......http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/p/free-book-reviews-nation-forum.html.......
greatindiereads.blogspot.com.......
.................... freebookreviews.blogspot.com.................................
As promised, I sent along a questionnaire to Albert Robbins III, and he responded promptly with answers. Albert is the owner/operator of three book blogs. He was most kind (and very insightful, I might add!) in giving me a great review for "Angel's Requiem" a year ago and then he followed that up in January, 2012 by naming it to his top 25 books for the year!!! I log into his site to reread his very supportive review of 'Angel's' when I most need a lift as I slog through this very unstable world of self-publishing where a writer has to enjoy and relish the act of writing and keep reminding herself that 'a bird doesn't sing to be heard. It sings because it can.' It often feels like that saying IS for the birds!! The time has come to frame a copy of both his review and the List of 25 Top-Rated Books for 2011. Without adding anything further except that Albert vehemently denies he is the Rupert Murdoch of Indie Publishing.......H..E..E...R..E'S ALBERT ROBBINS III:
KK: Albert: Reason for founding.
AR: The first blog I started was Free Book Reviews. I started this blog because as I was trying to promote my wife’s (RJ Palmer) book “Birthright”, I saw a lack of outlets for “Indie Authors” to really get their work out there for free. Therefore, I figured that I could help her promote her work, if I help the “Indie Author” community promote their work. Sounds like a good idea, even if it was a bit self-serving at the time. Then as the months went by my involvement in the “Indie Author” community became larger than a mere wanting to promote my wife and became about helping readers find and connect with authors they were told were not good enough. I then started Great Indie Reads so that authors did not have to wait for a review in order to promote their work. I started The Nation Forum for the same reason. In the time since starting these blogs and forum I have had millions of visits and have read hundreds of books and have never looked back. These sites will continue to grow as my experience in promoting RJ Palmer and her books, “Birthright” and “Sins of the Father” expose me to a greater amount of resources in which to share with the masses.
KK: Briefly describe the evolution from one site to another.
AR: Free Book Reviews is for Book Reviews, Book Excerpts, Guest Posts, Blog Tours and Author Interviews. I also occasionally post news or tidbits about other things that interest me either in the writing world or on a personal level.
Great Indie Reads is strictly a place for books to be presented to the masses. With links to purchase and a description of the material.
The Nation Forum is just that. A place for readers and author to connect. Anyone can join in and anyone can post whatever they want.
I believe that together these three offer authors a chance to “get out there” and readers a chance to find the one book that they NEED to read.
KK: Do you have a career other than publishing your blogs?
AR: At this point in time I run my own Computer Repair Business (S7 Computer Solutions).
KK: Would you share with the reader any interesting, rewarding, moments? Any epiphanies?
AR: Within my first year of reviewing I had an author call me a lazy reviewer. (On a five star review) However, anytime and every time I have an author tell me how much they appreciated my review of their work it makes me feel all warm an fuzzy. When I get messages from readers that tell me how I helped them decide to buy a book I feel proud. These are the moments that make it worth it.
KK: Anything else you are inclined to share:
AR: Also while you are at it hop over to my blogs or other links and give me a shout. Be on the lookout for Free Book Reviews best of 2012.
I also have to take this chance to say that I would love it if you would buy my wife’s books “Birthright” : http://www.amazon.com/Birthright-ebook/dp/B0040GJGQO/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348945232&sr=1-8&keywords=birthright and below:
“Sins of the Father” : http://www.amazon.com/Sins-of-the-Father-ebook/dp/B007Z4WUWU/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348945280&sr=1-2&keywords=sins+of+the+father
They really are good tales and I am sure you would enjoy them.
Attention readers! Pick up a copy of any of Kate Kindle’s books, you eill not be disappointed.
KK: Thanks for the plug, Albert. As for RJ Palmer, I already have picked up copies of her books and will leave comments/reviews and post them on my blog as well. It has been a pleasure having you here. Much good fortune.
Find me at:
http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com
http://greatindiereads.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Book-Reviews/151864248201611?ref=ts&fref=ts
https://twitter.com/arobbinsiii
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9227027-albert
7 Comments on BOOK REVIEWER/PUBLISHER ALBERT ROBBINS III/ THE RUPERT MURDOCH OF INDIE PUBLISHING!!!, last added: 10/1/2012
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Awesome of you to have me and I hope your readers find a book they can not put down. Books are the windows we need to escape the world we are in for a few precious hours. They are the words that keep us sane and those that can write should consider themselves saviors of our sanity.
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Thank you. Keep up your very generous and creative pursuit of promoting Indie authors. Without a community, we fall by the wayside. I was up late into last night reading RJ Palmer's book, "Sins of the Father". Well- written! Gripping! A page turner!
Independent authors struggle daily with trying to find reviews for their books and anything that helps this process is amazingly kind and I say THANK YOU!
Personally, I have given away over 16,000 copies of my 11 books through KDP but reviews are - 5 (3 of which were mean). The other few reviews have come from building relationships over ten years of networking (and begging) and though I am extremely grateful to those who have supported me with reading, reviewing, encouraging etc. I feel now that all my efforts (on the marketing /promoting front) have not resulted in high reward, so that the disappointment becomes too much. Reviews are the key to success in this field, but... FYI - I read and review as many Indie books as possible because I understand how the authors feel.
However, this will never stop me writing - the voices wouldn't let me - but instead of constantly hitting my head on that steel wall, I now concentrate on enjoying my work and hope that one day others (enough to make a living) will like and believe in my books as much as I do.
Can you hear me wishing...? :)
Thanks, Albert for all you do.
Just keep writing as perseverance is just as important as talent. And yes I stole that from Dean Koontz himself. Thanks Dean.
Twenty years and counting...not there yet :)
You are NOW in the place you must be in order to achieve your goals, Julie. You live for the fulfillment produced by doing the work you love! You're there! I am, too. Nothing in the world feels better for us than to use a unique talent we have from God. And with publishing outlets like SW's and Amazon, we can be out there and get good feedback, too. Don't forget Goodreads. I just popped over there and your books rate '5's'. All 11 of them, from what I saw.