Reviews from

Yours and Ringo's Dreams

So You Wanna be a Paperback Writer?!

44 total reviews 
Comment from Father Flaps
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Ah, Jay... there's nothing you write that I don't enjoy. Yes, even the perils of Amazon. Personally, I don't need the headaches. My blood pressure is quite high enough, thank you very much. I'm content to have the odd poem included in someone else's book. Most of my poems will evaporate when Tom closes Fanstory down someday. Of course, hopefully, I'll be long gone by then. And if Heaven doesn't rapture my best poems, they'll have evaporated like rainfall on a hot summer's day, sentences all jumbled in the wake of a UFO secretly speeding through earth's upper atmosphere.
I will endeavor to read your "RSVP: Invitation to a Chumash Massacre." But be patient with me. My wife is chronically ill. This causes me the full brunt of housework and care. It takes away time I might spend in Fanstory reading and reviewing... and writing, too, I guess. Also, the Worship Team at Lancaster Baptist Church has asked me to join them, playing guitar. My first session with them was last Sunday morning. Of the five songs, I only knew two. So much of last week, I spent learning these songs. Takes time.

"and below both of those, a (blub) you've composed about why the world should read your novel." ... (did you mean to write "blurb"?)

Nicely penned, Jay. And, of course, I wish you every success!

Cheers,
Kimbob


 Comment Written 25-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 25-Apr-2023
    That "blub" was supposed to be corrected already! Hmmm. Thanks, and also for the six! Hey, man, I will be patient. You take care of things. RSVP is a loooooong book, but I think you'll like it. Now to go fix blub!

    Jay
Comment from Liz O'Neill
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

My very question: "and now I'm being asked by a number of you, "Where the Hell's Jay Squires?" Have you been absent to live WC Field's saying. 'keep um wanting more.'? It worked. This is funny...Jay humor: Amazon has been good to me. They've delivered my socks and tee-shirts on time with nary a hitch. It was high time I was good to them." I've finally gotten my Kindle charged. I guess I've been plugging the Kindle part into an unplugged cord within the nest of cords.

 Comment Written 24-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 24-Apr-2023
    I hope your Kindle is charged before midnight tonight. That's when the freebie ends. Yeah, you might say I've been pretty busy while away from FanStory. Thank you for noticing!
    Jay
reply by Liz O'Neill on 24-Apr-2023
    Finally it's done. It's technology. @#7#0#7^%%
reply by the author on 24-Apr-2023
    What is it that's finally done?
reply by Liz O'Neill on 24-Apr-2023
    charging & loading my Kindle...I want to begin reading. I finally have completed my books: Be Wee With Bea 3 & Traffic 2 & The Tor. Now I'll soon be working of proof reading...So I have some respite time to be able to read your book.
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Oh my God. Poor Jay. What a mensis horribilis you have been having. Life can be very unkind sometimes. You have totally put me off the idea of publishing on Amazon. I think all my masterpieces (haha!) will languish in a drawer until after my death - let someone else deal with them. kay

 Comment Written 22-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 22-Apr-2023
    I have since found the way to make publication on Amazon go much more smoothly. So don't give up on it. And when your brilliance needs that larger market, let me know and I'll put you in touch with that better way!
    Jay
reply by Katherine M. (k-11) on 22-Apr-2023
    After NaPoWriMo, I plan to revise last year's book on trying to live a normal life with mental illness. I had hoped to do that during April, but it was not fated to be so. I had actually planned for last May-June, but I have been procrastinating. However, I will not be doing NaNoWriMo this year (it's not appropriate to keep starting new things. I need to Focus and Finish) so I think over the spring-summer I could do some pushing... kay PS still no change
Comment from Evelyn Hopkins
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I love your writing!! and the story it creates It's very pretty and draws attention in to the audience. Good luck and I hope you have a good day!! :))

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    Thank you for your kind words.
    Jay
Comment from estory
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Another interesting essay on the pitfalls of publishing with Amazon. I guess the moral of this could be you get what you pay for. Unless you are tech savy, and I'm not, this sounds like a nightmare. And of course the real publishers won't touch anybody who isn't as famous as the pope or Taylor Swift or Trump. So we're stuck with Fanstory. For good or ill. estory

