Cate Baum | Self-Publishing Review

The Dawn Of The Self-Published Critic

Cate Baum muses over the state of the self-publishing industry as sales figures show that consumers have indeed taken over the asylum.

In the days of traditional publishing, pre-internet – and even some time past the internet really kicking in around the end of the 20th century, the days of hovering in bookshops on word of mouth hunts for gems still existed. Pre-dating sites, potential lovers would sift through Proust and Kundera to up their game, whilst pre-Facebook, glossy hardback photo books remained the only true way to connect with subcultures and style.

Newspapers such as The Guardian in the […]

Cate Baum2014-01-08T13:46:04+02:00December 26th, 2013|Categories: Lead Story, Member Blog|

Review: I and You by Beverly Garside & Lucas Duimstra

This Ayn Rand-inspired comic book from writer Beverly Garside and illustrator Lucas Duimstra is a refreshing read in my pile of reviews this month.

Drawing on the social theory by novelist Rand of Objectivism, i.e. that the sole purpose of life is to pursue one’s own happiness, and to basically act individually in everything to better oneself (hence the title alluding to the outlawed use of the word “we”), we follow Sara, a young official working for a military sector which monitors activity across the nation via cameras a little like Big Brother’s CCTV style watch. Sara believes very much […]

Cate Baum2020-02-21T06:32:10+02:00December 18th, 2013|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Comics & Graphic Novel Reviews, Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: My Friend, Freedom By Peter Eliot

My Friend, Freedom is a short story by emerging author Peter Eliot, set in futuristic, Dystopian London, following the life of Yakimoto, a Japanese immigrant, whose life is left in ruin after a failed attempt at blackmail with a shady corporation. In a time where money is everything, challenging such a huge power is certain suicide, but Yakimoto has had unusual dreams; telling dreams…

The grim sci-fi/cyberpunk setting is reminiscent of something between now and the setting of Blade Runner, with a feel of Noir without an observant detective but rather an aging, drug-addicted businessman stuck on the streets of […]

Cate Baum2014-05-05T21:19:15+02:00December 11th, 2013|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Short Stories Book Reviews|

Writing The Antihero (And Why So Many Authors Get It Wrong)

We all like to love a rogue – or even a criminal mind. But why is it so many self-published authors seem to just get the balance all wrong when it comes to writing an antihero?

The antihero^[1] or antiheroine^[2] is a leading character in a film, book or play who lacks some or all of the traditional heroic qualities,^[3]^[4] such as altruism, idealism,^[5] courage,^[5] nobility,^[6] fortitude,^[7] and moral goodness.^[8]Whereas the classical hero is larger than life, antiheroes are typically inferior to the reader in intelligence, dynamism or social

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Cate Baum2014-01-29T12:45:33+02:00November 21st, 2013|Categories: Features|

Review: Beneath The Surface By Stanley Yokell

This book full of fictional diving incidents kicks off with two accomplished scuba diving friends, Joe and Thura, in the popular scuba resort in Cuba, where they are intrigued by their encounter with some playful mermaids – so why is their guide so concerned about the sighting?

In this globe-trotting collection of short stories we follow a group of young people as they try out scuba diving spots in just about every continent, and the friendships and romances they develop on the way.

Yokell’s style reminds me of a simplified Michel Tournier with his literary descriptions of people’s lives and […]

Cate Baum2019-01-22T17:45:58+02:00November 4th, 2013|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

SPR Podcast With Best-Selling Author Kate Danley

Kate Danley’s debut novel, The Woodcutter, was honored with the Garcia Award for the Best Fiction Book of the Year, the 1st Place Fantasy Book in the Reader Views Literary Awards, and the winner of the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Recently, it was signed with 47North. In this, the first of a series of podcasts with best-selling authors, SPR’s editor Cate Baum catches up with Kate in this podcast on her top tips for winning on Amazon and how she was able to become a full-time author via self-publishing.

www.katedanley.com
Kate Danley on Amazon
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Cate Baum2013-12-28T12:02:13+02:00November 1st, 2013|Categories: Interviews|Tags: Amazon News and Tips, Book Marketing Advice and Tips, Book Promotion Articles|

My Father’s Passion By Blair Schweiger – From “Ole!”

My father is a bullfighter. I grew up in Spain and Latin America due to this passion of his. Though I have suffered for it, I would not trade the journey for the world. I have learned to embrace it as part of who I am. I am a bullfighter’s daughter.

I was born in South America. My parent’s indulgence of their passions set my fate. Though they both are products of the American Southwest they both share the spirit of the wanderer. My mother was intrigued by Latin America, and my father by bullfighting. My father went to an […]

Cate Baum2013-11-24T13:29:29+02:00October 26th, 2013|Categories: Book Excerpt|

How To Sell Books With Amazon Reviews

There are tricks of the trade to ensure the sale of your book via Amazon reviews. Here are our tips for making the most of these.

When someone reviews your book (Self-Publishing Review ranks high – profile here) make sure you click ” Yes” to “Was this review helpful to you?” Amazon ranks its reviewers by helpfulness, so boosting those who review your book will help your review get seen by more people.

Pick the Hall Of Fame reviewers who like your type of book and ask them to review it. You can do this by looking at reviews […]

Cate Baum2014-01-14T20:11:39+02:00October 24th, 2013|Categories: Member Blog|