I am happy to announce that today is the first of a week-long giveaway at Literary Litter. It’s called the Bloodcurdling Blowout. A Kindle Fire HD and more than 50 books will be given away in the supernatural and horror genre from new, rising, and award-winning authors like Scott Nicholson and Bram Stoker winner John Everson. I am one of those lucky authors participating. I’m offering 3 signed copies of both my 5-star rated novel A Life of Death, book 1, and my co-written short story anthology Strange Circumstances. In addition, there are three copies of each in ebook being given away throughout the bloghop. I highly recommend you stop by and participate. You never know what wonderful books you might win or even the Kindle Fire HD.

You can enter the giveaway through rafflecopter here. And you can also join the bloghop blowout for other great book prizes and gift cards starting today at Literary Litter. Check it out, and enter for your chance to win tons of prizes!

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Earlier today Steve Kuhn, an editing client who recently became a fellow author under the Books of the Dead Press umbrella with his Dext of the Dead series, asked me to divulge the secrets of getting good, honest reviews on my books. Kuhn’s books are great, a zombie series along the lines of The Walking Dead. So it’s been wonderful seeing the response of readers thus far.

Reviews are something all writers want. They act like word of mouth, friends telling friends and strangers about books they’d recommend. My answer was both simple and complex: book bloggers. This isn’t the only way, nor are book bloggers the only people who do reviews, but they are a key method to getting the word out about your book and provide honest reviews for readers to rely on.

But it occurred to me that others have asked this question before. In fact, I’ve answered it for many editing clients at WAKE Editing. New authors are always trying to get the lay of the land so to speak. To provide information for past and future clients and any new author searching for answers, I’ve organized the answer I gave Steve below on how best (in my opinion) to contact book bloggers and reviewers. However, these steps aren’t really secrets. They are pieces of the puzzle I’ve picked up throughout my writing and editing career. 

Step 1: Research
The first step is researching bloggers that read and review your genre of book. I’ve provided a list here of sites that list various blogs to research:

http://www.blogmetrics.org/books
http://sqt-fantasy-sci-fi-girl.blogspot.com/
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/
http://www.theindieview.com/indie-reviewers/
http://badassbookreviews.com/
http://bastardbooks.blogspot.com/
http://bookbloggerlist.com/
http://bookbloggerdirectory.wordpress.com/
http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerboundrecommends/get-reviewed/ (This one gives a list of avid readers who aren’t necessarily book bloggers but do read and review books)

Steve recommended one more location he’s had good luck with, Paranormal and Horror Lovers on Goodreads.

Step 2: Query Letters

Once you’ve found a good blog to contact, then it’s time to write up a quick query that will hook readers and tell them what the book’s about.

10 things to remember and include in a query…

1. Personalization
Address the query to the book blogger or reviewer personally and say something about their blog. (A compliment goes a long way.) Don’t just address it as “Dear Book Blogger.”

2. Make it Easy
You want to make the process as easy for the reviewer and prospective readers as possible. Provide links to find the book/s so they can put them on their website when the review comes out.

3. Review Distribution
Ask the book blogger to leave reviews in the places you want like Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, etc. (They won’t always be able to, but most will try.)

4. Sales Pitch
Yes, as an author you have to do a little selling. You have to sell yourself and the book. Include one positive quote or summary from your publisher or a famous author etc… that was said about your book–and no more than that. Don’t overdo the sales pitch. Let the book and cover speak for themselves.

For Steve, I personally knew of something James Roy Daley, CEO of Books of the Dead Press, said about the Dext of the Dead series upon its release. It was a great line that could easily be summarized for this purpose, which should provide a good example for others: “The story takes place in an apocalyptic nightmare, and is filled with an amazing cast of original characters that will stay with you long after you’ve stopped reading.” This is a bit long, but summarizing it shouldn’t be a problem.

I include a different quote from Daley about A Life of Death in my own queries. He told me upon reading book 1 that it reminded him of when he first read Harry Potter, that it felt like an incredibly comfortable shirt he never wanted to take off. This was something personal, a feeling he had experienced, and one I knew readers could connect with.

