I had reviews for Secret Past and Moon Affirmations. I worked my bum off asking everyone to please write a review. I got an Barbara Ardinger to write one for Moon Affirmations (Thanks Barbara!) and two other people to write reviews of Secret Past.
I was on Amazon the other day (okay I admit I’m there daily) and noticed the reviews were gone. My first reaction was that something my be wrong with my computer or something I’m doing. I checked back regularly. They didn’t come back. I emailed Amazon. Their standard response was people take their reviews down all the time.
Of course people take down their reviews. However, I find it hard to believe that all three of the reviews I had were taken down at once. I told them this. They came back with, these people know you – they should post in the discussion area. My response was to explain that while one of the people who did the review I am close with the other two were not.
I talked at length how I asked Barbara to do a review because she is known in the community that I’m targeting the book to. While I know Barbara, she isn’t a close personal friend. Plus she gave an honest and insightful review (which is what I asked for) not a gushing “hey read this book it is fab” review. They finally put that review back up.
The other review for Secret Past was by someone I know but it isn’t like we are close personal friends. She’s a librarian and friend of my daughters. When she was done reading the book I asked her to please post a review and to be honest. She did so. And now Amazon has wiped it away like it meant nothing.
I get they are trying to maintain integrity in the reviews. Here’s the thing. I’m a newly published author. Every positive thing – like these reviews – I worked my ass off to get. They count. They make a difference in whether someone will buy or not. I need them to help encourage sales. If Amazon takes them away, it affects my sales.
I tried calling them and got the excuse that the reviews department doesn’t have a phone line which I call shenanigans on. I’m going to give it till Monday and if the review isn’t back for Secret Past, I will try calling again to talk to the Author’s Central department and bitch again.
Here’s the thing – if you are reading this and you’ve read my books. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords or wherever and post a review. Please be HONEST. If there were things you didn’t like that is okay and normal. I expect to be criticized. It is the nature of being an author. Please post a review on any of my books. I could really use them and they all help a lot.
If Amazon is being a shithead about it, please go to the discussion area at the bottom of the page for the book and start a conversation about it. I don’t know if that will help with getting sales but at least it will get information about the book out there and people’s opinions about the book out there.