catebaum

About Cate Baum

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So far Cate Baum has created 396 blog entries.

Honey Harvest by Elissa Kerr

Honey Harvest by Elissa Kerr

In this exquisitely illustrated book written by Elissa Kerr, children will love to learn about beekeeping and making honey. The story, crafted in loose rhyme making it immediately memorable, is both educational and fascinating. The illustrations by Zoe Saunders are so charming and full of natural splendor that the story will give young children a real thrill, especially when we see the bees working in a fantastical hive, complete with goggles and honey jars. A wonderful journey into a fascinating and unusual hobby that will open avenues for exploration and imagination in any child who is lucky enough to discover […]

2022-02-15T09:16:04+02:00February 15th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

What’s Happening With Amazon’s Ranking Right Now?

There’s something going on with ranking on Amazon again, and there’s been lots of speculation this week without much real evidence being posted on various blogs for authors. So we’ve done some real-life tests on ranking, and here’s a set of live findings so far on real book promotions, offered without too much speculation.

FINDINGS JAN 17 2022 – FEB 06 2022

Real data conclusions from Amazon promotions run in this period of various genres.

The main finding, and not always applicable, is that there is a general lag in ranking of about 18 – 24 hours right now on […]

2023-09-27T10:54:50+02:00February 8th, 2022|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Poemas Do Jardim by Sonja N. Bohm

Poemas Do Jardim by Sonja N. Bohm

This bilingual collection of poems from Sonja N. Bohm conjures the exquisite peace and meditations of a Portuguese garden, the title in English meaning, “Poems From The Garden.” The poems are full of space and light, and even when Bohm enters a more despairing phase of the writing, there is still hope for spiritual healing. In short but intricate bursts of emotion, the poems capture the sense of movement through life and love, transformation through loss, as well as the experience of beauty. There is certainly a sense the poems are more sumptuous in Portuguese, but even if you cannot […]

2021-12-01T09:13:30+02:00December 1st, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Milieu by Jay Green

Milieu by Jay Green

Twenty-three socially weighted poems become one strong stance on what it means to be a young man in America today, and furthermore, what it means to be a Black man, in Jay Green’s emotive Milieu. This essential part of Green’s identity must be highlighted in the turbulent times in which we live, and his personal experience informs his work to a powerful degree.

In this sharply tuned collection, the poems are varied in form, mostly strong, and very rhythmic. The opening work, “Mortal Games,” channels Ralph Ellison’s work such as Invisible Man, as the rich tapestry of […]

2021-09-22T04:19:28+02:00September 21st, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Five Ways I Hate Your Dinkus

dinkusThe dinkus. You know, the three asterisks beloved of a certain kind of fiction writer to split the chapter into some kind of sub-chapter. The three asterisks that boldly chop a book into TV scenes, as if watching it on a screen, and… DINKUS! FADE TO BLACK!

Here’s why, as a book editor and reader, Cate Baum can’t stand this beloved flowery operator, and why you should stop using it so lavishly in your book.


1. Formatting your book is suddenly a massive pain

When I receive manuscripts to format into paperbacks or eBooks, I cannot do what I would […]

2021-08-26T04:12:41+02:00August 26th, 2021|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Mythbusting – The Truth About Paid Book Reviews in 2021

MYTHBUSTING 2021Authors worry relentlessly about ‘paying for reviews.’ What are the concerns, and are they founded? What are the differences between the services offered online? Cate Baum, resident Amazon mythbuster steps in to calm your concerns.

When should I pay for a book review?

MYTH: NEVER! OR YOU AND YOUR BOOK WILL BURN!!

TRUTH: You should pay for a professional book review when you need a respected opinion to use as copy for promotional purposes. This is exactly what any author, from Stephen King to JK Rowling does when they hire a publicist. You then own the copy and can use […]

2021-08-03T07:25:11+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Features|Tags: , , |

2021 – How To Get Amazon Reviews Without Breaking The Rules

There are various discussions about getting Verified Amazon reviews for your book, but there’s only one sure way that works.

While the humble mailing list has been touted in many corners of the publishing world, it still rules as the only definite way of selling your book and getting Verified reviews.

But not all mailing lists are equal.

Amazon Rules

While it seems easy enough to add friends and family to your mailing list, here’s what to bear in mind: Once they bought your book, you can’t keep touting them for business.

The second issue is that Amazon does not […]

2021-07-21T02:11:16+02:00July 20th, 2021|Categories: Features|Tags: , , |
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