How to add your self-published eBook to Goodreads AND enable Kobo book reviews
For those of you who don’t already know, Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Their mission is to help people find and share books they love. Basically, they are making reading more social and it’s working! If you’re an author who sells your books through Kobo, you’ll know just how important Goodreads is. At the moment, only people with Goodreads accounts can leave a book review at Kobo. You have to sign-in to your Goodreads account, search for the book, add it to one of your bookshelves (read, to read, currently reading), give it a star rating and then, if you want, leave a personal review about the book. This review will then automatically show up on the book’s Kobo page.
For indie authors, reviews can make or break the success of a book. Most readers find new books through word of mouth or recommendations from a friend. The great thing about Goodreads is that your friends can share their reviews and recommendations with you, or you can visit their profile to see what books they’re reading or read (and enjoyed) in the past. BookRix is similar, we add books to our favorites and add our reviews to the book info pages – then our friends can see what we think about other books on the site. Leaving a book review on BookRix is easy because all the free eBooks are already available on the site, and the self-published eBooks have accessible shop links. However, more often than not, indie books won’t be found in the Goodreads search. If a reader can’t find your book to leave a review, then other Kobo readers won’t know if anyone likes or dislikes your book. Without a review to read, they might not buy your book.
The simple thing to do is add your book to the Goodreads library. To add your book manually, here is what you do. You can visit the Goodreads Home Page, then click on the Find and add books to your shelves button which will take you to the search page. Then simply click on the Manually Add a Book button on the top right. Next, you just need to input your book info.
Here’s what you need:
1. Title and author name (*If your book is part of a series, you should add “Part One” or “Part Two” to the end of the title to alert the reader.)
2. ISBN (If you don’t know this, you can find it on the Imprint page of your BookRix book, you can also usually find it on Amazon – if not, contact our support and we’ll help you.)
3. Publisher (BookRix GmbH & Co. KG)
4. Date published (Again, if you’re not sure of the exact date, you can find it on Amazon, or on the imprint page of your BookRix book.)
5. Number of pages (If your book is a short story, just leave this part blank.)
6. Format (In this case, you would always select eBook.)
7. Edition (You only enter information here if you have published more than one edition.)
8. Description or Blurb (Just copy and paste it!)
9. Edition Language
10. Cover image (This is so important – it’s on the top right hand side and allows you to upload a jpeg from your computer. Don’t skip this step or your book won’t have a cover and we all know how important that is for potential readers.)
There is one more thing that you should know about Goodreads – it was just bought by Amazon. That’s one more major reason why your eBook should be in their library. Just because you’re an indie author, doesn’t mean you should be left behind!
*Don’t forget to sign up for the Goodreads Author Program – then you’ll be able to create a personalized profile page and promote your books.
Free Writing Contest: Enter Your eBook to Win a Marketing Package
The BookRix Young Adult Contest: Be The Best (Seller) You Can Be
Writing is your talent, your skill, and your greatness! Unfortunately, being an Indie Author comes with a downside: The grueling task of self-marketing. It’s a big, book-filled world out there, and without marketing, readers won’t know about you or your work. It’s kinda hard to be a Best Seller when nobody knows about your book, so let’s get you noticed!
Entering this contest could ease some of the pressures of marketing because BookRix will help you get your eBook out there to the world. Yes, we’re cool like that!
PRIZES:
The top 2 winners in this “Be The Best (Seller)” contest will each receive a MARKETING PACKAGE for special book promotions, when their winning eBook is distributed via the BookRix Self-Publishing Service. This Marketing Package includes being featured on the BookRix website /blog/Twitter & Facebook fan pages/newsletter, external book reviews, possible blog tours and exposure on external sites with a possible feature in an eBook shop. A custom cover and editing service could also be thrown into the mix because, like we said, we are cool like that!
GUIDELINES:
* You can only submit ONE entry so make sure that it’s your best work
*Anyone can enter however your story should be written for YOUNG ADULTS (YA) which is typically 13-17.
* Your entry CANNOT BE A BOOK FOR SALE
*Your entry MUST HAVE A COVER
* Your entry should be a novelette, 7,000 – 17,000 words and be a complete story (beginning, middle and end)
OR
*Your entry should be PART ONE OF A SERIES with a minimum of 4,000 words
OR
*If you are an over achiever (which we love!), feel free to enter a novel length book.
