Hey friends, how is your summer experience? Remember two summers ago, I wrote about frolicking in your bikini? Well, I’ve actually done that this summer so can say I’m experiencing IT. Good old Hilda knows how! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read no further before clicking the above link.
So, checking in with my July goals re-cap;
Complete The Wine Diaries and set for publication in August-Nope
Not sure why, but did not have any motivation for this almost finished book. Will re-set for August goals and publication in September.
Finish first draft of Daughter of The Moon-Half
So, I’m now feeling the pull of Joele and her story more than ever. Getting back into the fiction writing mode after a bit of a hiatus. Losing a parent really kicks you in the ass.
Market Hearts Unbroken on-line and in person-Done but it’s never truly DONE
Yes, found some success here although there is more I could do. I got the book in a book store and have a B.C. monthly book publication taking a copy to read and hopefully review in September.
Have a night at the beach under the stars, preferably with fire-Done! and hope to do again!
This was such an incredible evening. The moon was a bright sliver with a star twinkling below it as though it were attached by a string. The fire crackled and the waves washed in as I sipped some wine and we talked about life.
Accounting organization-Done!
Continue reading goals-Done!
I finished three books in July. So, where I lacked in writing I made up for in reading. Not a bad trade off for July. I finished Fairies, Myths and Magic-A Summer Celebration by Colleen M. Chesebro, Words We Carry by D.G. Kaye, and The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende. Click the links for more info on the books on goodreads plus my reviews.
I am almost finished Sandcastles by Luanne Rice which I picked up at a used book store. It’s my first read by this author and I’m really enjoying it.
Get back to regular yoga and spin class-Done!
Update and change my website theme-Working on it.
I’m completely re-vamping my site for my August goals. It is in dire need and will be a welcome improvement. What you’ll notice is my books will take center stage and my site will feature me as an author rather than a blogger. I will still be blogging but not as regularly and shifting focus a bit from divorce topics to writing topics. I will still have all the divorce resources and articles up as three of my books are all about divorce and therefore it is always a relevant topic here at lisathomsonlive. I’ll be adding a free e-book download feature as well.
Finish The Wine Diaries manuscript including editing and formating. Set for publication in September.
Finish first draft of Daughter of the Moon.
Re-design website
Get Amazon situation rectified
So, Amazon has suspended my ability to review books. What? Yes, as of three weeks ago, I went to review Words We Carry and got a message saying I must change my pass word before posting a review. I re-set my password immediately yet still got a message saying I could not review this book. I tried to review a different e-book that I had purchased and got a new message;
“Your previous review of this product did not comply with our Customer Reviews Guidelines. Amazon does not permit reviews from customers whose relationship to the product or seller may be perceived as biased.”
WTF? I hadn’t tried to review this particular book before at all.
In any case, I clicked to read the customer review guidelines and it made zero sense. So, I made a written query to Amazon with my phone number. Someone called me back the same day. That was a pleasant surprise. Although the customer service rep had to transfer my ‘case’ to a different department so they had me on hold for about ten minutes. After answering a bunch of questions, they said they would email me the next day and someone would be calling within four business days.
Didn’t happen.
I called back and reiterated the first query and phone call. They upgraded the urgency of my query to the kindle department. Someone was to be in touch in three to five business days.
Didn’t happen.
I called back again, answered all the same questions and reiterated the same query for the third time. Put on hold then transferred to Alex in the Kindle department. Described my problem with inability to review books I purchase. Put on hold again. I’m on hold for about twenty minutes when the call cuts out. Coincidence or on purpose?
Sigh.
There was an article about Amazon’s new review policy. They will not allow reviewers to review an author’s work if they know them personally. How do they determine a relationship between a reader and author? By scouring the reviewer’s facebook among other social media platforms. Hard to imagine. Is the giant that we know as Amazon really a secret spy? Do they have special ways of breaking through those so-called privacy controls? Stay tuned as I will now have to make a fourth call and hope it doesn’t “accidentally” cut out.
So, that’s it for August goals. I will be making a trip to Edmonton at the end of the month to celebrate my daughter’s nuptials! It’s a very exciting time for her with the wedding around the corner and her LSAT test results due any day.
