Tips on Get a Book Review

Every author wants glowing book reviews with quotable sentences to use as testimonials. A good review makes readers flock to the bookstore to buy the book.

Online book reviews are becoming standard, and your book’s review will reach a wider audience on the Internet. Online reviews level the playing field for self-published authors.

How do you get reviews? The first step is contacting book reviewers, and the best way to find reviewers is to go online. Once you find a reviewer:

Do:
1. Look for and read the guidelines thoroughly provided by the review site. Each one is different.
2. Check the site for other reviews. Does it look like the book was read or a review written just from the supporting documents that were sent with it? You decide whether or not you want to send your book for a potential review based on what you see.
3. Check the site to see if they review the specific genre your book is in.
4. Autograph the book. Reviewers appreciate it.
5. Send the book with a postal tracking number so you know the book arrived safely. (See #3 in Don’t.)

6. Indicate what genre/category your book is in if it’s not indicated on the book. Reviewers often have no idea where to place the book if it has no BISAC code.
7. Include your contact information with the book. Yes, there are people that just send in the book – no contact info, no supporting documents.
8. Thank the reviewer for the review. They have given you a service and an acknowledgement would be very appropriate.

Don’t :
1. Deface the book by stamping “review copy” on it. Reviewers love to keep the books in their personal libraries.
2. Stamp “requested material” on the envelope in hopes your package will get opened and the book reviewed. This is a turn off. Reviewer’s do keep a list of books they request.
3. Ask the review service if they received the book. They get hundreds of books and do not have the time to hunt for your book. Get a postal tracking number to confirm your book has been received.
4. Publish a book without the BASIC code on the back. Don’t have the reviewers guess the genre of your book.

5. Ask the reviewer to contact your publisher or publicist to have the book sent. It is your responsibility to get the book to the reviewer.
6. Send in your sell sheets, press releases, and “stuff” to the reviewer without knowing whether or not they will even read it. Most reviewers don’t ask for books basic on the “stuff” they receive because they get hundreds of books sent into them on a weekly basis.
7. Think that your book is the best book on the market and get upset with the reviewer if they didn’t like it.
8. Expect a raving review because you think you have the best book on the market or your friends/family said it was. No, no, no. Consider the reviewer as your reading audience. Not everyone will like your book, not will everyone not like your book. Every person has a different preference and you have to accept that. Sending a nasty note to the reviewer is totally unacceptable. If you can’t accept another person’s opinion, then don’t send the books out for review or even attempt to sell them. You can’t control your audience.

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, http://www.readerviews.com where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.

Outfield of Dreams. Building a Fantasy Baseball Outfield from the Waiver Wire

It is pretty tough to compete in your fantasy baseball league without a strong crop of outfielders who are performing at a reasonably high level. The best part about the outfield position on your roster is that it enables you to put together a nice balance of home runs, stolen bases and batting average. You can mix-and-match your way to success in multiple categories. The key is to identify your needs and address them through trades or the waiver wire.

Each fantasy baseball league is governed by its own set of rules and regulations. Some require you to roster 3 outfielders, regardless of which position in the outfield they actually patrol defensively. Other fantasy baseball leagues require one each of a left fielder, center fielder and right fielder. Others still require more than 3 outfield slots. Regardless of the rules in your fantasy baseball league, putting together a well-balanced outfield is often a key ingredient to success.

Depending on the depth of your league, you may be able to address a few of your fantasy outfield needs from the waiver wire. Let’s take a look at some players available in the majority of fantasy baseball leagues that may help you out in certain categories:

 

Josh Willingham (OAK) – Position: LF Availability: 90%

Health has been an issue in the past for Willingham but when he’s in the line-up, he delivers as his 8 HR and 31 RBI in 47 GP will attest. Oakland’s leading slugger in 2010 was Kevin Kouzmanoff (16 HR), so the Athletics need Willingham in their line-up as much as you do.

Offers Help With: HR, RBI

Brandon Belt (SF) – Position: LF Availability: 95%

Recently recalled from Fresno where he was raking Triple-A pitching, don’t let that .192 BA from his big league stint in April scare you too much. Although he does not qualify in the OF yet, he will soon enough as he will get the bulk of his playing time in LF. The only impediments to his playing time in LF are his bat and Pat Burrell. Since Burrell is perhaps the worst defensive player in the Majors, as long as Belt hits, he plays.

