Gambling On The Unknown and Galactic Breeders

When buying a book by an author I know and love the purchase comes easy. Usually, like most people, I'm excited about the release and salivating for my chance to sit down and read it. Gambling on an unknown author is much more difficult to do. There is a chance the book may suck and I personally NEVER ask for a refund. EVER. 

There is actually a petition you can sign stating e-book publishers like Amazon shouldn't be allowed to give a refund after a person has owned the e-book for seven days. So, if you purchased by accident you have seven days to make sure it's returned. 

I think this is extremely reasonable, but I tend to side with the authors. I love to read. I want them to make money so that they keep writing and I can keep reading. (If you agree please sign the petition that will be waiting for you at the bottom of the post.)

 I will admit that I have my go-to authors and I am subject to hype. I'll check out books that are extremely popular and or getting a lot of buzz. Quite often I read the hype books and end up just not that into them.

Years ago I branched out and started buying more and more of the unknown authors. Even before I started mainly buying e-books I had begun reading lesser known and indie or self published authors.

I remember digging through the clearance bin at Books-A-Million and finding Catherine Spangler's Sheilder for a dollar. This is a sci-fi romance that kicks off her Shielder series, a series that I couldn't get enough of. These are bodice ripping sci-fis that are a blast to read. I had to search high and low in order to obtain them all but it was worth the hunt. 

Those books stay in my 'In Case of Apocalypse' chest, so that I may take them with me into the wild to read again and again, harpooning anyone who tries to steal them with my (what I assume will be) homemade spear.

Catherine Spangler's newer books can be found in e-book but I really wish she would upload her Shielder series. That remains one of my all time favorite sci-fi romance series.

Now I read unknowns almost exclusively and I've found some of my favorite sci-fi romance and sci-fi erotic authors this way. Let's face it, sci-fi romance, and erotic sci-fi haven't exactly ever been main stream. I don't think sci-fi in general has ever been main stream. 

Good news is girl geeks are on the rise and so are the number of rocking sci-fi romances and erotica.

Everyone knows I adore Tracy St. John, if you're new to me, I adore Tracy St. John. I'm in love with her alien series Clans of Kalquor. I'm pretty serious about it. I have fan t-shirts and shit. I love other books and series but I have an emotional attachment to everything Kalquor.

I stumbled upon her quite by chance and it was her controversial reviews that attracted me to trying her books. She is known for her boundary pushing sex scenes. Her last book Alien Refuge, is quite tame and has a very romantic tone, which is controversial in it's own right.

Normally romance doesn't have three heroes and butt sex. (it really should though)

Tracy rocked the romance, and it totally fit this particular story. Although completely unexpected it was a great book. The fans that have been pushing for more gentle consideration from the Kalquorians, were ecstatic and it shows in the reviews.  

I loved Alien Refuge, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be a little heart broken if that was the direction she were going for the rest of her series. I know she has warned us FoKs that Sister Katherine's book is going to be tame but, that's just two out of many. I doubt she would go tame for all the books she has planned...She wouldn't, right?

Just in case, Tracy, my naughty files are always open for your perusal. I would be happy to send you daily pornspiration. I have a tastefully graphic collection. 

I'm at your service. Just let me know.

Another sci-fi lady I'd like to mention is Kiersten Fay. A few months ago I grabbed up a freebie on Amazon by Kiersten Fay named Demon Possession (book one Shadow Quest). I almost didn't get it. I'm not a paranormal fantasy girl and with a title like Demon Possession what else was I to think?

Color me surprised when I discovered it's a sci-fi romance. There are paranormal fantasy elements but not even close to the amount other sci-fi romance and erotic writers are sneaking in these days.

Her Shadow Quest series is a can't miss for sci-fi romance readers. And they are 120% romance.

Goodreads (I'm not a fan) have these under a few categories including erotic. FYI, If I bought these thinking they were erotic books I would be a little pissed. I think Goodreads needs to look up the definition of erotic. Her next book, the fourth and I believe the last in the series, Demon Untamed is something I look forward to.

Kiersten Fay describes herself as a paranormal romance writer with a little sci-fi thrown in. I beg to differ. Maybe she's trying to appeal to a bigger reading audience. She does seem to have quite a few paranormal reviewers that claim to have enjoyed her 'sci-fi'. Maybe she's in denial. Either way, these are excellent books.

* * * *

The book I really want to talk about, Kaden's Breeder (Book One Galactic Breeders) by Emma Paul, can not be confused for anything other than an unknown sci-fi erotica. I'm super excited about this book and eagerly anticipate the next book in the series. I hope it's as good as the first.

Before I talk about this book let me say, I've had readers ED for about two weeks now. I've just not been in the mood to read. Everything I do read I've been pissy about, mental ripping these books to shreds in my mind.

I honestly went into this book with a few prejudices and I was prepared not to like it. Emma Paul's other books are paranormal and fantasy. Although this is the first book in a sci-fi series it's her only sci-fi. I expected it to be a menagerie of paranormal fantasy dressed up as a sci-fi at best. I couldn't have been more wrong. 

You may be wondering why I bought this book feeling this way.

