Memoirs takes over Keitai

Hi folks

Just an update on my ebooks. Memoirs of a Vending Machine has just taken over Keitai friends in terms of downloads. Seems to be a popular choice. The four star rating on Barnes and Nobel is quite encouraging.

AND... just to lighten things up a bit, please enjoy my favorite winter shot taken in Takayama, Japan. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5900.html

I have heard of many people cancelling their travel plans because of the disaster. Believe me, there are still many beautiful places to see despite the tragedy and I am sure the tourist industry could do with a steady stream of travelers in the unaffected areas. If you want to donate to those affected by the quake, The RED CROSS are taking donations online. ( Sorry folks - Australian Links at the moment)

Australian Red Cross

http://www.redcross.org.au/japan2011.htm

Japanese Red Cross Society

http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html

SchoolAid:

http://www.schoolaid.org.au/projects/the-japan-disaster-appeal.aspx

World vision Australia

http://www.worldvision.com.au

Beerubaraoyaji

Revisiting Memoirs of a Vending Machine

A colleague of mine had a read of 'Memoirs of a Vending Machine' and told me how much she thoroughly enjoyed reading it. She told me she only put it down once to have a swim, finishing the next part in one sitting. It made my day to hear this positive feedback and made me more determined to get it out there to the public. I had another read myself and noticed that I now have a level of detachment from the book that I didn't have when I wrote it. I was able to read critically (and found a few typos) finding a couple of paragraphs that I wouldn't mind doing a little differently. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading it again and re-acquainting myself with Mike, Mark, Jon and Jeff. I am going to do a small re-edit in the near future, although this won't change much at all. When all is done I am thinking about getting a hard copy printed then I might think about putting a small price back on the book as it seems to be doing pretty well at the moment. So download while it is free! Watch out for the hard copy.

• BTW - Keitai Friends took a 'hammering' at Barnes and Noble a couple of months ago with two seriously 'pissed off' readers posting two seriously bad reviews and a one star rating. Well... its back to three stars after seven ratings so it looks like not all of the people who read it feel the same - looks like some people DO get it !

Beerubaraoyaji

Memoirs of a Vending Machine

I've been busy marketing "Memoirs" and have it posted on Books Barista and free-online-novels.com   It has been posted under Adventure and the World Traveller Page. I've also put in my pitch for a review on 'Books on the Knob'. I hope it works out better than my last effort with Kujira. I'll let you know.

Speaking of Kujia - I have spent a little time 'repairing' the text to address the criticism that I agree with and will be republishing very soon.

Lastly, I am working on a little side project and will publish a 'how to' book for the Rubik's cube - not mine though. This is my first publisher publication. So... get ready, things are moving..... at last.

Beerubaraoyaji

Japan

Shock and horror. The quake and the tsunami - those poor people! I have been glued to the news and in touch with everyone I know in Japan. I was in the quake in "95 and it has all come back to me. In the same week, I had a really good comment and a 'good read' rating for Memoirs of a Vending Machine. It lifted my spirits but it was bitter sweet. I wish it was a top rated book so I could donate all the proceeds to the disaster fund but unfortunately it isn't and I can't. Still, I am glad it is written and is entertaining and free. If people like it and it brings them closer to understanding some of what Japan is all about then it is a good thing and I suppose it means I have done something for Japan and its people.

I have had some terrible comments for my other two books though and one critic went so far as to say that in Keitai friends, she thought that the author (me) had something against the Japanese. Just for the record - you couldn't be further from the truth - you just didn't get it!

Kujira was a real bummer. I think I loaded it up too soon and there were problems with some passages of dialogue that detracted from the rest of it. Not surprisingly, I copped a bad review and probably deservedly so !
I must say that as hurtful as the review was, I admire any reviewer that can call it as they see it. It can only benefit the author in the long run and I have learnt a valuable lesson. The particular reviewer was still able to salvage something from book and say some very encouraging things.  I took it down from Smashwords and 'unpublished it for the time being. I am repairing the text at the moment and will have it re-published soon.

Largest and brightest full moon for the next 50 years tonight and rumors of another catastrophic event due to its influence. Let's hope it is fiction and the people affected by the 'ring of fire' do not have to endure any further hardship.

Later

Beerubaraoyaji