The discussion was picked up and carried on from there. Once people participate and the amount of discussions multiply a book advertising is lost several pages back quickly so has to be repeated to get attention from others. I didn't go back to advertise again. It looks like buyers have found me now. I checked the email box so when a new message is left in the discussion group the email is sent to me and I can keep track of what is going on. That tells me many Amazon buyers got my advertising mailed to them, too. Problem is getting inundated by Amazon emails, because the discussion groups are popular. I was just about to delete myself from the four discussions I've been following when someone wrote about a couple of web sites that list many mystery writers and their books. I'm going to check them out and let you know about that next week.

On MyEntre.Net.com I wrote in my blog about wanting reviews. A helpful comment was join http://www.librarything.com for a member giveaway of my books. I do belong to that website, but I wasn't familiar with the review process. I can give away a certain number of books to other members. People request to get them. The website determines which members get the books. Then the people who read the books have to give reviews.

I haven't tried Library Thing for reviews yet, but the next Amish book I publish, hopefully by the end of the year, I'll be ready for another round of reviews and this site will be my next option.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Another USPS Update

Here we go again. When I've complained to others about losing two packages, I've heard stories about people not pursuing the insurance claims that went unanswered when the Postal Service lost their package. That's why I started out to see how far I could get with my claim after a year of waiting to hear. Others might want to try to get their insurance claim settled, too, if I have any luck. If we pay the insurance fee and the fault of loss is the fault of the Postal Service, we have the right to be reimbursed.

The denials I've received have been easy to dispute because I kept my paperwork for over a year. If I hadn't I wouldn't have been able to pursue my claim, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get satisfaction. The Postal Service has the intention to wear me down until I quit and must have a long list of denials that they can throw at me yet.

I received two letters at once from the Postal Service Claims Department in St Louis. The first one was the $55 check, settlement from my insurance claim, that I refused and sent back. I was told to go ahead and cash the check. If I was to win my appeal the rest of my claim would be sent to me. I've got a year to cash that check so I'm not cashing it for awhile. I'm afraid doing so would make it look like I've accepted the Postal Service decision. This is one of the things I stated in my reply to Washington DC.

The second letter was a denial to send me any more money. Reason this time was their payment reflects the limit of insurance I purchased. I've lost count of how many copies of my insurance claim I've sent to the Claims department, but on the form it states that I paid $2.80 for the insurance on $135. I was told I was allowed to get back my postage and tracking fee so that is the $141. Now another employee has told me the Postal Service never refunds postage. I'd just be happy to see the $135 at this point, but a Postal employee did fill out the insurance form to show that I could claim postage and tracking fee.

How could I have not paid enough to cover the value of my package? When is the last time any of you have taken a package to the post office, asked to insure it and decided to pay a lower amount that wouldn't cover insurance on the package especially when the insurance fee is so cheap. That didn't happen. When I filed the insurance claim, a postal employee filled out the claim form for me and signed it. So the proof that I paid the right amount is down in black and white and still this latest denial says I didn't pay enough insurance fee. Post Offices have a rate sheet for insurance. In one office, it was a small sheet that was out of sight. In another I just visited, the insurance rate was on the wall above the counter. Tell me the St. Louis Claims department has a different rate sheet with higher fees, and see if I believe it.

I was given an address to write for my FINAL appeal and that was stressed so that I am to know that I am about to end my fight. I think it would be wise from now on if I need to appeal any other claim to write directly to this address and get it over with. Here it is if anyone needs it.

Vice President & Consumer Advocate
US Postal Service-Domestic Claims Appeals
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 10343
Washington, DC 20260-0343

The letter I received said I was to appeal focusing only the basis of the last claim denial about the insurance fee not being enough. I take it to mean I'm not to digress about any other correspondence with the St. Louis Claim Center. I went to the post office and asked to see the insurance rate. Turns out $100 - $200 is a fee of $2.75. I paid a nickel too much according to the chart. Also, the employee said that a machine determines the fee. I was charged what ever the machine said. That I didn't go in to. It was enough for me to see the rate sheet.

