Word of Mouth
There are so many Blogs I had wanted to write first: about the journey of producing an e-book - so close now. The marketing (or lack of) of my novel, even about the mystery whether or not the book got to Bruce in the end. But what has been the scariest and simultaneously the most rewarding part of the journey so far is the response I have received from my readers. And let’s face it (in the slightly adapted word of Bob Marley): no readers - no book.
So my novel has been available on Amazon for some time now, and in bookstores in The Netherlands but sales are slow. The original print-run has just about sold out because I have been shoving the book in people’s faces wherever I went. I no longer know the word for shame. But I am no algorithm. And Amazon is. And that is where I need you, my reader, again.
First you bought the book, then you read it, and now you could really REALLY help me by reviewing it. If you bought it on Amazon or other online retailers - you could leave a review there. The more reviews I get, the more findable I shall be and thus the more sellable. Coz right now, Amazon doesn’t like to bring up the book, even if you type in the exact title of the novel. I didn’t sign up to the bit where Amazon gets an even bigger chunk of the pie, you see. So I am the ugly sisters left at the hearth. But YOU can change the algorithm.
But , if you were an awesome friend that bought directly off me at the pre-sale, then you probably won’t be able to leave a review on sellers’ sites. You CAN leave a review HERE on Goodreads. Because Goodreads works like a community your voice will carry much further than you think - one recommendations that reaches two people, who each reach two new people: you get the drill. You can simply sign in with your Facebook or google account …
To help you along here are a few of the reviews by my readers. Some are online, others were sent directly to me. I love the latter and am so grateful for them. However, if you would care to spend some time online that would be a massive boost. Can we get my novel up to 100 reviews in the next couple of weeks?
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I love reading and I must have read somewhere between half a thousand and a thousand books through my lifetime. Sometimes I come across books I can’t stop reading, because they are so exciting. Those are the good books. More rarely, I come across books I never want to stop reading - those are the really great ones! Chasing the Heartland is one of those!
A rare and valuable treasure of a novel that I felt like reading forever. I didn’t want the book to end. It brought me on a journey filled with questions, thoughts, hopes and desires. Some of them came straight from the storyteller’s voice, while others came as much from inside my own mind. While I followed the main character’s journey, it was inevitable that I, at the same time, back-traced my own. And I just wanted to keep reading and for the pages never to run out.
As a Springsteen fan I can relate to the impact his songs have had to the the character’s life and the longing to come close to the backdrop of where it all have been created. Taking in all the sights of New Jersey live, and not just from pictures. As a person that has both lived, loved and sometimes lost my self, I can relate to the longing to find back something that ones was lost, and the fulfillment of taking back something that ones was taken from you.
Chasing the Heartland is more than just a novel you read to be amused for a short period of time. Its a journey-in-a novel that gives its readers the opportunity to do a little tidying in their own heads. It reminded me somewhat of who I am. And that the world can be a pretty nice place and is filled with warm-hearted people … if your just willing to show a little faith.
Ninja (Norway)
Heerlijke pageturner, in één ruk uitgelezen op een luie zomerdag. Ik werd helemaal meegenomen in de reis van Wendy op zoek naar onafhankelijkheid en verbinding. Mooi sfeerbeeld van hoe twee generaties dealen met de thema’s van nu. Prachtig ondersteund door muziekfragmenten die je kunt streamen. En vast ook heel goed te gebruiken als reisgids langs de historische landmarks in Bruce Springsteens leven.
De combi van het met vaart geschreven verhaal, gelardeerd met dagboekfragmenten/blogs en (blad) muziek doe ’t goed!
Femmeke (Netherland)
A heartwarming story with well built tension and compelling characters!
(Noah - GoodReads *****)
This novel presents an epic, Springsteen-themed journey through the United States that sets the stage for the two main events: the (separate) psychological journeys of a mother and her teenage daughter who are both in need of finding their own identity outside the prescribed societal roles of mother and wife (Wendy), and daughter and supposed slut (Rosie).
It reads a bit like a female adventure novel with moments of dread and fear, as well as freedom, pleasure, and insight. But it's the insights that really stuck with me. I had my pencil out, underlining passages that offered wonderful words of wisdom from characters encountered along the way, or from the lead characters coming to conclusions about life, and about themselves.
I loved the Scottish English peppered throughout the novel and didn't mind puzzling through what some of these words meant, as it gave the female leads a special voice and perspective, especially when outside Scotland.
After reading this novel, there are three things I want to do: actually listen to Springsteen lyrics (rather than just singing along to the chorus), plan a road trip to the eastern half of the United States, and make several post-it notes of some of the insightful gems from this novel and stick them on the mirror or office door to inspire me to keep on exploring my own meandering path, regardless of what society says I "should be" doing. Definitely recommend.
Kristin (Goodreads *****)
