There is a kind of piracy that ticks me off, though. That of people copying your book and passing it off as their own. The Digital Reader recently posted about an author, Scot Schad, who discovered that pirates had been ripping off freely available and open source digital textbooks, and then using Amazon’s POD service to sell print versions on Amazon.
Here’s how it works
The scammers identify a popular textbook, copy the name, and then start selling the paper copy of a pirated book under that name. They’re hoping to sell the pirated book to an unwary buyer who might mistake the knockoff for the legit textbook.
Mar (as we call her), first and foremost, is our awesome, hard-working Club Secretary! She’s also Host of the RAVE WAVES BLOGTALK Radio Show, “BUY THE BOOK.” Her little innocent, girl-next-door persona? Well, it’s all for real. She’s as sweet, kind and gentle as her smile suggests, or as much as Laura was from LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (or maybe that was, Mary. Laura had a little streak in her. Mar doesn’t!). Mar was not a published author until the publication of our 2014 RAVE SOUP FOR THE WRITER’S SOUL Anthology. She has some awesome pieces included there, so do check them out and sit tight while she prepares her solo debut publication later this year! Yes, I put it out there!
Her blog, LIFE AS I KNOW IT, is always chock full of some interesting tidbit about her life, as well as serving as a spot for authors needing a host. On her blog, she opens up about all things Marlena, even if those things are a tad bit personal. Some of you have been wondering (some of you have even asked), why the recent change in Marlena’s last name, from Hand to Smith. Well, if you head to her blog, right there in black and white, she shares the story. Her story. Her Truth. Her Life.
Although Mar had a very rocky year last year, she has now taken control, and 2016 has brought her back, stronger than ever! Anytime you need answers to your questions here at RRBC, Marlena is the person to talk to. You can reach her anytime at RaveReviewsSecretary@gmail.com, do follow her on Twitter @mlh42812, as well as on her blog and her RAVE WAVES Show page.
You haven’t met Marlena? My gosh! Where do you live?
*****
Nicholas Rossis
Have you met Nicholas Rossis?
Nicholas is an ex-board member here at RRBC but that doesn’t mean we don’t still love him…we do. (I’d love him more, if he were around more, though. Just an FYI, Nich!). Word on the street is, is that Nicholas lives in a cottage on the edge of a magical forest in Athens, Greece. Now, whether or not you should believe that the forest is magical, is all up to you and your little imagination.
Nicholas’ new passion is in writing children’s books. I think that passion is going to come in handy now, as he is a NEW, first-time dad! He and his wife recently welcomed baby Mary Natalie (if I have that wrong, it’s Nich’s fault…it’s what he told me).
Nicholas is a very supportive guy, he was before he joined our board, and he was even stronger in that department when he left. You can find him on Twitter @Nicholas_Rossis, tweeting and RTing everyone. If you’re not following him, well, I think you should. I mean, not only does he have this gorgeous new bundle of joythat he’s holding above,but his wife and dog are beautiful, too! MANY CONGRATS, NICHOLAS, from your RRBC family!
*****
Well, awesome RRBC members, that’s all we have for now! If you haven’t met these two, reach out and do so today! You’ll be so glad you did because they’re simply awesome! We have so many members in our wonderful club, that we want to introduce and showcase the talents of all of them, so that you will feel a bit closer to them and so that you have a better feel of who sits behind that Twitter handle you’re supporting.
Until next time, again we ask that you reach out and get to know your fellow members showcased above. Throw all your support behind them on social media, share this email with all of your contacts and ask them to show their support, as well. I’ll leave you with a bit of good news…YOU could be next on HAVE YOU MET…?!!!
So you’re an indie author. You’ve taken the time and effort to write that novel or book that’s been inside of you since as far back as you can recall. You’ve even paid a professional editor to comb through it to make sure it’s worthy to sell. It’s there on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a mere few dollars—unless you want the paperback. Nothing beats that feeling of holding your very own published work in your hands.
So what comes next? How do you, the author, get word to readers around the world that your work is available, ready to be read and reviewed? If you have deep pockets, you’ll have no worries. Just hire a team of marketers and let them go to work for you. They seem to know what they’re doing, right?
Okay. So maybe your pockets aren’t that deep. Perhaps you are like a million other indie authors across the globe who cannot afford to hire that marketing team. What will you do? To do nothing spells certain doom for the hard work that went into your published novel or book. Sure, you may sell a few copies through Twitter or Facebook. You might even find a handful of readers through your own blog. But the reality of the situation says that falls short of your expectations.
Here’s a suggestion: Tap into the incredible resource known as Rave Reviews Book Club.
Just what is Rave Reviews Book Club? Well, I’m glad you asked. Rave Reviews Book Club is a growing community of readers and writers who all share the same goal: To support one another on this amazing journey as authors.
It’s a simple yet brilliant concept: Join the club, read at least four member-authored books during the course of the year, review these books, Tweet about these books, and support the authors. In return, you, as a member of the community, will find this support returned to you.
There is a catch though. You get out what you put in. If your support of others is weak, you can expect the same in return. However, if you choose to really dig in and promote your fellow members, you will most certainly find strong support for your own work.
What is this support of which I am talking? Members buy one another’s books—that means sales. Those sales translate into reviews. Reviews mean more sales—if the buzz is strong. But that’s not all. Each and every month at Rave Reviews Book Club, three books are selected as Books of the Month. There is also a Member of the Month, Spotlight Author, Member of the Week, and a #PUSHTUESDAY honoree. There are blog tours, Book Trailer Parties, and Blog Block Parties.