In my DC letter, I explained what the employee said and mentioned that I saw the fee chart so I know the fee to be accurate. Plus the fact that not paying enough to cover the value of the package didn't make sense. Going on the premise that there might be a reason why I wasn't suppose to bring up ALL my correspondence with St. Louis when I wrote Washington DC, I went into the history of how the first package was lost, then I insured the next one, thinking I'd be compensated if it was lost. I suggested if whoever reads my letter needs anymore information than what I've provided, the Claims Center in St. Louis has a file full of documentation from me that can be fax to Washington DC. I stated that if there had been a mistake in the rate charged me it would have been a postal employee's error not mine since I wouldn't have any idea what I was suppose to pay, but I'd have paid any amount I was asked and did.

The fact that Autria Finley from the Postal Claims Center kept apologizing to me at the end of her letter didn't matter. I had lost a valuable customer because of the 10 week delay in shipping a shipment of books. Since I should be considered a valuable customer, I again sent a customer site map and business card to prove I was a business and used the Postal Service all the time.

While I was at it I said I know the Claims Center is busy, but their PR is lacking. I waited patiently a year to hear from them about my claim. I wouldn't have heard if I had not wrote to ask the status. When I received the check there wasn't any explanation of why the amount was only a third of what I had coming. I had to write again. I suggested better communication with their customers would be a good thing. I've certainly been communicating with them.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Writers Helpful Sites & Vacation

I've signed up for newsletters at these sites and appreciate the information that is emailed to me.
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com
Writer's Relief
Writer's Digest - has a great article titled 10 Simple Steps to Handselling Your Book which explains how an unknown author gets the attention of buyers at a book signing so they buy her book.

Some of these sites list agents looking for clients, publishers, and magazines looking for stories. There are grammar lessons like when to use who or whom. Also, helpful tips about using the internet to sell your books.

Publetariat is a website that is filled with articles and blogs about how to publish your book, self publishing, and the publishing industry. I blog on that site and sometimes I wind up on the front page as a contributor.

Book Marketing Network is made up of groups looking to discuss many subjects about writing and publishing. You can advertise an upcoming book, book event or give other authors useful tips and read about their tips. There are blogs. One of them is mine.

Authonomy is a website you can put chapters of your book on and get reviews from other authors. In return you will be asked to read other authors works and send them a review. This is a competitive site where each contributor tries to get to the top of the heap so Harper Collins Publishers will look at their work. I enjoyed the site and loved the responses to my work but found the return reading time consuming. Agents watch this site. I know because I had one contact me after reading five chapters of each of my Amish books.

Now for the fun stuff. I've been gone on a vacation to Northern Arkansas to visit my husband's relatives. I went with my husband's sister. We had the most enjoyable time. The countryside from Iowa to Arkansas is so beautiful this time of year. We'd drive between rock ledges up to the top of a hill and look down at rolling, timbered hills, shrouded in blue mist and see the winding pavement twist through the valleys. The views were breath taking.

Northern Arkansas country roads are tree lined, narrow, natural rocked clay that twist and turn, seemingly going no where but up and down like a roller coaster ride. For someone used to perfect formed mile intersections with street signs, those roads are not to be traversed alone if you weren't born in that area. If you do, I suggest taking a survial kit. That way if you run out of gas, you can survive until you find your way out.

The sun was hot. The atmosphere was humid so thank goodness for air conditioning. We enjoyed the back yard view from inside, watching for deer from the relatives kitchen window. After we went to bed, in the cool dark of evening, we listened to whippoorwills call and mockingbirds mocking the crows. The dog, Zoe, waited until she was right under our bedroom window to protest the armadillos that came to root up the lawn under cover of darkness. Each time, Zoe disconcertingly startled us out of our drowsy doze.

My writing repetition preceded me to Arkansas. Uncle proudly introduced me as the niece that writes books. I'd get a nod and hear, "You're the one."

As usual I brought back some plant starts and clay for my mother-in-law and me. I saw old fashion climbing roses in pink and pale pink hidden in high grass in the corner of Aunt's yard. She offered to let me add some of her bright pink climbing rose on the trellis by the carport. I confess here that I got snip happy and came home with a couple twigs off her pink crepe myrtle while I was at it. I always like adding flowers to my outdoor heritage collection. When I give my flower tour if the roses and the crepe myrtle make it, I'll be able to say those belonged to Aunt Gladys.