Both of these quotes work great for promoting books, so find yours. If you’ve worked at getting your book out there, you’ll have some to choose from. However, only use one. The last thing you want is for book bloggers to think they’re being sold on the newest Ford Fiesta to hit the lot.

5. Research Your Audience
Make sure you’re book blogger is accepting submissions, takes your genre, and accepts ebook submissions if you don’t have print copies to send or can’t afford to. This can become a big factor when it comes to sending books to reviewers and bloggers overseas. Bloggers normally address this on the submission page of their site.

6. Review Requests
Don’t ask for a positive review. Book bloggers are avid readers and will leave honest reviews. That’s what you want to ask for. Honestly, if your book has all 5-star reviews with no mention of things they didn’t like, something’s going to smell a little fishy to readers anyway. (However, rarely will book bloggers leave anything below 3 stars. Instead they either won’t review it or may contact you about the potential review.)

7. Don’t Mass Email!
Let me say that again… Don’t Mass Email! Always send queries out individually. Yes it takes a lot more time, but mass emails often get caught in spam filters and when they get through are seen as less personal. You want to develop a relationship with bloggers. They are there to help you. They do this for free and get nothing but free ebooks out of the deal. They are invaluable.

8. Don’t Assume
You know what they say about assuming–it makes an ass of u and me. So don’t assume a reviewer or book blogger will want the book right away. Yes, I’m sure your book is good if you’ve gone through everything you should be doing (hiring a professional editor, acquiring beta readers, revising), but don’t attach your ebook to the email. Often this assumption will push reviewers away. A little back and forth between book reviewers and authors is a good thing. It builds your relationship. Mention that you’d be happy to supply a digital/print copy if they are interested and ask what format the reviewer would like.

9. Relationship Building
Lastly, make your query friendly. Book bloggers are people, just like you and me.

10. A Final Note… 
Don’t send follow-up emails to see if they received your initial email. This will do nothing but tick people off, assuming they get it. If they didn’t get your first email, they aren’t likely to get the follow-up.

In Summation:
There are probably a few questions you have, so here are answers to some I’ve heard before.

What kind of responses should I expect?

Most book bloggers don’t respond to submissions if they aren’t interested, but a few will. Some authors get about a 5% positive response rate. Then maybe two-thirds of those will actually leave reviews. If you have a good pitch that isn’t too long and will grab the reader in the query, you could see positive response rates of up to 20%. Really, it varies. I’d count on about a 10% positive response. So, if you want to get 30 reviews, you’ll need to query around 350 book bloggers.

How long will it take for the reviews to come in?

Days to weeks to months. Sometimes they’ll be booked until the end of the year. They’ll normally ask if it’s okay to add it that far out. My advice, say yes! An honest review, no matter how far away from the present, is one more than you had.

Can I do interviews or other book spotlights?

Yes! Many times book bloggers say on their website if this is something they’re interested in. Mention that you’d be open to an interview or something similar in the query if you want. That leaves the door open.

Thanks for visiting. I hope these tidbits help. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or respond below. Additionally, if you know of other great links to lists of book bloggers, feel free to respond with them. Any that will help authors are welcome.

To get in touch with Steve Kuhn, you’ll find him on Facebook here or at Diary of a Runner. Or you can read his newly released series Dext of the Dead, available through most ebook retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

A Life of Death has been doing well of late. People seem to be enjoying it, and I was recently speaking with Roxanne at Fangtastic Books, a book fan site for everything speculative and paranormal, especially ghosts and vampires. She’s even hosting an interview with me that will be available at 6:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning, Sunday, about the A Life of Death collection and writing in general.

For a fun look at great supernatural books and what goes on behind the scenes, stop by the Fangtastic Books interview.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Recently Goodreads created a new opportunity that I thought was great. It’s called Ask the Author. I just encountered it, and as an avid reader and writer, I thought this would be a great opportunity to speak with those who inspired me… at least those still living. I haven’t checked yet, but will certainly be looking to see if Stephen King has enabled this function on his Goodreads author account. I kind of doubt it considering how famous he is, but you never know.

