SPARREW Issue One
Welcome to the SPARREW Newsletter!
The newsletter for Self-Publishers, Authors, Readers, Reviewers, Editors and Writers!
Welcome to the very first issue of the newsletter! This newsletter is just for writers, book reviewers, self-publishers, editors and authors. So glad to have you on board!
It’s the end of January and what a month it has been! I wrote and self-published an ebook for the first time, got a new writing gig and started up this newsletter! When I sent out the final issue of my other newsletter, I didn’t think I’d ever get back into this ever again. But my publisher suggested sending one out again and since her suggestions are usually spot on, I decided to go through with it! After all, there’s lots of news to share this year. One other news being, we just got everything done for the new edition of 365 Tips for Writers, and I’m excited about its forthcoming release next month! Meanwhile, I have been gathering stories to include in the True Ghost Stories book (out next month as well!), as well as writing the nonfiction book about my journey recovering from alcoholism. The ghostwriting gigs are going well; despite the tons of research and study they require, they are still coming along smoothly. Finally, I just went back to freelance writing this month, and I’m excited to see if I have a better go at it this time around!
In this issue, you’ll get to meet author Ruth J. Burroughs, who has written novels such as Myth of the Malthians and Liminal Key (both amazing books, by the way!). Ruth has been an author and artist for a long time, and now she’s diving into writing a graphic novel for middle grade readers! Check out my interview with Ruth below.
You’ll also get to read an article written just for book reviewers. I am subscribed to a newsletter called Self-Publishing 101. In a recent issue, the author shared what to do when getting a bad review of your book. It made me think of being on the opposite side of that situation! I have reviewed over hundreds of books, and of course came across a few books which I didn’t really like. In situations where I MUST review the book, I developed a few strategies. You can read about them in the article below.
Meanwhile, check out my latest posts:
Dawn Colclasure’s Blog:
Dawn Reviews Books:
“Magicked to Another World: Liminal Key is a story of fantasy, folklore, magick, war andlove”
It Got Cut
I welcome submissions from subscribers!
Are you a booklover who wants to have your book blog featured?
Are you a writer with news?
Are you an author looking for reviewers of your latest book?
Are you a book reviewer whose review just went live?
Are you a self-publisher with a new release?
Are you an editor who wants to share your thoughts on editing, complete with a bio advertising your business?
Please feel free to submit any of these notes to me at DMCWriter@gmail.com for the next issue of the newsletter!
WRITER CORNER
Articles for Writers
“Want to Be a Writer? Get Your Training as a Wedding Planner”
"The Courage to Write: On the Radical Generosity of Letting Yourself Be Seen"
AUTHOR CORNER
New Releases!
Author J.S. Francusi has a new book out! If you love dinosaurs as much as I do, please check out Sofi and Strike Book One A Journey of a Thousand Stars here!
Forthcoming Book Releases
You loved the original 365 Tip for Writers. Now get ready for a NEW, REVISED and EXPANDED edition! A brand new edition of 365 Tips For Writers: Inspiration, Writing Prompts and Beat The Block Tips to Turbocharge Your Creativity by Dawn Colclasure will release in February 2022! You won’t want to miss this new edition – with new tips for writers, space to practice writing the suggested block-busters and a download link to a FREE ebook filled with even more goodies!
Author Interview
Interview with Ruth J Burroughs, writing as J. S. Francusi
1. When did you start writing?
I wrote my first science fiction in seventh grade, and it was about teens going back in time to the age of dinosaurs.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
My first book was a great struggle to finish. Creatively I was fine, but I just did not have the technical skills to finish it until I did NanoWriMo and finished it. It took 15 years to complete it while I worked full-time.
3. What can you tell me about your latest book?
Sofi is the first in a series of books where I am using my vision of the scenes I see in digital paintings.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
I’ve hired Mike Evan to market my work and Self Publishing Hero group’s methods. Getting the word out there and doing interviews.
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
I have ideas for stories all the time. This story started with drawings. I had no clue what I was doing or who my market was, but I had this idea I wanted to draw dinosaurs. I’ve studied and drawn them for a long time. I’m obsessed with them. But my dinosaur drawings were pretty lousy. It didn’t matter. I love drawing dinosaurs. I told myself to sit down and draw lousy pictures of dinosaurs because it didn’t matter how bad they were if it’s what you love to do. So I just drew and drew and drew.
6. What are you working on right now?
More dinosaur drawings. LOL! For Book 2 of Sofi and Strike.
7. Any advice for other authors?
It’s okay to be lousy, a lousy writer and artist. It’s okay if you’re not a “best-selling” author or haven’t got any titles sitting next to your favorite authors. Not every book or author will take their books to mid-list or top of the sales charts or get “discovered”. Don’t let that ruin your sense of self-worth and make you driven to become that at the cost of your happiness. Just relax and keep doing what you love for its own sake. Don’t let that ruin your sense of self-worth and make you driven to become that at the cost of your happiness. Just relax and keep doing what you love for its own sake. The sales or lack thereof are unimportant.
