Month: February 2020

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Book Review – Zen of eBook Formatting by Guido Henkel.

Zen of eBook Formatting: A Step-by-step Guide To Format eBooks for Kindle and EPUBZen of eBook Formatting: A Step-by-step Guide To Format eBooks for Kindle and EPUB by Guido Henkel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Zen of eBook Formatting is a book for writers who want to know how to format and create eBooks. Written by Guido Henkel, a writer and an experienced programmer, for writers. This book provides a step by step guide on how to correctly format and produce your own eBooks.

The Cover: This is a clean and simple cover that matches the branding of Guido Henkel’s other non-fiction title Zen of eBook Marketing. It is evident from the cover that this is non-fiction and clearly states the topic covered. I like it.

The Good Stuff: This book gives you a great insight into how to format and create an eBook, from cleaning up your manuscript to adding the cover. Guido provides all the code and links to the tools you will need within the pages, making the process as simple as possible. I certainly recommend you read this book if you are looking at publishing your own eBooks online. I have definitely gained some knowledge in the process that I will be putting into practice in the future.

The Bad Stuff: If you are just looking for a book that says do this, then do that, this book may frustrate you a little. There is a lot of explaining, but to be fair, it is of value to know ‘the why’ behind what you are doing. I think the book would benefit from a summary at the end, that details what you have learned in the book without all the explaining in between, and can be used as a quick reference guide.

There is a bit of a learning curve required for this book, so don’t expect it to be really easy. It isn’t hard, but you will need to put a little effort into learning. I constantly refer back the book when I code my stories for publishing, but the more I do it, the easier it gets. This is certainly considered a great addition to my toolbox as an Indie writer. It will save you time and effort, and could even prevent you damaging your brand name as an author by giving you the advice you need to produce quality eBooks. I’m giving it a code dropping 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – The Magician’s Apprentice by Trudi Canavan.

The Magician's Apprentice (Black Magician, #0.5)The Magician’s Apprentice by Trudi Canavan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Magician’s Apprentice was an Aurealis award winner and tells the story of Tessia, a girl from a village who wants to be a healer like her father, something that is not acceptable within her culture. But a twist of fate sends her on a path to become a magician.

The Cover: I really like this cover. The picture, the fonts, the colours, and the placement of these elements all present it nicely as a fantasy novel.

The Good Stuff: Trudi’s stories are always well constructed, she has good quality cover designs and her books are well copy-edited. She has created a believable fantasy world with starkly different cultures, making good use of the conflicts that arise between them. It is clearly evident that as an author, she knows this world inside and out. The setting is familiar across all of her books (or at least with the ones I have read), which makes it easy to fall straight back into the fantasy world. In this book Trudi has covered topics that are an issue in some modern day cultures and have been prevalent in Western World society, both in the past, and to a lesser extent in current times.

The Bad Stuff: Trudi uses the characters internal thoughts to tell readers how the characters are feeling or where the plot could go. This internal dialogue doesn’t seem to be natural to me and I struggle with this technique as a reader.

On the whole, I never really got hooked into this book the way I have with some of her others. I have read many Trudi Canavan novels in the past, the best in my opinion being The Black Magician Trilogy, but this one just didn’t have the same level of enjoyment for me. I’m only giving this one 2 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – Zen of eBook Marketing by Guido Henkel.

Zen of eBook MarketingZen of eBook Marketing by Guido Henkel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zen of eBook Marketing is written for writers who want to know how to market their eBooks. Written by author and programmer, Guido Henkel, this is the second book in his Zen series and provides a general overview on marketing ebooks.

The Cover: I’d say that this is a simple, clean cover that aligns with the genre of non-fiction and gives clarity about the topic covered within its content.

The Good Stuff: This book gives a wide range of methods and provides a good deal of content around the differences in the social media available. There is a wealth of information between the pages and I certainly learnt a few things from reading the content. This would be an ideal book for someone starting out and will more than likely provide something new to the authors already well on their way to marketing their books. As with Zen of ebook formatting, this book is easy to read and understand and has some valuable tips inside.

The Bad Stuff: This book will give you a general overview of marketing techniques and the Social media available to market your books through, however it does not provide a detailed breakdown of how. If you are a seasoned writer that has been selling your books online, you will know most of the information within this book already.

