Tag: writers

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Leaving Fatherland by Matt Graydon

Title: Leaving Fatherland

Author: Matt Graydon

Publisher: Cranthorpe Millner Publishers

Published: August 20, 2024

Pages: 326 pages

Matt Graydon’s gripping, well-researched historical fiction debut Leaving Fatherland explores the difficulties of growing up with an abusive father in the context of World War II, Hitler’s ascent, and how our early years have a significant influence on our adult life. Right away, we are introduced to the abuse Oskar Bachmann suffers at the hands of his father, Karl, who assaults his son both physically and mentally. He refers to him as weak and wishes that he, like his brother Emil, had joined the Hitler Youth.

The first time Karl hits Oskar in the book shocked me, even though the author did an excellent job showing the cruelty that led up to it. This would profoundly affect Oskar throughout his life, a life the author shares with us in such detail that it reads like an autobiography.

Contrasted against Karl’s cruelty is his mother Aneta’s kindness and gentleness, a welcome relief. She encourages him to read, which becomes his safe space. Aneta also finds a way to buy Oskar a tourist-class ticket to America to complete his education.

“The pages of the books I wrapped around my mind and soul like blankets brought distraction and great solace from the relentless strife of home life.”

-Leaving Fatherland, Oskar Bacchman

Oskar continued on to study psychology at Manhattan’s University of New York, a decision he made especially to gain a deeper understanding of his father. Even though Karl is mean to him, Oskar still loves him, evident in his desperate attempt to understand him. In his own words: “I’ve learned it’s possible to hate what your father is and yet still yearn for his approval.” As he navigates the city and makes new friends, Oskar is still affected by his father’s actions as shocking revelations about Karl’s ties to Hitler emerge.

I love the research that went into this book, even down to the Black man taxi driver referring to the ten-dollar bill as a “sawbuck.” Even though the author is not Black, his depiction of the driver and his persona was spot on. Bachmann referring to him as a “Negro cab driver” and how he had not seen many Black people growing up in Germany also fit the times (1930s).

Although a lengthy read, Oskar’s life is filled with many secrets and unexplainable fortunes, culminating in a surprising revelation that connects everything together.

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Ratings

  • Plot Movement / Strength: 4/5
  • Entertainment Factor: 4/5
  • Characterization: 5/5
  • Authenticity / Believable: 5/5
  • Thought Provoking: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Leaving Fatherland is Available Now on Amazon!

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About the Author

Matt Graydon Author Photo

Matt Graydon has loved writing since childhood. In his early career, he trained and then worked as a journalist for local and national newspapers, developing research skills that proved vital in his historical fiction writing. He later worked as a senior public relations executive for major corporations in a global context, interacting with people from many cultures around the world. In recent years he rekindled his love of creative writing, attending expert writing courses by Faber and others to develop his craft. He is an active member of the UK’s Society of Authors and belongs to the Phoenix Writing Group in Dorking. He has had both poetry and short stories published, most recently Saigo No Tatakai, an account of a kamikaze attack in the Second World War told from both sides.

Matt lives in Surrey, with his wife, adult children and an unruly cockapoo. When not writing, he spends as much time as possible outside gardening, or engaging in astronomy and photography.

Links:

Website: www.mattgraydon.com

Facebook: Matt Graydon Writes

Instagram: @matt_graydon_writes

Twitter: @graydonwrites

To have your book reviewed on this blog, apply here!

Stay tuned for our next dope read!

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Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews is a reputable review service that features writers from all over the world, both traditionally and independently published. We are listed on Kindlepreneur as a top-tier book review blog and Reedsy as one of their vetted active book blogs that provide insightful, excellent book reviews.

*Books are read in the order they are received.

 

Social Media is just ONE Way to Get the Word out About Your Book

Highwater High School orders copies of Black History Facts

For many authors who use social media to promote their books, it’s a game-changer. From Instagram reels to TikTok, people are making decent income from their talents.

However, social media is only ONE of many places to sell and promote your book in 2024 and onward.

Bulk Sales to Schools, Universities, Corporations

It’s fantastic to sell $20–30 books one at a time on your author’s website, Amazon, and other online merchants, but selling 10 or more copies at a time in bulk orders is even better.

Why is it better?

Because large organizations and networks have the budget to spend much more than your average consumer trying to make ends meet just like you are. Depending on the organization, you might even sell hundreds if they truly feel you. In fact, everything else we talk about in this post comes back to bulk sales since all these organizations can buy your book in bulk to some extent, whether five copies or 500 copies.