SELF-PUBLISHER CORNER
New Releases
I DID IT! I took the plunge into self-publishing an ebook through Kindle Unlimited, and it was a success! YAY!
Thank you to all of the amazing fellow writers and authors out there who have given me their support and encouragement to navigate these strange waters! I look forward to bringing out many more books under the KU plan!
Check out Self Care Suggestions Book by Dawn Colclasure, filled with 101 self-care routines spanning a variety of different types of self-care, plus helpful information on how to create your own self-care plan!
Grab a free copy through Kindle Unlimited here
Coming Soon!
If you love a good ghost story, especially the kind that are TRUE stories of paranormal activity, then don’t miss Dawn Colclasure’s forthcoming release in February: True Ghost Stories. Warning! Don’t read this book in the dark!
News in Self-Publishing
"Is Self-Publishing the Future of the Literary Landscape? Startup Founder LydaMclallen Thinks So"
"New Online Bookstore Creates Marketplace for Self-Published Authors Struggling toCompete on Amazon"
REVIEWER CORNER
What I'm Reviewing Now
The Bakery Murders: Challenge by Charlotte Holley (Book 2 in The Actor's Guild Paranormal Mystery series)
Other Book Reviews
"Reviewer Jack Evans Weighs in on Joy Lynn Goddard's Contemporary Women's Fiction"
Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel: ‘The things we most desire are not always what weneed’
"Book Review: The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid by Matt Wallace"
"BookReview: At the End of Everything by Marieke Nijkamp"
Calls for Reviews
I’d love to find reviewers for my latest release, The Self-Care Suggestions Book. Available only as an ebook. Contact me at DMCWriter@gmail.com if interested.
EDITOR CORNER
News in the World of Editing
"Marketing Your Editing Business"
"Copyediting Practices for Multiple Projects"
"Help, citations are killing me!"
READER CORNER
Book Blogs
Book News:
"Tom McCarthy Thinks the Wrong Kurt Vonnegut Book Is Famous"
"The Book That Turned Annie Leibovitz Into a Photographer"
"Gallup: Americans Surveyed Say They’re Reading Fewer Books"
New Books:
Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy–A Polyamory Memoir By Rachel Krantz
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
Olga Dies Dreaming: A Novel By Xochitl Gonzalez
The School for Good Mothers: A Novel By Jessamine Chan
To Paradise: A Novel By Hanya Yanagihara
Feature Article
How to Review a Book You Hated
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s being in a position where I MUST write a review for a book and it turns out that I didn’t like the book. I recently bought an ebook that I ended up not liking very much, mainly because the writing of the book was so bad that I just could not continue reading. There was actually one sentence in that book I struggled with; I read it several times but I could not understand what the author was trying to say. I ended up writing a negative review of the book saying it needed better editing. However, I was even more livid over the fact that I could not return the ebook for a refund. Why keep a book I can’t even read? Part of my review stemmed from that anger.
Even so, I came away from it remembering another time I was in that position. That time, however, I did not post my negative review. I took the high road instead, trashed the negative review, and wrote another review of the book that was a little more kind to that author. This is just one thing you can do when you’re in such a situation. Here a few other things to do when you have to write a review of a book you really didn’t care for.
Focus on what you did like. If there is anything in the book that you actually liked, focus your review on this instead. You can start your review by saying “This was an interesting book to read” instead of screaming “I HATED IT!” then write all about what you liked.
Keep your review short. You can write a review of a book you hated without saying anything negative. If you really feel the need to lash out about this book, do so on the privacy of your own computer then delete the file or hide it somewhere. Get all that yucky stuff out of your system first. Then write a short review along the lines of, “This was a unique reading experience for me. I was iffy about this book and it may not be for everyone.” If you have to meet a certain amount of words, then focus you review on who might enjoy reading he book or what the book reminds you of.
Forget it for a few days. If possible, try to step away from this dreadful book and focus on other things. Go about your normal routines, spend time with loved ones and do something you enjoy. When the time comes that you must write and turn in your review, don’t give the book a reread. Instead, think about your reading experience. Write what you thought about the book in a positive way, such as “reading this book was a great way to kill some time while I was waiting for a doctor appointment!” or mention your experience reading it by saying “I snuggled up with this book to read at night and it helped me have a more restful sleep.” After your irritation, anger and annoyance over the book fades, it will be easier to write the review without being so negative.
As a book reviewer, it’s hard to be “honest” about what we thought of a book when we really don’t want to share what we thought. However, in cases in which we absolutely must press on and read (then review) a book we hated, there is a way to get out of that mess without hurting anyone. A reviewer who writes a scathing review of an author’s book may end up being a reviewer most authors will want to avoid, so try your best to keep your review of a book you hated as non-judgmental and positive as possible.
Thanks for Reading! See you next month.
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