Overall, this is another great addition to the toolbox of Indie writers. It will give you a better understanding and good insights on how to market your books. This one is worthy of receiving a neon light, flashing 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

 

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – The Salvation of Yellow by William J. Grant.

The Salvation of Yellow (NSR: The Silence, #1)The Salvation of Yellow by William J. Grant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the interests of full disclosure, I would like to note that William J. Grant is a friend of mine. Even so, I believe that this is my unbiased and honest opinion of his book – The Salvation of Yellow.

In The Salvation of Yellow, we follow the story of Kayley, a thief that steals memories from dead-gods’ and sells them on the black market. Her own memories are limited, even those of the ones she has loved. Kayley is forced to take a job she doesn’t want when her fence refuses to trade with her, unless she helps him.

The Cover: I really like this cover, though it speaks more of a mystery to me than a fantasy novel and I feel it may attract the wrong audience for this story.

The Good Stuff: I loved the characters in this story and it is original and creative. I get a manga vibe from it, a sort of Aeon Flux on acid vibe. There are some good, well constructed sentences that give great descriptions of the characters, the world, and what is going on. The story is a little out there, but if you are after something interesting and new that’s a little bit crazy, you will enjoy this book. I would love to see this as a graphic novel.

The Bad Stuff: First up, I had a problem with the names of the Triple Gods of Death – D, Ea and Th. I get the idea behind them, but trying to pronounce the names in my head every time I came across them detracted from my reading experience. I know this won’t bother some people, but for me, it was hard to overcome. I also have to admit that I got lost a couple of times while reading this book. One minute I’m chugging along knowing what’s happening and then POW… I had no idea what was going on! The story seemed to jump for me, whether I just didn’t get it or if some connecting sentence had vanished, I don’t rightly know, but I got a little confused in places.

Overall I enjoyed the story, but it was not an smooth read for me. I didn’t get drawn in and carried away on the undercurrent of words, rather I was tossed around a little when a wave of confusion struck me and dragged me along the surface.

I’m giving this book a mind bending 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – Story Grid by Shawn Coyne.

The Story Grid: What Good Editors KnowThe Story Grid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Story Grid is a book by editor, Shawn Coyne. The book gives you an insightful look into the technique he uses to break down a story, to analyse it in all its parts and find out what is not working.

The Cover: What I like about this non-fiction cover is that the image combined with the title and a clear font make it a good fit for the genre. The red line reminds me of the heart beat display on a ECG in hospitals, which is appropriate as this book talks about story beats. The thing I do not like about the cover is that it isn’t really clear what the content is about. You can see it relates to writing, it also alludes to plotting, but it doesn’t really convey that it looks into analysing a story to discover what isn’t working.

The Good Stuff: This book gives an insightful look into an editors technique for finding flaws in a story. I have definitely gained some useful knowledge from reading this book.

The Bad Stuff: There is a fair bit of repetition within the pages of this book, while it could be considered as a technique the author has used to ensure you remember the important stuff, it felt more like filler to me.

On the whole this was an informative read for me, while I knew some of the details within, it gave me a better understanding of how to use the information I have at hand in a constructive way to better my writing. Will I use the Story Grid to break down all my stories? Probably not, but it has created a better awareness of what I am doing and what to look out for. I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is one of those stories that is loved by many. It is the story of Kvothe, a legend in his own right, hiding out in a small village. But trouble has a way of finding heros.

The Cover: There are a few covers floating around for this title. The one I have is not the one depicted on this post. The cover I have is of a cloaked figure, silhouetted against the light at the end of a tunnel of foliage. I really like the cover art on this book. It has good fantasy fonts and an image that aligns with the genre.

The Good Stuff: This really is a great fantasy story with an array of interesting characters, good and bad alike. A travelling troupe, music, magic, creepy creatures and intrigue are all wrapped up in this novel.

The Bad Stuff: For me, it was the way this book was written that detracted from my enjoyment of what could have been an amazing read. A large chunk of the tale unravels as the main character, Kvothe, narrates his lifestory to a scribe. This didn’t work for me at all.