Book Clubs, Book Talks, Open Mic

Offline book clubs are not appreciated talked about enough. Here are groups of people deciding to read one book together and discuss it. What a wonderful way to spread a book’s message and buy that book in bulk! Author events, book talks, and open mics are also good. They also provide great networking opportunities. You’ll meet people with great influence you probably would not have met online.

Queenz Cirlce of ATL gave me gifts!

I once met an older woman at a book signing who was interested in using The Women with Blue Eyes for a book club she hosts. She is old enough to be my mother and does not have social media. However, she does have a book club full of women who read and said she will talk with them about the book. She never got back with me, but this is an example of an opportunity I could have used to sell that book in bulk.

Another example that worked out was meeting a young lady who invited me to be a keynote speaker at her book club back in 2018 (Queenz Circle of ATL) to discuss Even Salt Looks Like Sugar. It was a private, offline dinner. We read from the book, laughed, ate a delicious meal, took pictures, and I sold copies of the book. It was amazing and none of it was online.

Podcasts, Radio Shows

Podcasts can be on or offline since many of them are also streamed on YouTube or Spotify these days, but this is another great way to get the word out about your book. Radio shows are also a great, offline way of promoting your book to listeners. The perk here is that you get to articulate in your own words why your book is so special and what sets it apart. You can then take clips from your interviews and cut them down to fit on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or wherever you engage online.

This leads me to my next point.

The Work You Do Offline Creates Your Online Content

How you show up offline, whether taking better care of your mind and body, eating, or networking with business professionals, becomes the content you can repurpose online. Attending an event, being interviewed at a radio station or on a podcast, meeting up with readers for an author talk, and whatever work you do in the background becomes the content you post online. This can be photos, videos, testimonials, or whatever you captured from the event.

If you know how to utilize it, social media is a powerful tool for marketing, selling, and promoting your book. It is not the only option, though. Traditional networking techniques and in-person meetings are quite effective and provide you with content for your online posts!

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

Vending at Large Events Does Not Mean Large Sales: What Self-Published Authors Should Know

Before I went on vacation, I attended Black Writers Weekend (BWW). The event itself was okay, but what made it worthwhile for me was my conversations with the vendors. We talked about so much more than books; the historical conversations were like a glass of cold water on a hot day. I love basking in the brilliance of people.

But not all conversations were positive.

I noticed many first-time vendors were not happy. Considering the cost and the traveling many did to get to Atlanta, they expected a much bigger turnout, and many people left feeling some kind of way.

I didn’t have to travel far or stay at a hotel, but I understood their frustrations and empathized with the lack of focus on the marketplace. Some people who opted to have books shipped found their books didn’t arrive on time!

But this is not about what BWW did right or wrong.

This is about what authors should expect from vending at events; unfortunately, making a profit is not one of them.

Depending on what an author pays for a table, the cost of books, travel, and board, the chances of making that money back are slim.

Can you make good sales from vending? Certainly, but vending is more about networking than it is about sales. Vending at large events also does not mean large sales.

Finally got to meet the amazing writer and historian William Spivey!

Authors choosing to pay for vending should consider the cost of the table, any books or merch they’d need to purchase, travel, and board.

  • Will you have to book a flight or drive?
  • Will you be staying at a hotel?
  • How many books do you need to purchase in advance?
  • How much is this going to cost with the vending fee?
  • What is included in the fee? Do you get a table and chairs or will you have to bring your own? (Yes, some event hosts require you to bring your own table. I don’t vend at those events.)
Thank you beautiful!

While self-publishing my books since 2010, I was not always a full-time author. My background is in Medical Assistance and teaching. When I decided to go full force into this author thing (2017), I did a lot of vending and events. It was a lot of fun, but I rarely vend anymore because a) it is not always financially feasible, and b) I am at the point now where I prefer to get paid to speak or capture content.

When I vend, it is because the event has an element that aligns with my brand or belief system and will allow me to build my network. When I published Black History Facts You Didn’t Learn in School, I knew I would attend Black Writers Weekend because the crowd is full of people interested in my type of content.

Vending at events of any size can benefit authors at any stage of the process. I would primarily recommend vending to new authors and authors who want to get their names out there and connect with other writers and literary professionals.

For authors looking to sell books, I recommend vending at smaller events that align with your brand and that focus on books, such as book festivals. As I joked about before, it’s much more challenging to sell someone a book standing next to the Shea Butter lady. Definitely do not overlook smaller gatherings. They tend to have a better vibe than the popular ones.

For seasoned authors or those ready to advance, I recommend hosting your own book signings, events, and workshops or requesting to be a guest speaker at an event instead of vending.