Offers Help With: HR, RBI

 

Corey Patterson (TOR) – Position: LF/CF Availability: 85%

Called upon to patrol CF when Rajai Davis went down with an ankle injury, Patterson has played himself into a starting role. With Davis back in CF, Patterson has moved over to LF and continues to produce. A 5-for-7 performance including a 14th inning walk-off HR against the White Sox on May 28th sure didn’t hurt his cause either.

Offers Help With: R, SB

Jason Bourgeois (HOU) – Position: LF Availability: 85%

Currently on rehab assignment after landing on the DL with a strained oblique, Bourgeois may be one to keep an eye on. He was 2nd in the NL in base stealing when he injured himself on May 7th.

Offers Help With: SB, RBI

Laynce Nix (WAS) – Position: LF Availability: 80%

Used almost exclusively against RHP, Nix has delivered. Although he isn’t likely to maintain the .308 AVG (career BA is only .248), however the pop seems legit (7 HR, 20 RBI in 111 AB).

Offers Help With: HR, RBI

Nyjer Morgan (MIL) – Position: CF Availability: 95%

Morgan recently returned to the Brewers line-up after 2 stints on the DL (quad, broken finger) and figures to get the majority of starts against right-handed pitchers. Since he is hitting RHP to the tune of .414 on the season, this is one platoon player that you can use to your advantage.

Offers Help With: SB, AVG, R

Carlos Gomez (MIL) – Position: CF Availability: 90%

Gomez’ struggles against RHP may mean a platoon with Nyjer Morgan in CF for the Brewers but that is not necessarily a bad thing. As I mentioned in a previous post about platoon players and left/right matchups, moving players in and out of your line-up based on split stats can be very productive.

Offers Help With: SB, R

 

Garret  Jones (PIT) – Position: RF Availability: 65%

Although Jones usually sits against lefties (a .216 AVG vs. LHP since 2008 will have that affect),he is a decent play against RHP, delivering an impressive BA and showing some pop. For what it’s worth, Jones entered 2011 having led the Pirates in HR for 2 straight seasons.

Offers Help With: HR

The Sport of Bowling popularity in America

Bowling has been a popular sport for Americans and other nationalities. Over 50 million Americans are into bowling and more and more people around the world are becoming addicted to it.Bowling is a leisure activity that provides many health and physiological benefits. Bowling may be a form of relaxation to many or a way to bond with families and friends. A person does not need to be a pro to enjoy this kind of sport.Bowling alleys are special facilities where people participate in the sport of bowling. These alleys provide lanes for bowling and other amenities.Here are the factors to consider when choosing a bowling alley:1. The location of the bowling alley should be taken into consideration. An alley close to his/her home location will make it convenient and inviting. A bowling alley close to his/her workplace could also be considered so that he/she could easily go to the bowling alley after work.2. The facilities of the alley should also be considered. Many bowling alleys now have modern facilities like electronic scoreboards. People are attracted to places where the facilities are modern.

3. The employees working at the bowling alley should be friendly and accommodating. Employees who are friendly will make the place inviting. The instructors should also be friendly and willing to help with all the needs of the bowlers, especially the beginners. Bowlers should be able to learn many techniques from instructors that are friendly and willing to share their skills.4. The bowling alleys should be clean and properly maintained. Bowlers go to alleys to enjoy and relax. If the alley is not clean and properly maintained, bowlers will not be comfortable. All facilities should also be properly maintained to provide safety for the bowlers.5. There are generally many bowling alleys that may be found in any city. A person may search the Internet to check the nearest bowling alley and may also read reviews about the bowling alley. Many bowling alleys also have cafeterias where players can eat and mingle with other bowlers.Bowling alleys contribute to the interest of many people in the sport and should be a place where fun and enjoyment may be experienced. They should be welcoming to bowlers and provide them all the things necessary to entice bowlers to become regular customers.