CONTEST DATES:
Submit your story in the thread, between April 3, 2013 through June 27, 2013 11a.m. EST, 4 p.m. London Time/GMT in the BookRix Free Writing Contests Entry Thread.
VOTING:
* One winner will be chosen by the BookRix Team and another winner will be chosen by the BookRix writing community, in a separate voting thread, from June 28 through July 8, 2013 11a.m. EST.
* Only quality books will be chosen so make sure that your entry is 100% proofread for spelling, grammar, syntax, etc.
HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST:
Submit a link to your eBook in the contest entry thread, on or after April 3, 2013, in the group Writing Contests on BookRix.com.
BookRix is always looking for great books to have published and we are there to help you get the exposure you need to market your eBook to become a more successful author. This contest is designed to inspire great writing to give you the push that you need to get your best out there and for us to help you get it further.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
New Adult ebooks: The next big thing in Indie Publishing!
A new book category for YA lovers who want
their books to grow-up just like they have.
Easy by Tammara Webber - One of the first New Adult bestsellers
If you’ve grown up reading Young Adult books (YA) and you just can’t say goodbye to them, well, this is your ticket. Hold on to your youth for as long as you can. New Adult Fiction is the up-and-coming genre for eBooks – They still have the intense emotions and irrational behavior of YA Fiction, but with the serious responsibility, freedom, and romantic inclinations of an adult.
These are the coming-of-age books for people who have just discovered they’re no longer teenagers. The characters have moved away from home, maybe to go to University or to live on their own. They’re finally free of the ever watchful eyes of parents and guardians. Not only are they finding out what it means to be an adult, they are also learning how to handle so much freedom. They have complete control over their own decisions and can suddenly do whatever they want. This reminds me of the great quote: “With great power there must also come great responsibility.” (Fact of the day: You all probably heard that from Stan Lee (via Spiderman) but it actually originated from Voltaire.)
If you’re like me (and half the readers out there) you’re always going to love reading YA literature. However, you might also be starting to suspect that you’re getting too old for teen angst. New Adult literature is our saving grace. We can still read about young people falling in love, and watch the dramatic changes of a character who is gaining life experiences while leaving childhood behind, but we won’t be embarrassed to answer the simple question: What are you reading?
Check out USA Today’s Bestseller list – the Number One spot is currently being held by Jamie McGuire’s Walking Disaster. New Adult writer Carrie Butler says, “The e-book revolution pushed (New Adult) into the readers’ hands.” Readers were looking for books that bridged the gap between YA and Adult fiction. Of course, there is an element of sex in these books, but it isn’t the most important aspect, it’s more about self-discovery, the ups and downs of young love, and a happy-for-now-ending. It’s real and we want to read it.
While BookRix doesn’t yet have a genre for New Adult books, we’re suggesting that authors use it in their keywords. Discuss this new phenomena with our online community of writers, or search for free eBooks with New Adult content. Watch out, or you’ll be hooked! Not that being hooked would be a bad thing… You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t already ADDICTED TO READING.
Here are some great BookRix eBooks that could be marked as “New Adult” if it were an official category:
Evol by Jess Wygle
Heroes & Hearts by Noemi Betancourt
Heroes & Hearts: An eBook Review and $100+ Giveaway
Book for Review:
Heroes & Hearts
The Crystal Palace Chronicles Book One
by Noemi Betancourt
Genre: Fantasy Romance Adventure
Blurb: Isabel Kendra is no stranger to a life of struggle. When her father disappeared years ago she and her mother had to fend for themselves. Even now as a chef experiencing burn out on the job, she does what is necessary to pay her bills while dodging her mother’s attempts to find her a man. She is more than capable of taking care of herself and neither wants or needs some man to do it for her.
When Isabel comes home one day to find her house turned upside down she discovers her life is about to follow suit in this tale of swords and sorcery, love and prejudice. Prince Alaric is dashing, handsome and brave, everything a prince should be. He is also no stranger to the female form, yet when he meets the bold and vivacious Isabel, rather than be put off by her lack of docility he finds himself drawn to her allure in a way that he simply cannot understand.
Together the two must thwart the evil forces that threaten their lives and their worlds, while struggling against their own blistering attraction for each other. Can Isabel balance her aversion to the prince’s habit of coming to her rescue with the realization that sometimes it is all right to accept help from a man? And can Alaric handle himself around a damsel who gets herself out of her own distress and learn to be simply the man who loves her?
