Have you read Ascension Point? You have!? That’s great! I wrote you this letter…
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Dear Reader:
Thank you so much for buying a copy of my debut novel, Ascension Point. I hope you enjoyed it. If you were here, I’d high-five you, and then we’d have a beer. Maybe a snack. I’ve got some nice cheese in the fridge.
I’m writing to you today to ask for your help in addressing a shocking issue that’s afflicting one in every one science fiction authors in my immediate area: Ascension Point‘s chronic shortage of Amazon.com customer reviews.
As you may or may not be aware, Amazon.com reviews have comparable value to these items:
- Uncut diamonds
- Gold dust
- Enriched plutonium
While Ascension Point has sold well, and received a small number of (very positive) reviews, my in-depth calculations regarding its sale-to-customer-review ratio have determined that this many readers go on to leave a review:
11 / 500 = HARDLY ANY
This debilitating shortage of customer reviews is the leading cause of at least one of the following conditions:
- Global warming
- The rise of militant fundamentalism
- Teen obesity
- Me not being able to run a BookBub promotion
But it’s not too late. With your help, we can address at least one of these issues. (Probably the last one.) It only takes a minute, and costs you ZERO DOLLARS.
That’s right.
ZERO DOLLARS.
(Although while you’re there, if you decided to buy a copy of Venus Rising as well, that’d be cool.)
Here are some examples of the reviews that could go a long way to addressing this terrible problem.
‘Ascension Point was a super-fun read. Dan Harris is clearly the new Joe Haldeman, except with less scientific rigour or Vietnam War allegory.’ *****
Or:
‘Even though I bought Ascension Point in ebook format, I made the effort to find a way to print it out in its entirety, just so I could shred it and use it as bedding for my seventeen diarrhea-afflicted guinea pigs. That’s how bad it is. But then the author asked me to leave a review, so here I am.’ *
Or even:
‘Meh.’ ***
You see how easy it is? Even one word, and a pseudo-random selection of a value from one to five counts as a review!
That’s all I ask. Help me help you help me, and together we can guarantee that I’ll write another post exactly like this next year. You can leave a review here.
Thank you.
Dan Harris
My issue with doing a review is that, because I beta read it, you know I consider that I am the true author and brains behind AP – and that you were basically just my pen.
I have therefore always resisted doing a review (even though you know I thought it was great) on the basis I felt it would be cheating.
I have no such issues with Venus Rising. I will even get your 4 week old godson Freddie to put in his review!
#loveabehateariadne
X
A truly baffling insight into the twisted workings of your mind, Steve. Thanks for that.
Freddie: “Burbleburble.” ****
Dan, after indie-publishing my first novel a few weeks ago, I heard about the surprising value of Amazon reviews (I don’t have any). I will pick up a copy of Ascension Point and add it to my good deed list (if I can find it).
Garry
PS: Followed your blog to see how things turn out. GR
Thanks Garry, much appreciated. Best of luck with your writing, too!
I just bought your book, will start it tonight! I use to review self pub books as a hobby so i know how important they are. So if it’s as good as it sounds, you have another coming your way 🙂
Only a couple of years lag on your website server…
Sent from my iPhone
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