My mother-in-law, the authority in all things green thumbed, told me roses can't be started without putting a ball of wet clay on the stem. Tear off the green leaves near the bottom, cover the stem with a clay ball for a ways up the stem and bury the stem in dirt in a pot. Put a jar over the plant and keep moist. The jar acts as a green house. If the plant is going to live, old leaves will fall off and new leaves will grow on the stem. Making a clay ball is harder than it sounds. First time, I added too much water to the clay and had to add more clay until I had the mud the right consistency. The wet clay stuck to my hands, the knife and scissors but wouldn't hang on the stem. I finally got the hang of it with some practice.

As usual I gave my mother-in-law some of the plant clippings with an ulterior motive. She has such a knack for growing plants I always think I can get another start from her if mine all die.

Arkansas gardens are about a month ahead of Iowa. We were treated to fried catfish and new potatoes from the garden. Strawberry shortcake was dessert. When we left Sunday morning, we took with us ham and cheese sandwiches and strawberry shortcake for lunch. A roadside park was right where we needed it at noon. It was time to get out of the van, stretch our legs and get a breath of fresh air while we enjoyed the picnic.

We left Iowa when it was raining and came back to rain. Looks like more rain all this week. Our hay is still waiting for three dry days in a row to be cut, dried and baled. We're waiting, too.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Postal Service Update AGAIN

I think I have the Postal Service Claims Center in St. Louis, Missouri figured out. When a insurance claim comes in for a package that is lost in the mail the Center ignores the claim. It's my understanding since this is the only Claims Center in the United States, the Center is swamped with insurance claims. So why not see how many claims the staff can ignore to see if people who file the claims will just forget about the whole thing. Perhaps in most cases that works.

If a person finally runs out of patience and a year later writes a letter to find out what is taking so long to get a response of some kind from the Claim Center, the response letter is a denial to pay the claim. The reasons are all the fault of the person who mailed the package for not having the right address or return address. A simple way to put an end to the claim the Claim Center thinks. Perhaps in most case that denial letter is the end of the matter.


Except if that was the case when I filled out the two different forms to hunt for my two lost boxes of books complete with pictures, the Dead Mail Centers had a chance to find what was left of the boxes. The books weren't sent back to me, but my return address and the addressee's address were on pieces of the boxes. The Postal Service knew my address and where the boxes were to be sent.

I guess I messed up the Center's system when I sent in a two page letter and seven pages of documentation on why their denial was wrong. So next part of the Center's strategy is give in to accepting responsibly for the loss and send a check. I got a check, but it was for a third of the amount. No letter of explanation for not sending the full amount was included. The person will accept any amount after so much time has past. Would this be the way I should think? After all, this has been on going since January 2009 when the first shipment of books was lost. In my latest letter to the Claims Center I wrote this has been a consuming effort on my part which has cost me in time, ink, paper, postage and mileage to the post office to mail my documentation.

Sending that check to me proved that the Postal Service now believes loosing my box of books was the Postal system's fault and not mine. The receipt attached to the check says for payment of package not delivered. So here is what I did. I copied the letter from the Claim Center with the claim number on it and attached the check to it after I copied the check so I had proof for the next phase of this saga if there is one. I sent a two page letter explaining I clearly realize and so do they that I was not at fault. I refused the check and attached it to a copy of the insurance claim. I said I expected to be paid the full amount for the claim which I added up - books amount, postage and tracking fee, to save the person reading the letter the trouble. The next page was another copy of the pictures of my books with ISBN numbers under them and this time the price of each book to show my loss. Attached to this sheet was one of my business cards that shows the address of my online book store, plus I mentioned Amazon, ebay and buy sell community where they could look to find my books so the Claims Center can quit questioning that I am a business.