For fans of my books or writers interested in editing or publishing advice, I’ve enabled this function on my author account on Goodreads. Feel free to voice any questions you might have. I’ve answered a few so far and will try to do so each week, time willing. 

If you have an author you’d love to contact, I encourage you to check and see if they’re taking questions using this program. You can get their personal insights on everything from favorite influences to writing techniques and what they have planned for characters in upcoming novels.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

I am very happy to report a new review for A Life of Death. Horror Novel Reviews accepted and read A Life of Death in less than 4 days… and the result: 5 stars! The review includes an in-depth summary and then evaluation on their site.

There are also many more great books and movies being reviewed if you are looking for something new to watch or read.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances


“One of the most anticipated reads of the summer.” –The Horror Bookshelf
MILK-BLOOD, by Mark Matthews, is now available on amazon. It is a tale of urban horror set in Detroit that may be unlike anything you’ll read all year. MILK-BLOOD is the follow up to On the Lips of Children, the author’s debut piece of horror. The cover design is from Kealan Patrick Burke of Elderlemon Design, and the story was edited by Richard Thomas, Editor in Chief at Dark House Press.
What’s it about?
     Lilly is ten years old, born with a heart defect, and already addicted to heroin. Her mother is gone from her life, and there are rumors that she was killed by her father and buried near the abandoned house across the street. The house intrigues her, she can’t stay away, and the monstrous homeless man who lives there has been trying to get Lilly to come inside.
      For her mother is there, buried in the back, and this homeless man is Lilly’s true father, and both want their daughter back.
The term upon which the title is based, “Milk-Blood” was made famous in the Neil Young Song “The Needle and the Damage Done.” A companion piece featuring a character from Milk-Blood, The Damage Done, is available for free on amazon and has been receiving tremendous reviews.
Praise for MILK-BLOOD
“An incredibly powerful story and one of the most original horror novels I have read in years. Guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat!”—The Horror Bookshelf
“I had to keep on reading no matter what, not able to break its spell.” -Goodreads Librarian
“The originality and tension of the urban horror story, Milk-Blood is evident on every page. Matthews takes you to some very dark places, twists and turns, with the rabbit hole going deeper and deeper, until there is no way out. Not for the faint of heart, this story of love, loss, family and acceptance is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.” — Richard Thomas, author of Staring Into the Abyss
“What a dark, twisted and bizarre book this was. One of the most striking urban horror stories I have read in a long time.” —Author Adam Light
“This is a helluva story. A discomforting tale of true inner city horrors, told by characters so real they pop off the page. Add the supernatural mix to the story and it really grabs you by the throat. Very much recommended!”— John F.D. Taff, author of Little Deaths

 
I will be reading a copy as soon as I get a chance. I highly recommend you do so, too.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Author Brian Pinkerton

I had a great time last weekend at Duckon. Meeting authors Brian Pinkerton, John Everson (Bram Stoker Award Winner), W.D. Gagliani (Bram Stoker Award Finalist), David Benton and others was wonderful. The book signing was great, writing panels were awesome, and I even helped out around the Registration Booth. It couldn’t have gone better if it had been… well, planned.  Also, I got the chance to meet David Gerrold, the script writer of Stark Trek’s “Trouble with Tribbles” and more than 50 books.  

Author Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe was also there, yet another celebrated, award-winning author. One of the most memorable things I heard this weekend was from him… a life’s lesson we should all take to heart. While showing him to his reading panel, I asked how his day was going. His response: “Well, I woke up this morning. At my age, that makes it a great day!” Cheers to waking up each morning! 

Supposed Reincarnation of Tom Baker

Another fantastic celebrity I got to meet, at least in his altered form, was Tom Baker, the fourth Dr. Who. As you can see, he was trekking around the Westin North Shore Hotel, investigating everything, even the Registration Booth. Evidently he’d forgotten to take care of that earlier on. One morning, a 16-foot python got out and began speeding through the halls, we think in search of Mr. Baker’s reincarnation, who would have been a tasty meal for a snake that large. Thankfully, they caught the python before any such snackage had taken place.

