SPR | Self-Publishing Review

A Predator and A Psychopath by Jay Kerk

A visceral hard-boiled thriller, A Predator and A Psychopath is certainly not for the faint of heart, as the character at the heart of the novel is both terrifying and realistic. Jay Kerk vividly paints the mind of a psychopath with no moral compass and a tenuous hold on reality where you begin to see the world through his corrupt lens, which is a testament to the strength of Kerk’s writing. For fans of dark thrillers and crime fiction, this novel will not disappoint.

[…]

SPR2019-07-26T08:15:35+02:00July 26th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

My Memory Told Me a Secret by Jeremy C Bradley-Silverio Donato

An astounding work of contemporary fiction, My Memory Told Me a Secret focuses on issues core to LGBTQ identity, but also issues that affect every reader. Austin and Noah’s relationship is a heartfelt and sometimes harrowing account that will be relatable to anyone in a relationship, as each character and each moment is so well-drawn. Far from being a mere issue-laden novel, it touches on universal issues such as the devastation of illness, broken friendships, and how people tend to show or lose their humanity in times of crisis, written with great empathy and keen observation.

[…]

SPR2019-07-25T11:36:28+02:00July 25th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Embrace of the Shade by Amanda Muratoff & Kayla Mansur

Evocatively written, Embrace of the Shade is an extraordinarily strong intro to a new romantic fantasy series. The pull of the characters towards each other draws the reader into their lives with a similar intensity, with their secrets building suspense throughout. This is a novel where the authors have clearly put a lot of care into each element of the story’s creation. The characters, the world, and the magic are all thoroughly well-constructed, making Embrace of the Shade a classic fantasy story that will please devoted readers of fantasy, as well as romance.

[…]

SPR2019-07-24T10:50:11+02:00July 24th, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Writing a Book Through Ill Health

We all face a bout of sickness in our lifetime at some point. But what if this hits as we are writing a book?

“I was literally in the middle of a three-month sabbatical to write my book when I was diagnosed with Lupus. Plagued with fatigue and nausea, as well as insomnia, I had no idea how I was going to finish what I had started,” says Pam, a self-published author from London, UK. “And I had a deadline of less than two months. After that, I’d have to go back to work.”

Cathy had planned her time off […]

SPR2019-07-24T10:53:06+02:00July 22nd, 2019|Categories: Features|Tags: Writing Tips|

An Interview with Patrick Finegan: Author of Cooperative Lives

Patrick Finegan Patrick Finegan was born during the latter half of the Eisenhower Administration and graduated during the Carter and Reagan Administrations from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School and Graduate School of Business. He worked more than thirty years in law, corporate finance, management consulting and risk management. He has a wife and grown daughter and has lived in the New York metropolitan area his entire professional life – most of it in the same residential cooperative. Cooperative Lives is his first work of fiction.

Tell us about your book.

Cooperative Lives centers on two middle-aged, multi-racial Manhattan […]

SPR2019-07-19T10:26:55+02:00July 19th, 2019|Categories: Interviews|

Kindle Promotion Tips to Maximize Your Newsletter Marketing Campaign

The window for marketing is pretty small. Certainly, you should never give up on a book once it’s had its major marketing push, but Amazon only gives a 3-month window to end up in the Hot New Releases section, or to benefit from other ranking factors that fade over time the older a book gets. So it can make sense to put all your eggs in one basket and try to make a giant push all at once.

Think of movie marketing – there are a few weeks of heavy advertising leading up to a release, there’s an opening weekend, […]

SPR2020-02-21T04:34:42+02:00July 14th, 2019|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Book Promotion Articles, Newsletter Campaign|

McDowell by William H. Coles

Dr. Hiram McDowell is irascible, he’s arrogant, and he’s tough to love, except as a character, in William H. Coles’ riveting character portrait, McDowell.

A quintessential character who you love to hate, McDowell is indifferent to his wife (his third), his children, and his neighbors. He’s earned his pride as head of surgery in Denver, leading a foundation for the underprivileged in Nepal, and becoming a nominee for the U.S. President’s cabinet. However, with an almost superheroic degree of self-absorption, the novel challenges the reader to stick with a character who has so little to offer as a person.[…]

SPR2019-07-10T11:53:11+02:00July 10th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

20 Book Marketing Strategies for New and Experienced Authors

At SPR, we see a lot of books come our way, and we see some of the same mistakes being repeated over and over again. This is not just the case for a novice author, but for authors who have 10+ books out. Obviously, new authors should take heed most of all, so follow this book promotion checklist to make sure you’re doing everything you can – potentially for no cost at all.