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    Many thanks, Estory. I can think of worse places to be stuck. For me it's all good. The Pope's sick, Taylor Swift can't find love, and Trump ... well, is Trump. Fan Story's looking mighty good!
    Jay
Comment from Ric Myworld
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You're a trip! And I don't even have to be on train, boat, or plane. And we can't beat free, but I don't think it's make your bank account overflowing. However, it's a smart move to shimmy your wares up the ladder and make potential readers wonder what all the chatter is about. Wishing you the best with your promotion. And I'm sure anyone who takes time to read your works will become an instant fan. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    Awwwww Man, you are always so kind. And you know the window's not going to be open forever. Only three more days. I do hope you'll click the link (or rather put it on your browser) and get your freebie. I don't expect to get rich on anything I write, but I sure would like to rock Amazon off her algorithm and create a buzzzzzz! I hope you help me do that, Ric! And I honestly want you to read "The Uneven Zen of Time". Here's the link: https://tinyurl.com/y2txtza7

    Jay
reply by Ric Myworld on 21-Apr-2023
    Well, I can assure you I wouldn't miss reading it, free or not. I hope you flood the lines and make your mark.
Comment from lyenochka
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I do agree with you that there are pitfalls and aggravations to working on KDP. For example, I published my first book through CreateSpace which was before KDP and then they merged. Now it won't accept the formatting of the KDP book to go to KDP which I prefer because it's cheaper. CreateSpace forced me to charge about $20 (with me get a profit of 50 cents) because of the thicker paper and colored photos used. But everything I've done on KDP is just a fraction of that cost. Yes, software has aggravations!

 Comment Written 21-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    Helen, I stumbled on a version of KDP that is much easier to use. It's called "Kindle Create". I've already highlighted its advantages with someone on FS. It might have been you, and I don't want to repeat myself. If you aren't the one, let me know and I'll give you a brief rundown.
    Jay
reply by lyenochka on 21-Apr-2023
    It must be someone else. Tell me about Kindle Create. Is that only for Kindle? KDP creates the paperback first and then lets you create the kindle version.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    You can use it for both Kindle eBook, Paperbooks (even comics). It has a learning curve, but you are more tech savvy than I. What they do is let you upload Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice and use it to practice the various formatting functions, drop caps, different title formats, dividers, a lot of things. Then, when it's good to go, you link it to Amazon's KDP in both Kindle and Paperback formats. Here you go: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUGQ4WDZ92F733GC
reply by lyenochka on 21-Apr-2023
    Thanks for the link, Jay! I've got way too much going on now. Will check it out after I move!
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    When you do, let me know if I can help.
    Jay
reply by lyenochka on 21-Apr-2023
    Thank you! 💖
Comment from Douglas Goff
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

OMG. This seems like way to much work to publish a book on Amazon. I'm gonna just keep rambling on at you good folks l, my captive audience in your never ending thirst for site dollars, and enjoy your comments.

Regardless, glad you are back, Jay. You rock!

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 21-Apr-2023
    Ah-hahaha! Thank you, Doug. I'll be your captive audience any day, Sir. Glad you have enjoyed some of what I do.
    Jay
Comment from Nicki Nance
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I feel like I owe you that for the entertainment and education in this informative rant and the Liza vid - not in that order. It wll be my pleasure to figure out one minute after standard time and spread the word,

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 20-Apr-2023
    Oh, that would be so fab, Nicki. We're almost finished with the first full day of availability. Thank you for jumping onto the bandwagon. I hope we're all having fun. And Free is good!
    Jay
Comment from Rosemary Everson1
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Goodness, you are really being kind. Thank you. I'll definitely see what you have as a freebie. I really like your story and the written material so I'm going to check your book(s) out.

 Comment Written 20-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 20-Apr-2023
    Oh, Rosemary! You got my heart pounding. The link for the freebie is https://tinyurl.com/y2txtza7 if you don't get around to the Yellow Book post. I really think you'll love the Novelette. And I'm counting on you spreading the buzz with your loved ones and friends, your neighbors, mayor, and anyone passing your house. LOL. I do think you'll love the story.

    Jay
reply by Rosemary Everson1 on 20-Apr-2023
    Your book is wonderfully written. Enjoyed reading it. Thank you!