This is where my focus is geared now.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics aimed at encouraging you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

What Value Does Your Book Offer Readers?

When promoting your book online, you must do more than post pictures of your cover if you want people to buy it. To be more precise, I want you to focus more on the message and why it matters to you than on trying to sell the book.

What are some of the topics your book covers? Use those topics as stepping stones to reach your target audience. If your book is about how you survived an abusive relationship, you should be finding communities dedicated to eradicating domestic violence and creating content around how you survived it based on what you’ve written in your book. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so you will want to work hard to share your expertise with the people who need it.

If you wrote a fiction book, what kind of escape does it provide readers? Is it entertaining? Romantic? Educational? Does it make us stop to think? Is it thought-provoking? Does it make us laugh until our stomach hurts? The world is hurting now, so people are looking for that getaway.

If you wrote a poetry book, consider participating in open mic nights or reciting poems live on Instagram or TikTok. Join poetry contests, and of course, you cannot miss National Poetry Month in April!

The idea is to focus less on selling the book and more on building community around its content. Think about how your book can add value to readers in your community rather than how you can make a sale.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Firsthand by A’Dreana Anderson

Title: Firsthand

Author: A’Dreana Anderson

Publisher: Joyfully Unbound Publishing

Published: July 7, 2024

Pages: 332 pages

In Firsthand, Richard McLeary owns over seven hundred acres, the third largest Plantation in Chatham County. The land was given to him by his father-in-law on the condition that he marry his daughter and treat her well. However, Richard is arrogant and seeks the approval of other wealthy planters. He boasts as if his land cannot be stripped from him and violently mistreats the enslaved people working his plantation.

In just the first few chapters, we are witnesses to his brutality which includes the death of an enslaved man defending another. In this haunting and poignant historical fantasy, debut author A’Dreana Anderson is compelling in her telling of slavery to such an extent that it felt like Richard had written this story from his own personal account. I can see a racist white man who pretends he is wealthier than he actually is clearly in my mind. There are also some historical accuracies I appreciated.

When visiting the Slave Market, the auctioneer presented an enslaved woman who was pregnant. Richard frowns and decides not to bid on her. While enslavers eventually valued women of childbearing age, this was not always the case. Before 1808 and the abolition of the slave trade, many slave owners discouraged enslaved women from reproducing. They considered the infants to be time-consuming and took too much time away from the women working. It wasn’t until after 1808 when slave owners could no longer depend on the domestic supply of enslaved laborers from the trade, that they sought women who could reproduce and had already given birth to healthy children.

The story’s turning point occurs when Richard, his son Henry, and his overseer James head to the Oglethorpe’s Racecourse Slave Market outside of Savannah to replace the enslaved people he murdered. He bids on Nini, a strong, gorgeous Black mute woman who captures his eye so much that he spends $2,500 for her. He immediately lusts after her and attempts to beat her into obedience. However, Nini refuses to comply, which turns him on even more. There is something about her eyes, and Richard is going to find out the hard way when he wakes up to realize he has been condemned to live as a mute, enslaved Black man.

Some graphic scenes might be too much for some readers, though, and some of the descriptions, although well-written, slowed the story just a bit. (Richard sometimes talked too much for me.) However, this was not to the extent that it destroyed the overall reading experience.

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Ratings

  • Plot Movement / Strength: 4/5
  • Entertainment Factor: 4/5
  • Characterization: 5/5
  • Authenticity / Believable: 4/5
  • Thought Provoking: 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Firsthand is Available Now on Amazon!

Firsthand

To have your book reviewed on this blog, apply here!

Stay tuned for our next dope read!

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Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews is a reputable review service that features writers from all over the world, both traditionally and independently published. We are listed on Kindlepreneur as a top-tier book review blog and Reedsy as one of their vetted active book blogs that provide insightful, excellent book reviews.

*Books are read in the order they are received.

 

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews – Call Me Mama: A Reason to Persevere by Ife Akanegbu

Title: Call Me Mama: A Reader to Persevere

Author: Ife Akanegbu

Publisher: My Cute Prairies

Published: July 1, 2024

Pages: 57

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be an addict, this short narrative will transport you there. From the weight of guilt to the hope of redemption, the author portrays a picture of addiction that will make you reconsider your feelings about addicts.

The story opens with Mariam sitting in a car outside her daughter’s school, watching with binoculars. She is not allowed to see Zora. She has lost access to such privilege.