My Review: It had been a long time since I’d read a good Romance novel. I went through a phase in high school where I would stay up really late reading Romance novels, only to be too tired to wake up for my first class the next morning. The great thing about being involved with indie blog tours is that I’m exposed to so many different genres and so many talented new writers.
Initially, the cover of Heroes & Hearts is what drew me in. It reminds me of two things: (1) A Romance novel (duh…) and (2) A video game. Well, I thought to myself, I like both of those things, so I better get reading!
Heroes & Hearts is about Isabel, a strong female character (hooray for female role models!) who grew up with her single mother always pestering her to settle down with some man or another. Isabel is having none of it, and tells her mother that she’s happy with how things are. She doesn’t need a man to be happy. At this point, of course, all the readers are thinking (or hoping if you’re more sentimental) that she just hasn’t met the right one yet. And, you’re right!
Suddenly, Isabel is sent to another dimension where she finds out that she is heir to a country called Kendra. Her father is the Duke of Kendra, who left them when she was just a young girl, and turns out to be a coward who also turned his back on his people – allowing them to be captured by an evil Sorceress and her minions. Now the story starts to get interesting!
The reader is introduced to Prince Alaric, devastatingly handsome, brave, and of course a knight in shining armor. Isabel is immediately attracted to him, but keeps him at arms reach because of his bachelor ways and her inability to accept the help of a man. This is something that always gets me in Romance novels – the women are strong, but never strong enough to resist the overpowering instinct to fall in love.
Well, now I’m off track. Isabel and Alaric are sent to find the illusive “Silver Fleet” – a convoy of flying ships powered by magic that hold the strength of an army. They need the fleet to fight against the army of dead being led by the Lord of the Underworld. And Isabel needs to rescue her little brother from the wicked Sorceress. I love how in depth the fantasy realm becomes. There are manticores, dragons, warriors, oracles and Eagle Lords, and Isabel is put to the test against each one. There is sorcery and sword fights, magic and mayhem, and of course, love. The love scenes are filled with electricity and passion, enough that you’ll probably want to read them again.
Okay, I’m not going to say any more, so that you can enjoy it for yourself. I got a sneak peak at the second part of the series Descendants of Quendaris: The Crystal Palace Chronicles Book Two and it’s even better than Heroes & Hearts – There’s more action, more passion and the fantasy realm becomes so much more in depth. If you want to find out more, visit Noemi Betancourt’s BookRix Profile Page, or stop in at her personal BLOG. Be sure to follow the blog tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaways. Click HERE to see the schedule.
*FYI – There’s a rumor flying around that the author has already started writing Book Three of the series…
AND now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for – THE GIVEAWAY!
At the end of the tour, BookRix will be giving away a $100 Amazon gift card, a BookRix Sampler Pack (several great eBooks published by BookRix members), a copy of the newly released Descendants of Quendaris, and also some great swag (as pictured below). All the prizes go to ONE winner – You know you want it, so sign-up for the giveaway for your chance to win!
BookRix will also be doing a cover reveal for Descendants of Quendaris when we announce the Giveaway winner!
BUY LINKS: Amazon Kobo iTunes BookRix Goodreads
There's a t-shirt, a bookmark and a magnet!
BookRix Book Blog Tour #2: Heroes and Hearts
Follow The Crystal Palace Chronicles Part One: Heroes and Hearts as it goes on tour.
Each stop will share one or more of the following: A review, an interview, a giveaway, a guest post or a PROMO.
The Virtual Book Tour is on NOW!
April 8 – May 3
The Crystal Palace Chronicles Part Two: The Descendants of Quendaris is set to release on May 3rd, so now is your chance to get caught up on the story!
Over $300 in giveaway prizes!
Heroes and Hearts a Romance/Fantasy Adventure by Noemi Betancourt
Isabel Kendra is no stranger to a life of struggle. When her father disappeared years ago she and her mother had to fend for themselves. Even now as a chef experiencing burn out on the job, she does what is necessary to pay her bills while dodging her mother’s attempts to find her a man. She is more than capable of taking care of herself and neither wants or needs some man to do it for her.