Do you have goals for August? Also, any experiences with Amazon book reviews? Do share in the comments!
Hearts Unbroken available for purchase now:
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Jimmi colsan
September 3, 2018 at 8:48 amGreat goals. Yes a lot of authors have their books the focus and then a menu option that takes you to their news, where they blog occasionally
Tamara
August 14, 2018 at 6:45 pmStrange about Amazon.
And you are a writing machine! And a enjoying the moon and swimming and talking machine. I love that.
I hope to get to that point one of these summers.
lisa
August 21, 2018 at 9:06 amRight? And did you know Amazon owns GoodReads? Hmphf.
Well, I could do better with the writing but Thanks, Tamara. The moon, stars, swimming and talking are a summer must haha!
My Inner Chick
August 14, 2018 at 7:02 amLisa,
you’ve inspired me to write my goals down!
Wow, you’ve accomplished A LOT!
I don’t know why, but it’s hard to start/ begin/know where to place the first sentence when it comes to writing a book.
I’m LAZY, I think!
Congrats on all of your success.
you say it…
Then you DO IT!
Incredible! xxxx from Duluth!
lisa
August 15, 2018 at 10:21 pmAw, Kim that is so awesome!
Yes, writing is not an easy thing to get done.It’s not like other things on our ‘to-do list’ and requires that spark of imagination and motivation. I know you have it, kim and you’re far from lazy!!
Thank you for your encouragement xxoo
Mabel Kwong
August 14, 2018 at 3:54 amSounds like you had a productive July, Lisa. Congrats on coming along with your writing and books, and lovely to hear you spent some time under the stars. I had no idea Amazon could suspend you over a book review. It sounds ludicrous they would do so as you are a writer yourself and you’d probably give a level-headed review. I’ve personally reviewed books on Amazon for bloggers I follow on here and haven’t had a problem with that…hopefully you can get in touch with Amazon and resolve it. Hope August is going well for you!
lisa
August 15, 2018 at 10:19 pmThanks, Mabel! Well, not getting quite as much done on my writing as I was hoping but a little is better than none. The stars and moon were incredible 🙂
Amazon…yeah, I’m not sure what’s going on with that giant. I’ve never had a problem before with posting reviews. I’m awaiting correspondence from them (after five phone calls) 😛
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer
August 11, 2018 at 8:15 pmGreat goals. Yes a lot of authors have their books the focus and then a menu option that takes you to their news, where they blog occasionally, share releases or uplift other authors.
lisa
August 13, 2018 at 12:12 pmExactly, kim. That’s where I’m headed 🙂 Should be a positive shift in focus here.
Christine Carter
August 11, 2018 at 10:21 amOKay, so, first of all, I love all you have accomplished in July!! WOW! Also, shifting your blog to an author page and focusing on all your books is A FANTASTIC idea. You are an AUTHOR of so many wonderful books and so many more to come! Good for you. 🙂
I had no idea you lost a parent and my heart grieves for your loss, my friend. I am heartbroken for you and praying for you to find peace and strength.
As for Amazon- THIS HAPPENED TO ME OVER A YEAR AGO AND I CANNOT REVIEW BOOKS ANYMORE! I am so frustrated with this! They have blocked me as well- saying my review would be BIASED. And they somehow know who my friends are- I’m guessing they figure it out magically through social media? Who knows, but it sucks. I haven’t been able to review so many wonderful books (INCLUDING YOURS) because of this and it infuriates me to no end.
I’m sorry it happened to you too, Lisa. They seem to think our professional opinion as authors have no merit simply because we are connected to the author. Of COURSE we are in author networks and OF COURSE, we have valuable input they refuse to accept. Pff. I feel terrible I am unable to support so many people I love who are talented authors. 🙁
lisa
August 13, 2018 at 12:22 pmThank you, Chris! *beams*
Thank you for your kind words and it’s been hard because we were unable to resolve our dispute and issues.
Chris, I’ve been hearing more and more of this problem with us Indie authors. I understand your frustration!!