Did I mention the Rave Waves Blog Talk Radio programs? There are currently nine live radio shows produced by Rave Reviews Book Club. And guess what? They are open only to the RRBC membership. These thirty minute programs allow members/authors a showcase for their work; an opportunity to introduce yourselves to the RRBC membership.
Rave Reviews Book Club is here for one purpose and one purpose only: To Profile, Promote & Propel the careers of indie authors. If this sounds interesting to you, stop by the web site and take a look around!
John is a big wig around these RRBC hallways. First, he joined and was immediately noticed as being an awesomely supportive guy. Then, he was nabbed as a VIP Lounge Member and starting bringing the alcohol to all the parties (he really became popular then!). With all this popularity, we could no longer sit by and not add him to our board. John is a huge part of our RAVE WAVES BLOGTALK Radio Team. He is host of“SPOTLIGHT” HONORS, co-host of ASPIRE TO INSPIRE, TAG TEAM 2*4*5 and a regular fixture onAUTHOR SCOOP! He’s one of our top interviewers and he’s also one of the major go-to guys when you need help here.
John is originally from Birmingham, Michigan but now lives in Port Aransas, Texas on Mustang Island in the Gulf of Mexico. He’s not alone on that island, his lovely wife Molly and an assortment of loving rescue pets are there to keep this jokester in line.
He studied at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, survived being held prisoner by organized commerce (including AT&T) for over 40 years and is now a full-time writer. John is an avid and hilarious blogger with regular features on his blog such as: Fifty-Two Views of the Gulf, Anything Possible Tuesday, Story DayWednesday, and more days that fill each week. Now, Monday, appears to be his day off but you often get an outrageous TOP 10 Things list on various seasonal or random topics.
Please support this “John” (as he’s one of our two favorite Johns) by picking up a copy of either, or all of his written work in his current book series, JOHN CANNON THRILLERS. If you’re really bold, asking him to share with you the written piece that now serves as a doorstop to hold open his laundry room door.
Although originally from Hamilton, Scotland, Clare now lives in London with her husband and two young sons. She has a history degree from Strathclyde University. She tried to find magic in various fields, but has now decided to concentrate on her writing career, after a lifetime’s passion for reading and inventing stories, while curled up on a window seat in her local library. She is a Fantasy Fiction Fanatic.
Her book, HEAVEN’S WAITING ROOM was an RRBC Book of the Month Selection in 2014. Right now it is free on Kindle until the 18th of January, so run get your copy!
Today, we would like to welcome you to the official book release celebration of “Concordant Vibrancy 2: Vitality“.
Not many anthology collections can say that it is composed of the best Indie and Traditionally published authors on the market today. “Concordant Vibrancy 2: Vitality” is the culmination of the combined efforts of Award Winning, Amazon Best Selling and Up and Coming Authors works. Yet, it is more than that. “Concordant Vibrancy 2: Vitality” is the examination of the theme question “What force drives your spirit?” It is the interpretation of the element of air. It is even the collective talents of spectacular writers in various genres. Inside “Concordant Vibrancy 2’s” pages you will find various translations of the main topic, every one guaranteed to satisfy people from all walks of life.
“Concordant Vibrancy 2” analyzes things such as:
Introspection
Choice
Discovery
Decision
Change
Acceptance
Order
and, Reflection
Every one an important link to the force that drives our spirits.
Tarry no longer and pick yourself up a copy of “Concordant Vibrancy 2: Vitality” brought to you by All Authors Publications and Promotions.
Hello, dear readers. It is my pleasure to present to you another amazing Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author. Introducing J. A. Stinger, author of Generations Beyond. Take it away, J.A.
We all want it, the validation that all our hard work… the blood, sweat, and tears have been worth it. For us, the writers and authors, it’s the reviews. We post our work online and wait for the words from our readers to start pouring in. We hit that refresh button and wait… and wait… and wait some more. After a while, frustration sets in. After that, self-doubt. Did we promote enough? Did we let enough people know? Was our platform solid enough? Was our work as good as we thought it was?
The cold, hard truth is this… everything worthwhile takes time. It’s true that we want everything good to happen the moment that we put our heart and soul into something. But reality doesn’t work like that. Good things come to those who wait. Word of mouth travels, but it goes at its own pace, and there’s nothing we can do to speed it up. We can always ask people that have read our books to tell their friends, but we can’t force it. We can ask for those all-important reviews, but nothing is guaranteed.
J.A. Stinger was born in Vero Beach, FL. J.A. started writing seriously after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and craved a creative outlet. She is a wife, mother, and Army veteran. J.A. writes with her husband, P.W., and they discuss all manner of creative ideas, plots, characters, and twists together. They lived in the Midwest before have to relocate to the Greater Atlanta Metro area. J.A. and P.W. met on an online writing forum and have been together ever since.
From an early age I was always more interested when things went wrong in the world. The light, fluffy Disney world of my younger childhood was left behind as I passed into my teenage years and surrounded myself with works of dystopian fiction such as George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
This love of a futuristic world gone wrong spilled over into my movie taste as well. So, here is a list of my favourite dystopian movies of all time, appearing in no particular order. What are your favourites?
Dystopian movies list:
12 monkeys – a delightfully creepy and mysterious film with excellent acting and a gripping storyline. The music has an unhinged, fairground ride kind of feel to it as well.
A Clockwork Orange – probably my personal favourite dystopian…
Image by fantasy-faction.com 
