[KBoards Admin]

We've been looking for ways to assist authors in getting some visibility for newly-published and overlooked books. These books typically don't have any reviews yet, or few reviews... and thus they don't qualify for many of the promotional opportunities out there.

So, twice a week (on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4pm Pacific), we're going to replace our usual 'Spotlight Post' with a 'Book Discovery Day' post. This post will contain a simple table (see graphic below) with newly-published or overlooked books. The table will be limited to 16 books or fewer.

Starting today, you can submit your book here:
http://kboards.com/book-discovery-promo

The only requirements we'll make for the book submissions are:
(a) no erotica;
(b) a family-friendly cover; and
(c) the book has fewer than ten reviews on Amazon *or* an Amazon ranking of higher than 100,000.

We've set a price for this of $15/book. For those of you who may be interested, I would also offer a couple of tips:

- Having a really good cover matters. Get it professionally done if you can... it truly does make a difference when trying to attract new readers!
- Take a look at your blurb and see if it could use some tightening up. Note that, due to space restrictions in our posted table, only the first 500 characters of the book's description are included.

I would appreciate your feedback on this and how we can make it as effective as possible for authors, and for readers. Thanks!

-Harvey

 

[Guest]

What happens if you get to 3 reviews between the time you sign up and the time the book is to be featured?

 

[N. Gemini Sasson]

Great idea , Harvey! Props to KB for being so innovative.

 

[KBoards Admin]

What happens if you get to 3 reviews between the time you sign up and the time the book is to be featured?

We won't be too legalistic about that. We'll still run the book even if the number of reviews becomes more than 3.

 

[H. S. St. Ours]

Always coming up with great ideas to help new authors, eh? What's your angle?

 

[KBoards Admin]

  This one seems like an unmet need, for those zero-review books out there! Plus, it's fun to program these things.

 

[Amanda Brice]

What a great idea!

How far in advance are you scheduling? And how far in advance do you anticipate it will fill up?

Can you pre-schedule it for a new release? Let's say I'll be releasing my new book on February 26, but I'd love a feature on March 1 or March 8 (the closest Fridays to my release). I don't have an ASIN now and won't until I've uploaded. So I'd need to wait until I've uploaded to purchase a date, right?

 

[Becca Mills]

Always coming up with great ideas to help new authors, eh? What's your angle?

Pretty sure it's some sort of general awesomeness thing ... very suspicious, if you ask me!

 

[Kay Bratt]

One of my newest books only has 8 reviews. I'm going to report 5 of them as abuse so I can get down to 3 and book a slot, if that's okay.



Just in case you don't get my humor...I'm kidding, Harvey! Great program, though. I know there are many **gems** out there from KB'ers waiting to be discovered!

 

[KBoards Admin]

What a great idea!

How far in advance are you scheduling? And how far in advance do you anticipate it will fill up?

Can you pre-schedule it for a new release? Let's say I'll be releasing my new book on February 26, but I'd love a feature on March 1 or March 8 (the closest Fridays to my release). I don't have an ASIN now and won't until I've uploaded. So I'd need to wait until I've uploaded to purchase a date, right?

Great question. Yes, you can request a future Friday - just indicate that in the Notes / Instructions field that appears after you submit the form.

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

One of my newest books only has 8 reviews. I'm going to report 5 of them as abuse so I can get down to 3 and book a slot, if that's okay.



Just in case you don't get my humor...I'm kidding, Harvey! Great program, though. I know there are many **gems** out there from KB'ers waiting to be discovered!

 

[KBoards Admin]

One of my newest books only has 8 reviews. I'm going to report 5 of them as abuse so I can get down to 3 and book a slot, if that's okay.



Just in case you don't get my humor...I'm kidding, Harvey! Great program, though. I know there are many **gems** out there from KB'ers waiting to be discovered!

Actually, one thing I'd like some feedback on is whether "3" is a reasonable maximum for the number of book reviews. Should it be a higher number?

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

From a logistics standpoint, I would think that the number of submissions will give you a feel for that, Harvey.  If you are inundated, maybe three is enough.   

Some review sites have a minimum number to accept books for review, don't they? Is it three or five?  I can see Book Discovery Day being a plus for those authors whose books aren't eligible for those other sites.

Betsy

 

[harrisonbooth]

Great idea; currently Lara Croft would have trouble discovering my book, anything to get it a few steps out of the abyss would be massively appreciated.

I'll submit mine imminently...

 

[R. M. Reed]

Dang, I was going to submit Twas the Night for this, but when I looked at the Amazon page, a third review had come in. Well, now I'm eligible for some other promo opportunities.

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

Actually, one thing I'd like some feedback on is whether "3" is a reasonable maximum for the number of book reviews. Should it be a higher number?

Harvey, is three the maximum that a book can have, or is two? Your initial post reads "less than three" which would mean two was the maximum.

Betsy

 

[TessOliver]

Thanks for this Harvey. I've just submitted for my other pen name Rachel Blake. And for those of us who wait the old-fashioned way for reviews to come in (sitting, waiting, biting nails) the three reviews or less stipulation was refreshing to see.

 

[R. M. Reed]

Harvey, is three the maximum that a book can have, or is two? Your initial post reads "less than three" which would mean two was the maximum.

Betsy

Actually it should be "fewer than three."

 

[Anna K]

Thanks for the promotion opportunity! I just submitted my newer release, Cerulean.

 

[KBoards Admin]

Harvey, is three the maximum that a book can have, or is two? Your initial post reads "less than three" which would mean two was the maximum.

Betsy

Ah, good catch. It should be "fewer than three," with the rationale that books with 3 or more reviews can submit to other promos on KB, ENT, etc.