Equipment and Accessories for BowlingWhether a professional bowler or not, it is recommended that you have the proper equipment and accessories before heading to the lanes. Here are some accessories that should be considered:Bowling BallsBowling balls are the most important equipment in bowling. When buying bowling balls, some features should be considered. They are the weight, size of the ball holes, and whether the balls are designed for right-handed or left-handed persons. There are also three types of balls: beginner, intermediate and the advanced bowling balls. Kids may also buy bowling balls that are designed specifically for them. There are also bowling alleys that provide/rent bowling balls to players.Bowling ShoesBowling shoes are also necessary in bowling. Bowling shoes are not just ordinary shoes; each shoe in the pair serves a purpose. One shoe is designed for better sliding while the other is for braking. Most bowling alleys provide/rent shoes to their customers. When choosing bowling shoes, it is important to consider the size. They should not be too loose or too tight on the feet. The bowler must be able to move comfortably.Bowling ShirtsLike other sports, proper clothing is necessary and must be comfortable. Specially designed bowling shirts with collars are worn by professional bowlers. However, if the player is just an ordinary bowler, any regular shirt with collar will do as long as it fits comfortably and not be a distraction while bowling.Bowling GlovesBowling gloves are very beneficial to bowlers. These are used to provide a better grip of the ball. Bowling gloves help players throw a ball accurately and with power. Gloves are helpful in supporting the wrist and making a smooth delivery possible.Bowling TowelsTowels are important and used to wipe the oil residue from the balls. Towels may be improvised or there are special bowling towels available in sports supply stores.Other accessories may also be considered like bags, face towels, wrist bands and bowling ball cleaners and polishers. All these accessories are beneficial in providing mobility and comfort to bowlers. If one is interested in getting into the bowling lanes, then he or she may avail one of these accessories for his own.http://probowlingnews.blogspot.com

The Preferred Board Games

Top 21st century games are frequently electronic; played with Play stations or X-boxes or are tech savvy in some way. However, they still haven’t replaced the standard board games that still retain their individual brand of charm. While there are many board games accessible, there are just some that qualify as genuine classics. Here we look at these all time accepted board games.Monopoly is the first name that comes to head when it’s about board games. This classic game revolves around banker and real estate. All you must do is head through the estates and keep on buying property. You’re as well needed to pay fines if you enter someone else’s property.As and when you make moves in monopoly and keep buying properties, you get the likelihood to augment your bank balance. The player who gets to own the maximum bank balance in the end is the winner of the game. The stand apart feature of this game is that it could be enjoyed by both- young people and the old folks. This game may effortlessly capture your attention and you might become so habitual of it that you could continue playing the same for hours at a stretch.Clue is an additional famous board games which has managed to find many takers. This board game is best for all those who have a taste for puzzles, jigsaws and the like. Nevertheless, this game could be played only in case you have a wide base of knowledge. If you’re not well updated about the occurrences around, it is suggested to not play this game.This game centers on a murder mystery. In this game that player must be discovered who murdered someone in the home. The game requires the players to move around in the household and go looking for clues as accessible in many rooms. As the players move past all the rooms rapidly in search of clues, they tend to solve a lot of concealed mysteries. This hunt method adds on to the excitement of the game. The one who manages to get the clues 1st is the winner of the game.Speaking of board games, nothing completes the list more conclusively then Scrabble. This is the ideal game for those who like playing with words. The fundamental aim of this game is to create new words from haphazard letters. The longer your word; the higher is your score.Every player who performs this game is given a wooden tile. Every wooden tile is engraved with a particular alphabet. Utilizing the number of wooden tiles plus the alphabets imprinted on them, the players are expected to create words. All you have to do is to simply put the alphabets in sync so which they could form meaningful words. You can also utilize the alphabets which you have and include them to the existing alphabets on the board to shape words. Every tile is allotted some facts or scores. As you create a word using the wooden tiles, all the point values of the wooden tiles are added up to shape your score.So, while these board games may not have the technical class of an Xbox or Play station, they may still help you have a good time. Simply, pick one and enjoy many perfect hours playing these exciting games.