Well, the heroine is abducted by aliens and I'm seriously a sucker for Stockholm Syndrome love stories. Plus the one and only review she has for this book is five stars and says some stuff about dreadlocks that is right up my alley. I was intrigued.

Picture him, super tall, super built and skin the color of his eyes. Oh yeah, and those dreadlocks are actually silky smooth tentacles about a pencil width round. Kaden.

I sat down to read this book and barely came up for air. I read it so quickly and enjoyed it so thoroughly I wasn't sure if I had imagined how good it was so I read it again. Yep, this book rocked my socks off.

Kaden's Breeder (Book One Galactic Breeders) By Emma Paul

Carina is lying in bed in her condo when a humming followed by a scanning red light flashes outside her bedroom window. All of a sudden she's being pulled into a ship.

The Mantra, big multi legged strange bug like aliens, are collecting breeders for their Tri Galaxy area. Breeders are optimally fertile humanoid women that are capable of interbreeding with other species. They are collected from planets in the Galactic Governing Council.

Earth isn't in a solar system even close to a galaxy in the Galactic Governing Council, so it's very unexpected when Carina finds herself on board a ship being prepared as a breeder. It's even more disconcerting when she finds herself on a strange planet called Yor, running from a hundred horny men of questionable species, participating in the Mating Hunt.

Kaden is a Dreg, a species made completely of men that depend on breeders for the survival of their race. He has been waiting to participate in the Mating Hunt for twelve long years. As soon as he sees Carina, he knows she is the one. Unfortunately as soon as he tracks her down he finds out that the Mantra have made a mistake. 

She wasn't meant to be delivered to Yor. She was abducted illegally to be used for nefarious alien reasons worthy of a freaky sci-fi movie featuring Sigourney Weaver.

The Trellian slavers, the Grubs and the Mantras are all after her. Carina doesn't know any of this. All she knows is that she's been labeled a breeder, mated to a greenish hunk of a sexy man with hair that seems to have it's own muscular structure, and she's way more okay with her situation than she should be.

While she's mentally warring with her predicament, and having deliciously wicked sex with her alien Kaden, he's fighting a war of his own trying to find a way to keep his breeder.

That's the quick run down, but there is so much more to this book that I don't want to get into and ruin for the reader.

 Kaden's Breeder is a fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat in all the places it was supposed to. The plot is well done and doesn't once taper off. This is a smoking hot read but not a BDSM.

On Amazon in the description it says 'a BDSM twist'. I finished the book before realizing there isn't even a hint of BDSM anywhere in this book. So, just an FYI. I loved it just the way it was, but no BDSM.

I will say there are a few typos that can be forgiven in lieu of such a great story. I only mention them because there are some very noticeable ones in the first chapter sample I downloaded and that could reader block the less tolerant reader. They shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying this book.

Emma Paul brings to life a well thought out alternate universe. I was completely drawn in and could clearly see all the different alien races, strange vegetation and existence on Yor. I'm glad I took a gamble on the unknown, typos and all. Kaden's Breeder was a marvelous find. 

This book is 159 pages

Warning: This book contains graphic sex with the use of alien attributes and the depiction of m/m sex that does not involve the hero. <----p.s. That little bit of m/m was hot. Wouldn't mind seeing more of that with a future hero. Just saying. ; )

I loved all the characters and I'm really looking forward to Corbin's Captive (Book Two Galactic Breeder).

Thank You Emma Paul!

You can find more on Emma Paul @ www.emmapaulwrites.blogspot.com

Kiersten Fay @ www.kierstenfay.com

Tracy St. John @ www.tracystjohn.blogspot.com

Catherine Spangler@ www.catherinespangler.com

DONT FORGET THE PETITION!!!
http://www.change.org/petitions/amazon-kindle-e-book-return-policy-stop-allowing-refunds-on-e-books-after-e-books-have-been-read?utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

I'm a Writer Not an Editor

In 2007-2008 The Kelsey Group, Word of Mouth Marketing Association, Forrester Research and comSore, discovered rating and reviews really did make a difference in what consumers were consuming.

After this big name stores started using their customer reviews in advertisements and every consumer with an opinion took notice.

From restaurants to furniture stores you can find a review about them online. The site with the most consumer reviews? Amazon. The product most reviewed? Books.

A Million Random Digits by RAND Corporation a book about how RAND came up with their technology and made money had 377 reviews with 1,983 of 2,056 finding the top review helpful. That particular review was about the book, but most of that book's reviews were about e-copy editing issues.

One of the most read and reviewed books on Amazon is George R.R. Martin's Game Of Thrones getting a whopping 3,284 reviews with 4,476 of 4,688 finding the top review helpful. The second most rated review for this book was all about, you guessed it, editing, with 1,986 of 2,117 finding it helpful.

If you're familiar with Amazon and their reviews you know when a person takes the time to sign in and click the 'YES, I found this helpful' button under a book review, it's because they have already bought it and they strongly agree or disagree. That's a lot of people very upset about editing. Why all the mistakes?