I’m dealing with Amazon and its been a nightmare. Lost calls, long holds, constant repetition of same questions—i.e. “…can’t help without your postal code, mam.” I persevere, though and the Reviews Department will be in touch via email. I was told that same thing in mid-July and still nothing. They do NOT have a phone line!! Gee, I wonder why? It is a real bitch of a situation that they’ve put us little guys into a corner we can barely fight our way out of. Yet, they make money off of our sales. I’m not really sure what’s happening to the common sense of the business world these days. What are they even accomplishing by these restrictions? And they continue to sponsor products and sell their own stuff on other sites and platforms!! Isn’t that a conflict? I just received an email this morning from Blog Her that was sponsored by Amazon AND selling their products. The email had nothing to offer me from BlogHer (which is now SheKnows.com) so I have unsubscribed to that site as well. I don’t need more Amazon promos from blog sites when I’m already inundated by emails directly from Amazon, constantly trying to sell me shit. I’ve unsubscribed their newsletters which are really sales promos. UGH.
Bren Pace
August 10, 2018 at 8:26 amYou’re slaying it, girl! Keep up the good work and keep pushing forward! Can’t wait to see what you do with your site! 🙂
lisa
August 10, 2018 at 1:42 pmThank you so much, Bren! Yes, I hope it gets done in the next few weeks.
Jeri
August 9, 2018 at 8:57 pmI’m still ironing out my submissions spreadsheet, but it’s coming along. I’ve done more this year than ever before in that direction, which is indeed a good thing. I’m sorry you had such a lame experience with Amazon. I’ve yet to have an issue, even with all of the reviews I post of books and products.
lisa
August 10, 2018 at 1:42 pmOh, that sounds very productive, Jeri. It seems Amazon is picking on the Indie authors. I don’t post a ton of reviews even. We’ll see what happens and I must call again and not slip through the cracks. Good luck with your submissions, Jeri. I’ll look forward to reading some of them!
ShootingStarsMag
August 9, 2018 at 5:26 amGreat job on your July goals. I don’t really review books on Amazon unless I’m asked to, but I have heard that they are giving people issues, which is ridiculous. And what does “know the author” mean? Is talking online with an author now knowing them personally, even if your review isn’t biased? I don’t know…I hope it gets figured out for you though – how frustrating!! Good luck with the rest of your August goals too. 🙂
-Lauren
lisa
August 9, 2018 at 9:15 amThanks, Lauren! Know the author thing is very strange. I read that they’re disallowing family members to review an Indie author book, for example. I guess I get that but where do they draw the line? Exactly. It’s pretty hard to not know an author with social media and blogging which makes it easy to connect.
Yes, I better get to work on those goals! We’re already down over a week of August 😛
Balroop Singh
August 8, 2018 at 7:39 pmI am glad you have accomplished most of the goals Lisa and still hang on to the ones that are pending. You inspire me as I never set any goals for anything now, as life is too relaxing 🙂
Amazon really sucks! So sorry to hear your story. I have never had any issues (touch wood) though few of the reviews of my books got deleted but they are back now as I just ignored the matter, thinking let them!
Annika pursued them for deleting her reviews, she kept on pursuing with her emails and phone calls and now they have restored all her reviews. She had written a post about it at her blog. So keep the efforts up and let them give you the reasons for not allowing to write reviews. Best of luck!
lisa
August 9, 2018 at 9:12 amHey Balroop, good for you on relaxing. That’s important. I’ve rarely shared my goals but I have to admit, doing so has helped me stay on track.
Ya, I don’t get Amazon at all. It’s all over the map and such a giant, nearly impossible to get any results with a complaint. Interesting that your reviews were republished. I should read Annika’s blog. I haven’t had any of my reviews removed but being unable to review anything going forward is bizarre. Also, they send me emails asking me to review e-books I’ve bought…argh. So annoying.
LA CONTESSA
August 8, 2018 at 2:51 pmNO GOALS for AUGUST I see it flashing by with houseguests and more houseguests.I did want to clean my closets……..maybe I can squeeze that in at the end!
Good for you looks like you have checked off many TO DO’S!
XX
lisa
August 9, 2018 at 9:07 amNo goals for August sounds perfect, CONTESSA. I’m wondering why I made any 😛 How I wish I could drop by for one of your outdoor, backyard dinner parties!! Closet cleaning would be good for September. Nice to see you!