Should Authors Be Reviewers? On the Query Tracker Blog

Recently I posted my thoughts on authors-as-reviewers over at the QueryTracker Blog. I had been sending out heaps of emails seeking reviews for my second novel and it occured to me-- should I be reviewing other books, too?

Maybe you find yourself wondering the same thing. Stop by the QTB and see if you are of a like mind.

QueryTracker Blog: Should Authors Be Reviewers?

For every story, there is a review. Sometimes, there are many reviews. Sometimes, the reviews remain unwritten.

And that is the tragedy, isn't it? The unwritten review.

Reviews are nature's way of validating an author's efforts. Whenever a review is written, an author is assured, once more, that their work has been read. Has been processed by the mind of another person. Has been mulled about in another's thoughts.

An author is assured that, through their story, they've connected to another human being.

Does that sound melodramatic? It should…and it shouldn't.

Read this article and many others at the QueryTracker Blog

Two Ebooks FREE in all formats!

As a writer, I admit that there's been many times when I sat at the keyboard, waiting for the words to arrive. And they didn't.

I've checked and re-checked my email, waiting to hear back from agents and editors to send me heaps of acceptances. And they didn't.

I've sprawled in bed, staring at a dark ceiling, searching the corners of my brain for ideas, waiting for the muses to whisper their secrets to me. And they didn't.

Thankfully, this is not one of those days weeks months. :)

So much going on...working on pre-launch activities for BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) including a huge GOODREADS contest...lookee here! I also heard from my lord editor Rose Mambert of Pink Narcissus Press, who let me know my ARCs are on the way. Huzzah! It'll be red pen time soon...

Final edits are underway on a longish short story about soldiers and wizards and gods. (Potent combination.)  I'm thinking about using KDP for this one so that means I'll be formatting and getting a cover done--I've discussed the possibility with Silvia from Dark World Books already. I love her designs...and you will, too.

Best of all, a new story is cooking up in my brain--and on paper. It's a haunting tale of life and death and time as seen by the gods. I'm really excited about this story and am very eager to get to work on it.

All this wonderful going on--so much that I'm unsure what to do first. So, I'll do what I always do when I can't decide...

A GIVEAWAY!

You can pick up my short story collections for FREE on Smashwords. They are available in all ebook formats so download your choice!

These are my short story collections...a third, RESET BUTTON, is in the works. (More stuff on the TO-DO list)

 

They are regularly priced at $2.99 each but you can get them for FREE right now!

 

And, if you are the GOODREADS type, I'd love it if you added them to your bookshelf and dropped a few stars for me. (See DOORWAYS and BLIND ALLEYS)

 

I'm always eager to see your thoughts and I check GR as ferociously as I check my email these days...

Enjoy and can't wait to get the new stuff out there.

 

 

Remember the Stars by Natalie-Nicole Bates

 

DARK WORLD BOOKS presents...

The REMEMBER THE STARS Book Tour

 

Be sure to visit the DWB page for a great GIVEAWAY!

 

 

 

Remember the Stars

(A 12,000 words Novella)

For Leah Rhodes, life as she knows it has just changed forever.

 

Waking in a gutter in the dark surroundings of her distant past, a familiar man stands out in her confusion.

 

But Remy Moreland has been dead for years.

 

It soon becomes apparent to Leah that both she and Remy are trapped in a hell of their own making.

Can one night together not only lead to the way out, but to love as well?

Amazon UK – Amazon US

 

Natalie-Nicole Bates

Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author. Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia. She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Youtube

Remember the Stars by Natalie-Nicole Bates is now on tour!Check all the great tour stops and don’t forget to join the International giveaway!

 

Remember the Stars Tour schedule:

• February 25th | Ash Krafton's Demimonde (Guest Post)
• February 26th | Darkest Sins (Guest Post, Giveaway)
• February 27th | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Guest Post, Giveaway)
• February 28th | Road to Hell series (Guest Post)
• March 1st | Happy Tails and Tales (Author Interview, Guest Post, Giveaway)

 

 

 

A SPECIAL TREAT...A Guest post from the author herself!

 

 

Between Life and Death

By Natalie-Nicole Bates

The subject of life after death has fascinated mankind for as long has he’s walked the earth. Modern religion varies on the topics. Some religions teach that a wondrous land of rest awaits us—if we’re good that is—or we are truly sorry of all the evil we caused during or life time. Other religions believe in reincarnation—we go on and on and hopefully learn all the lessons in life we are supposed to, and then we finally find eternal rest.

But what of those who live between life and death?

Years ago, I worked as a trauma technician for a major hospital. I spent a good deal of time with patients who had suffered traumatic brain injuries and were in various states of coma. Coma, by the way, is not like it’s portrayed on television. You don’t lie unconscious and wake up suddenly good as new again. There are various degrees of coma, but that isn’t important to this writing.

For patients in deep coma, I often wondered what they experienced. Were they dreaming, were they on another plane of existence, or were they simply there, but not there.

This thinking is what brought me to write Remember The Stars. I used the thought that perhaps while a person is in this state of coma they travel to another plane of existence. Depending on how you got there determines if it is, loosely put, heaven or hell.

In Remember The Stars, we meet Remy Moreland who through his own fault is languishing in a deep coma. When Leah Rhodes is literally dumped into his existence, he’s not sure if she’s like he is, or if the Fates are having fun with him at his expense.

But you’ll need to read Remember The Stars to fully understand this.

I hope you’ll give Remember The Stars a read and find out my spin on what happens between life and death.