Masters of Lightning

I also had a great time meeting up with an old friend, Tavis Potter, and making many new ones. I tell you, the weekend was jam packed, especially after watching Masters of Lightning. It was a great light and music show where tesla coils made the music, performing things like the Ghostbusters theme song and so much more. 

Harp Twins

Then something I never would have expected knocked my socks off – the Harp Twins. If you haven’t seen them, check them out. It was like watching Valkyrie Angels thrust to earth, and the music had to be reminiscent of what sailors must of heard when passing the Greek Sirens. I never realized a harp duo playing Guns and Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine” and so many more great Rock ballads could have been that good. They’ve done music for the Game of Thrones show, games like Morrowind, and so much more. 

Check out Duckon 2015 next year. It’s certainly worth it.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances


This was a very exciting weekend at the Cleveland Concoction convention, the first convention in Cleveland in over 20 years from what I understand. Friday was good, as was Sunday with the Star Trek fans taking photos with “Rod” Roddenberry, Jr, the son of late Gene Roddenberry (the creator of Star Trek). However, Saturday was certainly my favorite day.

While  at Cleveland’s newest convention, I wound up spending a little time with Santiago Cirilo (the mechanic Julio from season 4 of The Walking Dead). Talk about a down-to-earth guy on one of the most famous shows around. If you ever get a chance to meet Santiago, you most certainly will enjoy the easy-going actor.

I also saw well-choreographed dark horror cabaret dancing by the Monster Dolls. Having never seen them before, or anything like it, I can honestly say I would recommend it for anyone with a tendency toward the darker side who enjoys great dancing and very attractive women.

Another group I listened to was called 2D6. They were remanescent of Weird Al with gaming-Mountain Dew IVs permanently attached. The audience laughed throughout, including me. Although, I do need to warn people that the language and content are probably something to keep in mind before your 8-year-old starts listening.


And to top off Saturday night, I got to lead the Author Panel’s Q & A.The audience was quite inquisitive, and I was glad to have experience as both an author and editor. I sold and signed some copies of A Life of Death, hosted an author table, and met a lot of new great people. I was impressed with the steampunk attire and vendors at the con. It was a great experience, and I hope others can enjoy a bit too if you find time or are in the area.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

Just the other day, a few exciting things happened that I’ve been waiting on. The A Life of Deathseries, both book one and its sequel The Golden Bulls, were released as independent novels through my publisher. Right now the ebooks can be found on Amazon, but soon they will be available on all other major ebook retailers.

Not only that, the books have really been dressed up and given even more haunting covers that really do the books justice. I have provided the links below with the new covers so you can see them and grab a copy. Let me know what you think of the new covers. I’m very excited to hear readers’ responses. You can email me or just post below.

 
A Life of Death, Book One 

 
The Golden Bulls, Book Two 

 
Thanks so much for your time. I hope Alex’s paranormal tale and haunting memories of murder become a bright part of your day… if you can call it that. 🙂

As a side note, I have a different series slotted for release through my publisher, Books of the Dead Press, later this year. The first two books are already completed, and the last in the series will follow. I’ll keep you posted on them. 



Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, and Strange Circumstances

In addition to getting more 5-star reviews on the A Life of Death series recently, something else is coming to fruition that I thought fans might like to see…

The sequel to A Life of Death, which is currently available as episodes 7-12 in ebook, is about to be released in paperback. Books of the Dead Press just sent me the new cover for my opinion, and I must say that I was excited to see it. The book is titled The Golden Bulls, and here’s a sneak peek.

I love that it’s in line with the horror and murder mystery aspects of the story. For those of you who know me, you’re probably familiar with my proclivity for dead quiet places, especially when they have so much history hidden underfoot. I’m a bit of an oddball with interests in old cemeteries… not to mention their relevance to this story, so this cover hit the spot like a warm cup of Joe first thing on a lazy morning.

In addition, there are a few more things coming down the pipeline, so I’ll let you know more when there is confirmation. Until then, I think I’ll head over to the Cleveland Concoction Sci-fi and RPG convention next weekend. It should be a lot of fun for anyone in the area with similar interests.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection and Strange Circumstances