You're invited to attend A Christmas Affair to Remember beginning December 17th...

You’re invited to attend a Christmas Affair to remember…


Come join me, Mary Eason and some of your favorite authors from a variety of genres and publishing houses as we count down to Christmas Eve over on my yahoo site:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MaryEasonFunandGames

Beginning Monday, December 17th and running through Christmas Eve, December 24th we will be counting down the days to Christmas in a most special way.

So, please stop by on Monday, December 17th and join me in welcoming Roberta Isleib who writes for Berkley Prime Crime as she kicks the party off.
Then be sure to catch each of the following authors on their day to see what fun and games they have in store for us.

18 – Cindy Spencer Pape – Cerridwen Press, Ellora’s Cave, Wild Rose Press
19 -- Renee Knowles – Siren Publishing
20 -- Marly Mathews – Wild Rose Press, New Concepts Publishing
21 - Kat Mancos – Samhain Publishing, Red Sage
22 -- Pam Champagne – Samhain Publishing, Wild Rose Press
23 -- Larissa Ione – Samhain Publishing, Bantam Dell, Red Sage

24 – And be sure to drop by on Christmas Eve as we wrap things up in a spectacular way by hosting a scavenger hunt!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MaryEasonFunandGames

Wishing everyone lots of love this Christmas!

Reviews...Love um, hate um, is there really such a thing as a bad review?

Book reviews—love them or hate them, they are part of a writing career. Stephanie Giancola tells you how you can tip the odds in favor of getting your book reviewed, but, she cautions, no one can guarantee a great review.

If you are a published author,then chances are you have gotten a review at one time or another. And if you've been around for any time at all, the odds are you've gotten a less than favorable review from someone.

As much as it pains me to say, I've received my fair share of them. I don't think it matters how seasoned you are or how much you prepare for them, they still sting.

Although this was not a scientific poll, it is a quick snap-shot of what some readers are thinking. I got 100 responses from readers to the following questions. Here’s my summary of the results: Do you read book reviews? • 48% said yes What do you look for in a book review? • 47% said the story description. • 22% said the rating analysis. • 12% said snappy writing. • 2% said the rating. How influential are book reviews on your purchase of a book? • 44% said somewhat • 12% said hardly • 8% said not at all • 5% said very If a book had the lowest rating possible, how likely would you be to buy it? • 28% said hardly likely • 25% said no effect • 12% said somewhat likely • 12% said not at all likely • 4% said very likely.

So, I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do book reviews matter to you as a reader?

Al the best...

Mary Eason