When I saw my post in my email and the darn video wasn’t there — ACH!
Isn’t it funny that I write a mystery series about a blogger
and yet I’m the worst blogger ever?
In my defense, when I checked and double checked the other post
before hitting “publish” the video was always there.
Here’s a link to the video I talked about in today’s earlier post.
How to Post a Review on Amazon
Sure hope the link works 🙂
I’m often asked how to post a review on Amazon. The question always surprises me, but perhaps most people do not spend as much time shopping or posting reviews on Amazon as I do. I think I may need therapy! Seriously.
But to my defense, I try to shop locally. I really do!
Example: The other day I broke the butter dish. I went to four stores looking for a plain old glass butter dish and came up with zip.
Bed, Bath, and Beyond – nope.
World Market – nada.
Target – zilch.
Grocery Store – negative.
Even our local Ace Hardware store that has all sorts of kitchenie things didn’t have one. And that’s where I bought the last one.
So I gave up and ordered one on Amazon. Eight bucks and I had it two days later. But, as usual, I digress.
Back to posting: I have a friend in Hawaii who’s asked me several times how to post reviews. I emailed her these instructions from Amazon:
To submit a review:
1. Go to the product detail page for the item on Amazon.com.
2. Click “Write a Customer Review” in the Customer Reviews section.
3. Click Submit.
It was as if I’d spoken Greek to Amy*. She’s a brilliant, lovely young woman, but computers freak her out.
So I made a video for her. Of course, in my video, I showed how to post a 5-star review for one of my books. Amy is a voracious reader and reads a lot of Indie published books, and when she enjoys one, she really should post a review for them because we Indie Writers are a pathetic bunch of zombie-like creatures who thrive on reviews. Make that – favorable reviews. Janet Evanovich (not an Indie writer) has like a bazillion reviews, so when she gets a negative one, I doubt she has a heart attack.
But when I get a negative one, I need therapy. Seriously. I guess I could also talk about my Amazon shopping addiction during my session and kill two birds with one stone.
________________________
You may be wondering how Amy did with my video instructions. I wish I could say she did super and Amazon invited her to become a “Vine Voice,” and now she’s receiving loads of cool free items to review… but no. She tried three times and gave up.
Update! 2/06/2023
I wrote this post six years ago, and the video has disappeared into the YouTube void. It was out-of-date anyway. Here’s a link to my channel if you want to watch me teaching my granddaughter “Oh Mary Mack” or hear my dogs being bossy.
Pam’s YouTube Channel
These days, you don’t even have to write anything. Just a Star Rating. I personally really like 5-Star Ratings!! Hint, hint 
*Amy (not her real name) is a real person,
not just a figment of my overactive imagination.
I’m working on the latest book in the Murder Blog Mysteries. Katy and Grandma Ruby are going to England!
As usual, I’m incorporating some of my own crazy experiences–like driving in London on a Saturday night in the rain. That was not the plan, but somehow I wound up on the wrong road, going in the wrong direction, and next thing I know … Horrifying!
Nothing like your first “roundabout” experience happening in London–not to mention driving on the wrong side of the road in an English car. My husband kept telling me to take the next exit–but I was stuck in the lane closest to the center and too scared to change lanes. So, round and round we went.
Remember the funny scene in National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Not so funny when it’s happening to you. But I can laugh about it now!
It took me way too long to get the third book out in The Murder Blog Mysteries.
Life kept getting in the way.
Originally, I was going call it Dying For Dollars, but that title got snapped up before I was finished. Darn it! That’ll teach me not to dawdle! Or to share a title before I’m done writing.
Here’s the link: Coins and Cadavers
And a brief description…
Katy McKenna’s good intentions are going to get her DEAD….
While battling a furry vermin invasion in the spooky attic of her old house, Katy discovers a vintage wooden chest hidden behind a wall. Although everyone assures her the box is legally hers, its incredible contents compel Katy to search for the rightful owner.
Meanwhile, she takes a temp job assisting her hunky P.I. neighbor, Josh Draper. The assignment: Trap a sleazy wife-cheater. Something Katy knows about all too well from personal experience. During a cozy stakeout in Draper’s two-seater, things get awkward as the sizzling tension builds. Who will make the first move?
Since she’s already been searching online for past owners of her home, Grandma Ruby asks Katy to use her sleuthing skills to discover what happened to her bigamist great-great grandfather. Katy’s quest leads her to find an extended family she never knew existed.
Family secrets are revealed, for better or worse….
Romance blossoms, for better or worse….
And Katy’s good intentions lead her into a terrifying dilemma she may not survive.
_______________________________________________
So, what’s next? Book #4! Already hard at work on it. But this time I’m not sharing the working title.
Finally! The third book in the Murder Blog Mystery series—Coins and Cadavers—is almost done. This book has taken waaaaay longer than it should have. Originally it was titled Dying for Dollars, but another author just published a book with that title. Darn it!
But I have a good excuse! My three-year-old Grandson lived with us for a year, (along with his folks) and it was pretty darn hard to say, “no,” when the little guy wanted to play. So, I played.
Before the book goes to the editors, my in-house editor hubby will give it a read, and if he doesn’t find any glaring errors, then I can send it out.
When I get the manuscript back from the editor, there will be another draft, or three, and then the book goes to proofreaders.
But this week I’m taking a break and enjoying the Spring weather. Before my yoga class this morning, I strolled out to the beach and took a moment to appreciate the beautiful Central Coast of California.
I also needed to rack up some steps on my bossy FitBit 
I’m often asked what books, TV shows, and movies I’ve enjoyed…
As a writer, I probably should blog about books, but I’m in the mood to talk about TV because I love TV. Good TV, that is. After a long day of writing, I love getting cozy with a glass of wine, my doggies, and my iPad, while my hubby, Mike, cruises through the TV channels, watching bits of this and that.