Times are changing but it seems like e-book publishing is just now starting to make changes. The authors that are self publishing don't have the money to pay an editor let alone a sub-editor. Having a fancy publisher and editor doesn't always guarantee perfection.

The way a book is uploaded and formatted in e-lit is completely different than paper. More than that the programs used to upload the author's copies are just now getting an upgrade.

Really? 

Yep, the programs used in e-lit upload are vastly outdated. Mistakes are made then first drafts are recognized and scanned by flawed programs instead of the appropriate copy. The correct draft can be uploaded but then the scanning program changes the book's format.

I've seen every kind of e-lit snafu out there and as an avid reader some are more annoying than others.

I just read The Ivy League by Ruby Parker. The story itself reeled me in and kept me hooked (even though it didn't sizzle my panties). What threw me off a little was how many times the main character Sara became Sarah with an H, for a paragraph or two. When Sara went from having coal black hair to having soft blond at the end of Chapter Twelve I knew something was up.

I'm horrible at editing my own work. I can reread my own writing twenty times and miss a simple mistake twenty times. A character detail change is pretty obvious. So was the first draft uploaded instead of the final copy or was that the 'edited copy'. Regardless of the flaws I enjoyed the book but I know I'm the exception not the rule.

I recently read a reader blog post, Why Some Indie Authors Fail by Rich Adin 'The Digital Reader'. He starts off things nicely with how Indie writers need a better notification system to when their new books are coming out. Then the article takes a dive sighting Indie writers who don't have editors and use poor grammar are plain disrespectful to readers.

I've never felt any personal insult when reading a poorly edited book, but from the comments on this guy's page and other reviewer sites, many readers do in fact take personal umbrage from the slightest grammatical error.

The grammatical errors are hurting my soul.

Do grammatical and formatting mistakes drive you nuts? You may suffer from a not so very serious condition called Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome or GPS. This is a form of OCD that causes a person to not be able to over look bad grammar or grammatical errors. I shit you not. This is a real form of OCD and could be keeping you from enjoying a good book.

So ask yourself:

- Are you able to read and enjoy anything not properly edited or formatted?

- Do you lose all sense of enjoyment and respect for an article at the first misplaced comma?

- Do you correct friends and strangers, verbally or mentally when they use who instead of whom?

- Are you even now editing this post?

If you've answered yes to any or all of the above questions you may have GPS and this may be affecting how you see the world. If you are an editor or an English teacher, well done, you have found a way to get paid for something you compulsively do anyways.

I empathize, for some of you grammatical errors actually make your skin crawl.

My girlfriend recently lamented her hate of exclamation points in narratives. She became quite heated about this. Just the thought of those pesky exclamation points were pissing her off. I've never noticed an exclamation point in a narrative. I had no idea what she was talking about mainly because like so many on the other side, I'm an error maker. I make it rain typos. I type words backwards, I use affect when I should have used effect, lay when it should have been lie, and I am a recovering comma abuser.

Quite honestly, I would probably put an exclamation point in a narrative. I'm not sure how half my friends have kept up a texting/email relationship with me. For all of my GPS gal pals, thank you. I've noticed you've stopped correcting my notes. Either you've gotten busier or I'm wearing you down.

                                                        GPS and E-Books, 

                                               The Reviews Don't Look Good

The e-book uploading process may be reader blocking the lesser known authors. We already know reviews affect the consumer.

Book reviews can be especially harsh and authors feel no cushion of being a franchise or a large company. When you review a book you are broadcasting your personal opinion about one person's work.

What happens when the consumer blames the author for the format and/or editing? Is it always the author's fault?

You've seen 'those' reviews:

This seemed like a good book but the formatting was so bad I couldn't finish it! What a waste of money. There were so many errors, (unknown author) needs to hire an editor!

 I feel bad for these readers, but then I download the book and I don't get how they couldn't finish it. That's when I feel bad for the writer. That one negative review may have cost that author countless readers.

Eloisa James had a New York best seller with her fans in a tizzy because of the e-copy being riddled with formatting and editing errors. Her fans were upset, but they still bought the book because it was Eloisa James. The unknown and especially the indie author doesn't get that type of consideration even if the book in itself is wonderful.

Let's not over look a good book because of a few errors. Many of the books with grammatical or formatting errors that have people complaining up a storm, I've enjoyed just fine. I still notice the errors, but rarely do they impede my reading pleasure.

I'm not saying reviewers shouldn't mention the found errors at all. I just think a three paragraph freak out over a formatting snafu may be over kill, and most of us didn't even notice the misuse of your and you're on page 52. I believe mentioning the error helps the people with GPS know what they are getting into without hindering people like me from buying the book.

So, do you have GPS? I know there are many of you out there. Try to understand the person writing the book you're mentally editing isn't a complete idiot. Calling an author an unprofessional amateur for having tech/editing issues is uncalled for. He/she is only human.

Readers, remember all book reviews are subject to opinion being that they are just that, opinions. Writers, it's tough out there. Arm yourself with a tech savvy editor that is painfully honest and has GPS.  Hopefully e-publishing formatting and editing issues will soon be a thing of the past.

A big THANK YOU to all the writers out there. 

We readers are nothing without you.