I'd like to thank MyEntre.net's Rob Williams for giving me the next idea. I use the Postal Service to mail my books. I should be considered a valued customer by them. So I put in a customer site map for the U.S as proof. An X on each city in the states marks my customers. I update this map often in my bookstore online. My letter states this map shows all the mailing I do and some of those X's are for more than one customer and more than one order of books. I again detailed the facts for trying to mail a valued customer a shipment of books twice which didn't make it to the addressee until 10 weeks later (and only after the third shipment was delivered by UPS in 24 hours). This was bad for my business reputation. I was unhappy about the fact that since I haven't heard from that customer since I fear I lost future sales because of this mess.

Finally, I stated I didn't see why I should have to send anymore proof to support that I am a business that uses the Postal Service's business. I thought I should be reimbursed without delay and sent some assurance that this wouldn't happen to me again. I'd like to go back to insuring large shipments, but I won't until I know I don't have to go through this hassle again if they lose my shipment.

At the beginning of this problem in 2009, I sent an email on the Postal Service website to complain. A dead mail center in Georgia sent me pieces of my box, with stamps and addresses, attached to them was a letter from a bookstore in Missouri. An expensive textbook had been lost on it's way to Iowa City to the college. The book store wanted to find that book. One more unhappy customer to fuel my persistence. My answer was an emailed form to fill out asking me what I thought happened to my boxes. Was there a problem at my local post office? Could it have been vandalism? Certainly not I replied. This problem was happening in southern Missouri and I believed it to be employee carelessness. I felt the area should be investigated.

What that response got me was a call from my local post office. The worker said she was told to tell me she was sorry about this problem. If there was anything else she could do to help me I was to let her know. I felt sorry about that. In this small town, everyone knows almost everyone else. I know and like the people I deal with at the post office. No way did I want to get them in trouble, and that's what it felt like to me. I explained to her I made it very clear that the postal employees on my end do a good job. Now I'm waiting for a call again from my post office assuring me that my packages can be mailed insured without a problem with the Claims Center. Does this mean that I won't have a problem the next time the Postal Service loses my books? Will I get a check for the full amount from the Claim Center? To be continued.


Now to let you know what my latest order is from Amazon - a Computer ink cartridge












Tuesday, June 1, 2010

1950's Decoration Day Memories

Last week, we drove seven miles from where we live to the cemetery last. It didn't take long to put flowers on the graves and come back home, but the doing of it once a year always brings back memories about when I was a kid. Perhaps the reminders are due to the fact that my mother bought their stone with a vase on either end and gave me instructions to put red roses on Dad's side and any spring flowers on her side.

Decoration Day is now Memorial Day. The holiday started after the Civil War to remember fallen soldiers on both sides. It's still the day to pay amage to the brave military that give their lives to keep the rest of us free. My family didn't think of the day as the start of the summer holidays, because we seldom went far from home and never took vacations. That day was just what the name implied. A day to decorate the graves of family and friends which for my parents, my brother, John, and me was an all day process.

I think I've probably told you some of this before but here goes again. When I was a kid we lived on an 80 farm in southern Missouri. Times were economically tough for farmers. Mom and Dad were always trying to think of ways to supplement their income. They sold flower baskets to take to cemeteries. So several months before Decoration Day while we listened to The Lone Ranger and Cisco Kid on the radio in the evening, John and I put together pink, blue and white carnations from Puff tissues. That's when Puffs were perfumed. Mom put together various colors of crape paper roses. Help the roses last longer in the elements, Mom melted paraffin wax in a pan and dunked the roses to coat them. This was before plastic and then silk flowers. While we worked on flowers, Dad gathered sticks, dried them and constructed log cabin baskets in different sizes and wreaths. Mom did the flower arrangements. After all the customers had bought theirs, we were left with assortment of baskets left hanging from the nails on the back porch wall. If what was left wasn't enough, we made up more for our use.

Decoration day dawned sticky hot. John and I had baskets wedged between us in the seat and around our feet on floor of our 1935 Chevy. The red country roads to all the cemeteries consisted of natural rock and potholes. We didn't have to look at the rising red cloud behind our car to know the road was dusty. We watched the dust settle on everything in the car, because we had the windows cranked down. The car didn't have air.