The Latest Trends in E-Branding

Before dealing with its financial benefits, we offer this brief definition of brand identity. An organization’s brand identity represents how the company need to be supposed in the market, what the company stands for, and most importantly, implies a promise to the company’s customers.For at least the past decade, the topic of “branding” has dominated marketing discussions to the point that the concept has numerous definitions and explanations. This production has not necessarily increased the credibility of branding as a marketing function, but instead seems to have created confusion regarding the actual value that branding provides-if the value can even be measured. The majority of business people would likely agree that branding is important, and developing a “brand identity” for their organization should be part of their long-range planning.E-marketing was one of the births of the internet age. In today’s economy, any small or medium company can access international markets from a localized contact office, outsourcing to third party agents, or via good communication networks. So what is e-marketing? It is the next generation solution for branding and publicity over an online medium.Because of this, the challenge has been to measure branding’s financial benefits to an organization from both short- and long-term perspectives. How does branding contribute to the financial health of an organization? And, if it does not contribute, does branding hold any value at all or is it just a good topic for the latest marketing guru book? The Internet opened up vast resources of communication over international borders at an affordable price. Today, overseas communication has become so cheap and fast, that logistics and tertiary costs have been brought down to promote international trade. Have a professional e-marketing company service your brand’s requirements for a better impactBefore dealing with its financial benefits, we offer this brief definition of brand identity. An organization’s brand identity represents how the company need to be supposed in the market, what the company stands for, and most importantly, implies a promise to the company’s customers.For at least the past decade, the topic of “branding” has dominated marketing discussions to the point that the concept has numerous definitions and explanations. This production has not necessarily increased the credibility of branding as a marketing function, but instead seems to have created confusion regarding the actual value that branding provides-if the value can even be measured. The majority of business people would likely agree that branding is important, and developing a “brand identity” for their organization should be part of their long-range planning.E-marketing was one of the births of the internet age. In today’s economy, any small or medium company can access international markets from a localized contact office, outsourcing to third party agents, or via good communication networks. So what is e-marketing? It is the next generation solution for branding and publicity over an online medium.Because of this, the challenge has been to measure branding’s financial benefits to an organization from both short- and long-term perspectives. How does branding contribute to the financial health of an organization? And, if it does not contribute, does branding hold any value at all or is it just a good topic for the latest marketing guru book? The Internet opened up vast resources of communication over international borders at an affordable price. Today, overseas communication has become so cheap and fast, that logistics and tertiary costs have been brought down to promote international trade. Have a professional e-marketing company service your brand’s requirements for a better impact

What Makes Online Fax Cheaper Than Traditional Faxing

One of the main reasons why Internet or online fax services are becoming more popular is mainly due to their cheaper costs. They really are cheaper than using conventional faxing via the traditional fax machine. There are many factors or features which makes online fax cheaper and a detailed discussion of these factors may prove helpful… especially if you’re considering using one of these web based services.So here are the main reasons why using online fax is cheaper than traditional faxing:1. Online fax is a form of “cloud computing” so there is no need to install any hardware. All your faxing services are handled online with a third party server or provider. This makes your start-up costs next to zero.2. Since online fax is using your current email system and your Internet connection, there is no need to install a dedicated fax phone line. This ongoing monthly expense is one of the major savings with this new modern way of sending your messages.3. With email or web fax, you don’t need to buy a traditional fax machine or have it running night and day, wasting energy and money. Which also means you don’t have any maintenance associated with running one or more of these obsolete machines.4. Since online fax is really paperless faxing, you don’t have the never-ending costs of buying papers, inks and toners. This will save you or your company money, especially over the long-term since these expenses can add up quickly.5. Online fax is completely scalable. If your faxing needs are minimum, you can even get a low cost “pay as you go” service which will save you money. There are also annual fax plans which also will be very cost effective. Plus, if your company does a lot of faxing, you can get a custom designed fax plan to perfectly meet your needs.6. Online fax uses a digital form of your messages so they can be easily stored and filed on your computers. Your messages can also be stored online, where they can be accessed from anywhere, as long as you have a web connection. All this computer integration, will make your faxing much more efficient which can also save your company money, especially with it comes to saving time and we all know time is money.7. Fax broadcasting can also be much more cost effective with a web based service. You can easily import your contact lists and then send a fax to thousands of recipients at once with a few clicks of the mouse. This can save your company money if you use faxing to advertise your latest sales or to promote your products.8. Then there is the whole issue of the cost of competition or rather how much this competitive edge is worth to your company or business? Using a faxing service that’s available anywhere, anytime – does make your company more competitive than one which only relies upon the fax machine in the office (usually only available during business hours).Taking all of the above money saving factors and features into consideration, it is much cheaper to use an online fax service rather than a traditional system. One that is much more cost effective and cheaper. Monthly rates usually run about $8 to $10 but there are less expensive online fax services, so it pays to shop around and do a little “due diligence” before you sign up. Regardless of which service or provider you choose, chances are great that you will be pleasantly surprised by the savings.