Oh…Amazon

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.

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