Since we would be gone all day, Mom fixed a picnic lunch of bologna sandwiches, cookies, a jar of coffee for Dad and Mom and a jar of cool aide for my brother and me. The bologna was the good kind. The grocery store sliced the meat off a large roll in a red wrapper. We just needed enough food for lunch, because we had to be home in time for my parents to milk cows at night.

Some of the old cemeteries were not well care for so my parents spent a little time at each place, cleaning around the graves. John and I made a pass around the cemetery, looking at the old tombstones. Dad always cautioned us not to step on the graves. Out of respect sure, but since the wooden coffins deteriorated long ago, we might find ourselves sinking along with collapsing soil in the middle of the graves. Mom's worry was the poisonous snakes lurking in the shaggy grass - copperheads and timber rattlers. "Watch where you step," she admonished at each cemetery.

Each year, my brother and I were given a history lesson about relatives that died before we were born. We saw them through the eyes of our parents. We had to walk a quarter mile to get to Montevallo Cemetery. The timber lined path led down a steep embankment and through a shallow creek. Dad stopped the car. We waded the creek, stepping on rocks as much as possible, walked through a pasture to the cemetery gate where amid Confederate soldiers and bushwhackers my father's two grandfathers were laid to rest, both Union soldiers buried with wives and offspring. One grandfather was a farmer and the other a druggist back in the day when plants gathered from the timber were turned into potions and compounds. This civic minded grandfather was a justice of the peace and on the school board.

His son, my grandfather, was, on the other hand, a partier. He became a druggist after his schooling to become a doctor was cut short by the death of Great Grandfather at 54 in the 1800's. He took over the family drugstore from his mother who kept the business going until he came home. Grandpa only made it to 50. In all fairness, a hereditary heart condition was the cause of death but this fun loving, good natured man's life style may have hastened his demise. He didn't miss a town celebration and most towns had them in those days complete with parades and games. This was our musically talented Grandpa. He played the trumpet for a Woodsman band in the parades.

Not far down the road, we visited Mom's two baby sisters graves at Olive Branch Cemetery. One baby was stillborn in 1919. The other died from measles in 1929. In the early 1900's, Mom was born the oldest in a family of eleven in times when babies had a tough time surviving, and all but those two lived long lives.

In Virgil City Cemetery is the graves of Mom's great grandparents on her father's side She was sent to live with them when she was 16 and stayed two years to care for them. Great Grandma passed away, and Great Grandpa moved in with Mom's grandparents, ending Mom's responsibilities. Everyone took care of their elderly relatives in those days until they died. Mom remembered her Great Grandfather as a gentle soul. Great Grandma had the title Blind Grandma tacked on her for future generations to differentiate her from others. Grandma went blind when she stepped out of the outhouse one day you know which toped my list of why I preferred not to use outhouses as a kid.

Mom's grandmother was known as Indian Grandma within the family. This was not a matter for discussion with other people. Not even us kids. She was young when Grandpa Luther brought her home from Kansas. They became a well respected couple. Though people suspected Indian Grandma's lineage no one pried. This grandma I knew well. When we'd go visit her after Grandpa died, she'd come spend a couple days with us. Grandma slept with me. During the day, her salt and pepper braided hair crowned her head. Before she went to bed, she'd unbraid her hair and brush it.

About ten years ago and a couple years before she passed away, we took my mother back to Missouri. It was a going back in time trip as we traveled all those dusty roads again. We took plenty of flowers so Mom could decorate all the graves just like in the fifties. Mom enjoyed herself on that trip. After ten long years of taking care of my father who had Alzheimer's, she needed to go home and connect with the past which held pleasant memories for our whole family. Hopefully, this last journey home was a comfort to her after so many difficult years taking care of Dad. Also, she had the peace of mind that she taught her daughter well a life lesson years ago. Remember and honor those that came and went before you, because they had a hand in shaping who you are.

P.S. I want to let you know have set up an Amazon catalog to search for merchandise on my blog. I don't buy too much from Amazon, but will be willing to point out my purchases. More importantly for me as an author, this setup will just be a matter of pointing how how easy it is to link to and buy one of my books.