I had high expectations for this novel. I had heard great things from the many fans out there that love this novel, but while I liked the story itself, I struggled with the style it was written in. I’m only giving this one 3 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson.

Writing Fiction for DummiesWriting Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Writing fiction for dummies is a guide for writers the covers of on pretty much everything you need to know about writing.

The Cover: The cover for this book is the perfect fit. It is clear to the reader that it is a non-fiction title, the fonts and colours work, and the branding aligns with other “for Dummies” titles on the market.

The Good Stuff: This book has a heap of useful information for writers that are beginning their journey. Even intermediate writers will get a lot from this book as it is jam packed with useful information.

The Bad Stuff: There is a fair bit of repetition in this book and you may find yourself frustrated by it or skipping over bits here and there because of it.

On the whole this is a very informative read, it covers off on pretty much everything. If you are just starting out as a writer and looking for a book with info on writing techniques, planning, editing and publishing, this would be a good choice. It gets 4 out of 5 golden bookmarks from me.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – The Sword of Shanara by Terry Brooks.

The Sword of Shannara (The Original Shannara Trilogy, #1)The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Sword of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel about a vale man torn from his normal life and thrown into a quest to retrieve the Sword of Shannara and destroy the Dark Lord to save the world as he knows it.

The Cover: This is a great fantasy cover with all the elements you would expect to see.

The Good Stuff: The storyline is good and would be enjoyable for those who have not read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or those that will not be bothered by the similarities.

The Bad Stuff: This book has some stark similarities to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. There is a Dark Lord, black wraiths, small vale men, elves, a strange wizard that disappears on other errands and a crazy gnome who has a magical item. This really irked me. There is also some repetition, overuse of words and a writing style that tells rather than shows.

In my opinion, this is a good fantasy novel let down by the fact that it is so similar to another authors work and yet, not quite as good. For this reason I’m only giving it 2 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Kobo

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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Book Review – Better Critiquing for Better Writing by Kelly Hart.

Better Critiquing for Better Writing: Use Writing Feedback to Craft Your Story, Refine Your Message and Become a Better WriterBetter Critiquing for Better Writing: Use Writing Feedback to Craft Your Story, Refine Your Message and Become a Better Writer by Kelly Hart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Better Critiquing for Better Writing by Kelly Hart is a non-fiction title that covers the ins and outs of critiquing.

The Cover: This book has a simple cover that certainly fits with the non-fiction genre. The colours and fonts are clear, and the title states the intention of the content, making it a great fit. My only criticism is that it gives off a slight business feel to me, and while this is not entirely out of place, I would have preferred an image more aligned with writing.

The Good Stuff: At 106 pages, this book is a quick, concise, and informative read. I liked the fact that there is no waffle. The topic of critiquing is covered well, from how to find a critique group that’s right for you, to writing a good critique. There are some handy tips and references, and the information is direct and practical. There are also some good, clear examples of critiques given within the book itself. I see the primary audience as writers that are looking at joining a critique group for the first time. However, this would also be a great asset to someone who is relatively new to critiquing and could also benefit those who want to write book reviews.

The Bad Stuff: There are only some very minor issues here for me. The main thing I would say is that this book is more about critiquing than using critiques to improve your writing (as the title suggests). It does provide details on how to use critiques to improve, but it didn’t feel like this was the main subject of the book. I think a slightly different title with more emphasis on critiquing, than how to use critiques to improve your writing, would have suited better. There are also a couple of interactive and very short ‘check box’ surveys at the beginning of the book which I felt were unnecessary, but this may just come down to my own personal preference. The other thing worth noting here is that being published in 2013 some of the links referred to within the book may not be current, but the same could be said of many books and I do not hold this against the author.

Overall, I’d say this is a good book for beginners to critiquing. It’s well written and easy to understand. There is no unrequired wordage trying to fill the pages and the guiding information that is provided is as relevant today as it would have been in 2013 when the book was published. Putting the minor issues aside and considering the target audience for this title, I’m giving the book 5 out of 5 golden bookmarks.

Want to know if you agree with my review? Grab your own copy from these links:

Amazon.com.au
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com

Allan Walsh writes Fantasy and Horror. If you’re looking for something new to read in these genres, why not check out his books here. You can also find his titles available in libraries.

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