I just got another review for Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy. I so appreciate the folks who take the time to write reviews for my books. If you’re a writer, I think you’ll understand. I don’t write for money or fame. I write to connect – to help people know they’re not alone. Positive reviews help me feel that connection we have to one another.
Amazon has a weird rating system. I have six ratings now for Cosmic Connections – five of them are five-star ratings and three of those have reviews with them. I also have one one-star rating. The one-star rating doesn’t come with a review or an explanation or even a name. But somehow that one-star rating holds more weight than the five five-star ratings. That one one-star rating is worth 25% of my whole average. I’ve asked Amazon about this, but have gotten no response.
So if you read my book and liked it and wanted to write a review for it, I think it would be way cool to flood Amazon with positive reviews and see how they get around THAT.
Here’s the latest review – Mama Bear writes: “This book is so positive, so uplifting and so authentic. The author shows us how a simple act of kindness, a smile and a little love can set the tone for a person’s day. I’m ordering the next 2 books in this series soon. I highly recommend these books!!”
There’s a new review on Amazon for my book Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy! SB writes: “I often feel like I’m right there with the author in her small town travels and happenings. The writing is fluid, poignant, and personal, yet universal – easy to translate to any place. It got me thinking about life, love, and the smallness of this big world.”
I so appreciate when someone takes the time to write a review for one of my books. It means so much to me when I read a review like this because it helps me feel I’ve connected to someone else in a positive way.
This morning I finished reading Joanna Nell’s new book, Mrs. Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year. I love Joanna Nell’s books. Here’s the review I wrote for the one I finished this morning:
I so enjoy Joanna Nell’s stories. Joanna Nell gives dignity and respect to her aging characters. Her characters are full of life and humor, wanting to make use of every moment left to them. Her books inspire me. She makes growing old fun.
My father lived to be 101 and, even as he was losing his memory, he wanted to get out and go on drives and have adventures with me. As I read Joanna Nell’s books, I can see him as the hero in one of her stories. That makes me smile.
This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing.
Very nice pace, with the narrative gliding along, a healthy forward pull in the structure. We see no jumpy parts or dropped-off parts. Just great transitions between sections. Watch out, though, that if you’re taking blog posts and turning them into a book, you have to say, ‘I’m starting this book’ instead of ‘I’m starting this post’. That happens right up front, throwing the reader, and also throughout. Give the book the identity of a book, not a repurposed collection of blog posts.
This book has spelling, punctuation, and grammar corresponding with the region of the world from which the author hails (ex. British English or American English) or with where the book is set (including slang, vernacular, or dialect). These choices are intentional and implemented consistently throughout with few, if any, errors.
Good work in making sure that typos are edited out of the manuscript, so that the reader is not distracted by this as well.
This book is exemplary in production quality and cover design. The physical materials, printing, and binding are of professional quality and traditional industry standards. The typesetting and page layout (including illustrations, images, or figures) are easy to follow, thoughtfully designed, and error free. The cover appears to be professionally designed and is compellingly related to the content/genre of the book.
Lovely cover with the butterflies on her vibrant running shoes. That ties into the book’s title, with serendipitous events such as this feeling like it has to be a cosmic connection.
This book is exemplary in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal for most readers in its intended genre.
Overall, the theme is kindness, and connection. Author brings together so many signs and forces of positivity. Author walks us through her days as she notices things about people, establishes connections and questioning of others. We get bright energy and some surreal moments like we’ve gone through a time portal. Very fascinating and high energy that keeps us immersed. Well done.
This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of the intended genre.
Author writes with a bright energy, lifting us with her voice as she elevates the narrative through enthusiasm and eye-opening observations. It’s a feeling of impressive presence here in the story, as author paints so much realism and sensory detail.
I love how the author brings out the little details like a pumpkin spice latte and snow geese. Author paints a gorgeous setting and populates the story world with remarkable detail. Nice work. I love how several of the segments open with a breathless excitement: ‘something really amazing happened.’ I saw that a few times, and it had such a great energy to it, a nice opener. Very nice choice for last page’s entry. Sensory details stand out.
Hey! Check it out! I’ve now got two five-star ratings AND a written review for Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy! Thank you to the “Amazon Customer” who took the time to write this review. If you’re an author, you know how much that means…
Amazon Customer writes: 5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book! Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2021 Verified Purchase “Cosmic Connections” follows the excursions of an extraverted author and photographer who befriends nearly every person who crosses her path. This uplifting read highlights life’s small moments of connection — with strangers, old friends she meets by chance, the hapless, friendly dogs and former students. The author uses brief anecdotes—one or two pages—to show how much goodness permeates life. One entry describes meeting a stranger, only to find out she is the daughter of the minister who married her and her husband (in another part of the state) 30 years before. Her warm writing style and enthusiasm for life is infectious. AMAZON.COMDelightful book!
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 