By Susan Reichert,
Some people tell you not to ask your family to put reviews on Amazon…is that called a ringer? Frankly, if my Aunt Harriet told me she liked my book, that it was riveting and she couldn’t sleep for three nights after reading it, you bet I would ask her to put her review on there. Aunt or no aunt that is information people need to know about my book. She didn’t have to tell me anything after reading my book unless I asked, and then she could have said, “Yes, I did read it, it was good.” So obviously, she meant every word.
Being an author and listening to advice is like trying to decide which piece of ‘chocolate’ to choose out of that box of candy. When we receive advice, we want to evaluate it and determine if it is to our benefit or detriment. Also, look at each piece of advice on an individual basis pertaining to the situation.
So when family, friends or foes read your book, you can ask them what they thought. Just don’t be afraid of them rejecting your book or not liking something in general. Not everyone is going to jump up and down raving about your book. Who knows, there may have been things they really liked and raved over and yet still had some things they didn’t care for, and still this would make a good review. You see it gives the person reading it some valuable information that just make push them into buy that book, to see what that person was saying.
Be creative. You can do drawings for autographed books; you can name a character after them in your next book. Your readers who are fans will be happy to help spread the word about your book.