When Isabel comes home one day to find her house turned upside down she discovers her life is about to follow suit in this tale of swords and sorcery, love and prejudice. Prince Alaric is dashing, handsome and brave, everything a prince should be. He is also no stranger to the female form, yet when he meets the bold and vivacious Isabel, rather than be put off by her lack of docility he finds himself drawn to her allure in a way that he simply cannot understand.
Together the two must thwart the evil forces that threaten their lives and their worlds, while struggling against their own blistering attraction for each other. Can Isabel balance her aversion to the prince’s habit of coming to her rescue with the realization that sometimes it is all right to accept help from a man? And can Alaric handle himself around a damsel who gets herself out of her own distress and learn to be simply the man who loves her?
April 8 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
April 9 – Bunny’s Reviews – Guest Post/Giveaway/PROMO
$10 Amazon Gift Card + eBook – Leave a comment to participate.
April 10 – The Book Faery Reviews – Guest Post/Giveaway/PROMO
$10 Amazon Gift Card + eBook – Available until the end of April.
April 11 – Book Marks the Spot – Giveaway/PROMO
$10 Amazon Gift Card + eBook – Leave a comment to participate.
April 12 – My Pathway to Books – Review
April 13 – Must Read Faster – Guest Post/PROMO
April 14 – Noemi Bentancourt’s Author Blog – Guest Post – An Exclusive Interview
April 15 – BookRix – Review/Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card + Heroes and Hearts swag + BookRix Sampler Pack – ON NOW!
April 16 – My Reading Addiction – Review
April 17 – The Between – Review
April 18 – Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – PROMO
April 19 – Author Ever Leigh – Review
April 20 – Texas Book Nook – Review
April 22 – Feed My Need, For a Good Read – PROMO
April 23 – The Avid Reader – PROMO/Giveaway
$10 Amazon Gift Card + eBook at the author’s website: Noemi Betancourt
April 25 – My Cozie Corner – Review
April 26 – Words I Write Crazy – Review/Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card + eBook
April 27 – Magnolia Blossom Review – Review/Interview/Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card + eBook
April 28 – Inside BJ’s Head – Review/Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card + eBook
April 29 – The Serial Reader – Review/Interview
April 30 – pending
May 1 – Book Maven – Review
May 2 – Faerie Tale Books – Review/Giveaway/Guest Post
$25 Amazon Gift Card + eBook
May 3 – RABT Reviews – Review
May 6 – Announce the BookRix big giveaway winner!
If you’re interested in participating in a BookRix blog tour or just want to learn more, please leave your name and email, along with a brief message, in the comment area below.
Special thanks to Reading Addiction Blog Tours for all their help.
6 Tips for Overcoming Writers Block
Don't let writers block get the best of you
Awhile back you decided to write a book. So you created an outline, focused on character development and toyed with the plot. You made some writing headway, but somewhere between Chapter 4 and Chapter 7 you lost your way. Don’t beat yourself up. Being plagued by writers block is relatively common and it can be difficult to get back on your creative track. Here are some tips to help get your head back in the writing game.
Messy workspace, messy mind
Having a buildup of clutter surrounding your writing area can be more detrimental than you might think. Take a look at the area you write in and make an effort to clean up shop. Some simple organization can have a huge impact on your thought process
Manage Your Time Effectively
We’ve all got things to do. Pay bills, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. That’s life. But the same way you carve out time to eat and make your appointments, you need to make time for your writing. Commit to a time each day and stick to it. Treat it with the same seriousness as a job.
Go Offline
Laptops can be a blessing and a curse. They’re portable, sleek, and far more effective than typewriters. But let’s face it, when you’ve got writers block, the internet is the biggest distraction of all time. Whether you’re checking your email, ordering new ink cartridges (they’re on sale!) or reading CNN headlines, you can veer off track without even realizing it. Prevent the issue before it starts and turn your wifi off during writing hours.
Writing Exercises and Brainstorming
Writers block can make you feel like you’re trapped in a box. So step outside of it completely and work on a writing exercise. Not sure what to write about? Try some of these.
Work Out of Order
When taking a timed test in school, chances are you skipped the questions you had difficulty with in order to answer the ones you knew. So try applying this tactic with your writing. Skip ahead to a section you’re excited to write about and then circle back. It helps clear your head and also keeps you focused on your story.
Mental Clarity
Sometimes the best way to achieve mental clarity is to step away from your desk and get some fresh air. We’re not saying you should spend the day at the beach, but a 30 minute walk or bike ride can certainly clear the mind.