Obviously, this will be more than one post because there are a plethora of wonderful, witty, well-written shows out there in the comedy and drama genres. And nowadays, even if you didn’t catch it the first time around, you can find it online.
Most of the time I watch British period dramas, like Downton Abbey. My dear friend, Jeri, got me hooked on those several years ago. But today, I want to talk about a very different kind of show that’s keeping me up way past my bedtime these days. Darn binge watching!
The Killing
Originally broadcast on AMC, then picked up by Netflix in its third season. The entire series, start to finish, is available on Netflix streaming.
Based partly on a popular Danish TV series, “The Killing” is a moody, character-driven detective procedural that weaves a murder mystery through a full season or more. The stories unfold through the eyes of Sarah Linden, a detective with the Seattle Police Department and who, at first, must mentor Detective Stephen Holder, a former narcotics cop. While their backgrounds produce investigative styles that clash — she’s by-the-book, he’s freewheeling — they manage to pull together for the case.
This show is so addictive. The first time this happened to me was when The Sopranos became available on DVD. Mike and I sat down one evening to watch ONE episode. After four episodes, it was after midnight, we were bleary-eyed, and the next day was a work day. So what’d we do? We watched another episode!
Well, that’s what The Killing is doing to me. The writing, casting, acting — all superb. A perfect dark mystery slowly revealing its many layers. Mireille Enos plays the lead, Sarah Linden, and Joel Kinnaman plays Holder. It’s hard to believe that Kinnaman was born in Sweden because his performance as a recovering tweeker-loser is spot-on perfect. The action takes place in Seattle, which as a former resident (eons ago) is fun for me.
My only regret is that I didn’t get Mike going on this. But at least he’s getting his beauty sleep!
Hi Everyone!
I’ve started a new Facebook Group for mystery lovers who are enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program. Kindle Unlimited Mysteries. It’s just few days old, so there aren’t
a lot of members yet, but fingers crossed, the group will have zillions of followers
before too long. Hey! One can dream!
Authors and readers can post books there — as long as they are mysteries and in the
Kindle Unlimited program.
Check it out and join me!
Pam
Okay, truth be told, I don’t blog much.
I guess that’s been pretty obvious to anyone who follows my blog.
Why? Because I always have a book I’m working on and when I’m
not doing that, I feel guilty that I’m not doing that.
But I keep reading all those blogs for writers and they all say
that if you want to be a successful writer, you gotta blog a lot.
Well, yeah—of course, I want to be a successful writer.
I just don’t want to blog a lot. Does that sound whiny?
Here’s the thing:
If I’m not working on my latest book, I’d rather be playing with my
adorable little grandkids, gardening, or hanging out with friends.
Plus, my hubby and I own two restaurants and they don’t just
run themselves—darn it.
And then there’s the problem of what to blog about.
I’m impressed with people who can write an entertaining
post every single day. How do they do it?
Clearly, their lives are way more interesting than mine.
I mean, seriously, do you really want to read about the bush beans
I planted the other day?
So, to learn the secret of successful blogging,
I decided to sign up for a Writer’s University online class called “Blogging 101.”
Today is the first day, and so far, I’ve read a few pages in the class,
looked at some funny dog videos on YouTube, then watered the bush
beans, played with my toddler grandson, wrote two chapters in my upcoming
book Dying For Dollars, and later will go to my restaurant to see how our new
manager is doing …
And wrote this blog post about pretty much nothing …
Does this happen to you? You hear a song at the closing credits of a show and wonder what it is? Usually, it’s something I’d love to play on my guitar and sing.
Today I watched “The Grinder” (cute show) and I thought, “What a great rendition of that song.” Of course, I immediately forgot it. But then I found it at this fun site: Tune Find
What fun to find out a reader has posted about my book.
Finally! The second book in the Murder Blog Mysteries has been released in ebook version at Amazon. The print version will be available in October.
It’s been a long haul. Waaaay longer than I would have liked. My goal for the third book – Dying For Dollars – is six months.
Or at least it was until I realized that we have the holidays fast upon us.
My site gets hit with hundreds of “spams” every day. What the heck are they trying to say to me?
“What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious familiarity on the topic of unexpected feelings.” Huh?
“Don’t casques jet paas Cher go back into her residence.Full Face Motorcycle Helmet is brand-new for 2013 in the use? Also visit my blog :: http….”
First chance I get, buddy!
Digiplex furnishes consumers with exceptionally enjoyable experiences, soe of
the movie. Well, I must cheat some fool, isn’t it?
Which one would have, the film to be a fraud man. Just for you What do you
ferl ashamed to ask you anything? Then, we can get together and watch. I can do so, cedar pollen will be a surprise, how do you see what I mean. Alsso visit my site: kids books
I think I’ll pass!
Good way of explaining, and nice paragraph to take information concerning my presentation subject matter, which i am going to present in university.
Wow! Someone is going to present a paragraph from my blog at a university!
Skin is the biggest wood within the body and having ailments like acne may soften any body’s self-confidence.
That explains why my wrinkle cream isn’t working!
So True!
And many more rewrites to go.
I keep thinking there must be a faster way to do this.
I hope to publish Better Dead Than Wed (working title) on April 15, 2015 – the first anniversary of Dead Girls Don’t Blog. Sooner would be better, but I have about a million rewrites ahead of me, plus several rounds with editors, then formatting, cover design, beta readers, proof readers…
Good Grief.
A lovely lady in the UK is building a website to showcase authors. It will launch in September. If you’re a writer and would like your book(s) included, here is the link: BookSamples.co.uk
My book has only been available on Amazon for two weeks and I’ve already sold books in the UK, Denmark, Spain and Canada!