As someone who grew up with an addicted mother, I understand what it’s like to be a daughter and not have your mother around, which doesn’t always mean she’s not present. For example, Zora refers to Mariam as Aunty, even though she is her mother. She does this because she does not know Mariam is her mother. It took me back to the first nine years of my life when I addressed my mother by her first name. What I appreciated, though, was how the author helped me grasp how it feels from the mother’s perspective. The author’s writing style is poetic, allowing for honesty and grace.

Call Me Mama helps us empathize with the human parts of those who fall prey to addiction, and I love that about good fiction. Don’t just tell me someone is a villain; show me why. How did this person get to this point? What made them the person they are? In addition, we so often see the monster and not the person being held hostage in their bodies, a prison for their unhealed trauma.

“She wanted to beg, plead for another chance, promise that this time would be different. But the words died in her throat, strangled by the shame that had become her constant companion.”

Then, there is Mary-Joanna, a constant temptation. “Come on, let’s get out of here, have some real fun,” she says as they sit in the basement of a church. Her words are like a trigger that sends Mariam’s heart beating against her ribs until she no longer hears anything the speaker is saying, only the promise of relief from the dungeon of darkness she’s found herself in.

But, it is Zora who is the real salvation of Mariam’s story. The innocence of a child and the unconditional love Zora wrap around her mother’s neck offers Mariam the hope she desperately needs. Will she take it?

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Ratings

  • Plot Movement / Strength: 5/5
  • Entertainment Factor: 4/5
  • Characterization: 5/5
  • Authenticity / Believable: 5/5
  • Thought Provoking: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Call Me Mama: A Reason to Persevere by Ife Akanegbu is Available Now on Amazon!

Call Me Mama

To have your book reviewed on this blog, apply here!

Stay tuned for our next dope read!

IMG_8994

Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews is a reputable review service that features writers from all over the world, both traditionally and independently published. We are listed on Kindlepreneur as a top-tier book review blog and Reedsy as one of their vetted active book blogs that provide insightful, excellent book reviews.

*Books are read in the order they are received.

 

4 Ways New Self-Published Authors Can Maximize Book Sales

Share Your Journey and Expertise at Least 1 Year Before Publishing Your Book

I released Black History Facts on February 24, 2024. However, the book has been selling steadily since September 2023, when I placed it on preorder. I attribute this largely to how I readied my audience for the book years before it was released. They were prepared when it arrived.

As soon as I knew I would publish the book, I posted black history videos and behind-the-scenes content of my trips to museums and historical landmarks, and I shared new information I found.

I took my people everywhere I went, and they couldn’t wait to see the final product. It became more than a book, but a movement they were just as much a part of as I was.

Post Your Preorder/Buy Link At the Same Time as Your Cover Reveal

Revealing the cover of your new book can be thrilling, but failing to include a buy link means missing out on a lot of potential sales. Whether you’re putting up preorders or announcing the book’s publication, keep your cover reveal for when you’re ready to begin collecting orders. People will be ecstatic to learn you wrote a book and will be willing to buy it right away after viewing your cover, especially if it’s dope!

Pay attention to those who are traditionally published. When these authors show you the cover of a new book, you can also preorder it.

Increase Your Book Reviews

Book reviews are still underrated. Many people do not think they matter, but they do and help authors! And you can work to increase it no matter what stage of the process. Even months or years after release, you can still increase the reviews you receive.

Seek the help of book bloggers, beta readers, and reputable paid review services such as Kirkus and Yecheilyah’s Book Reviews.

The biggest perk to reviews is that they act as social proof. Anyone can call themselves a best-selling author, but reviews help verify that other people think the book is dope, not just the author who wrote it.

It will be odd for someone claiming to be a best-seller to have no book reviews. If it’s such a great book, people should be talking about it.

Book reviews also increase the author’s Amazon rating and expose the book to people who have never heard of it.

I strive to get at least 5-10 book reviews on Amazon in the first few weeks of release and increase from there. However, Amazon is one of many places where people can leave reviews. Blog book reviews are also helpful. Remember, a review is just feedback, so if someone emails you or direct messages you praise for your book, you can use it as a review! (with permission) Slap that bad boy on a graphic and post it to social media as social proof.

Have a Post-Publishing Strategy (Don’t Forget About the Book Once It’s Published)

Too many authors focus solely on the publishing date, but your book is much more than that. Consider how to continue spreading the word about your book after publication. Visit your local libraries and bookstores to inquire about readings, look for interview opportunities, and participate in events, contests, and more. You still want the book to sell after it has been published, so make sure you are working to make that happen.

Click here for more Indie Author Basics to encourage you through the Self-Publishing / Indie Author Process!