Printing Tips

Check out my printing tips if you're having problems printing to the right size
If you'd like to support this site and all the free things I post- please check out my Don't Eat the Paste Mandala collection coloring book for 9.99 at Amazon.
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Introducing Twined - something exciting and new



Twined is a brand new site with a fantastic concept. The idea is that Tastemakers- people you trust, write reviews of their favorite products explaining why they recommend them- and you can show your interest if you like or want the product, then Twined uses that interest to get the very best price possible for a group buy.

The reviews are well laid out, easy to read and include images taken by the Tastemakers of the product being used or the final result. These aren't slick, glossy images from PR departments trying to sell you something, they are real people who use the products.

Buy with peace of mind.

The Tastemakers can choose what products they review, they get to recommend their favorite things, Offered the opportunity, I wrote about the Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker (love it and use it all year round) and Aerogarden 6.

The products cover a wide range of things like crafting supplies, toys, home appliances, and beauty items.

Twined has great FAQs and videos to explain the whole process.

Go, sign up, browse the reviews.
You can check out my profile page  and follow my reviews.

Like Twined on Facebook
Like Don't Eat the Paste on Facebook (if you haven't already)


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Some tips on getting your self-published book reviewed


This is a note on my Facebook page. I'm posting it here so it's easier for people to find. We will return to more normal postings soon. 
For readers of Don't Eat the Paste, or anyone looking for reviews on Don't Eat the Paste, my usual review policy is where to look for information about that.

I get lots of requests for reviews every week from hopeful self-published authors who realize that reviews on Amazon do help sell books.

Amazon has a great reader/user review system with every day people contributing their thoughts and experiences with books and products. There is a ranking system in place, nobody is really sure how rankings are calculated, but how helpful your reviews are, how many reviews you've written and how recently you've reviewed all play into it.

If you're in the top 100,  you're getting and turning down review requests regularly.

So.. some tips on getting your self-published masterpiece reviewed:

  • DON'T send it as an attachment with your request. Really, this is just common sense. As many people download things on their phones or using public and fairly slow wi-fi, it's annoying to spend 5 minutes downloading your mail to find out you've got 3 messages and one of them is a self-help memoir style book that will change your life about the author who kicked his Neopet addiction, or a teen dystop about surviving zombie bunnies that will eat your eyes while your sleeping. Yes, that's exaggeration. But just barely. Sending me, unasked, a nice big file of your 300-1000 page masterpiece, especially if you're going to tell me why it's my privilege to get the chance to read it WILL get it deleted. 
  • Don't underline or italicize your entire request. Do use a font that's easy to read and clear. While most Amazon reviewers are not professional, we do appreciate a professional inquiry. It's easier to read and less distracting.
  • Be polite. I know that all the best self-help books, including the one you've written say you need to act with confidence. There is a difference between being confident and seeming egotistical. You're asking me to give up hours of my time to read and write a review that's coherent and might just help sell your book. That would be favor. From me. Not to me. As much as you might think you're doing me a favor, you aren't.
  • Don't get too personal in your review request, unless it does actually pertain to the book (e.g. , "The story is based off of my experience as a collector and spinner of dust bunnies"). If it's about your qualifications to write the book you want reviewed, or has something to do with it, wonderful. If it's just something really bizarre that you want the world to know, announce it on Facebook or on your blog. 
  • Read and re-read your email before you send it. Glaringly bad grammar or spelling errors in the email WILL get your masterpiece rejected by most reviewers. We don't want to go through 100,000 words with the same sort of errors that were painful in 200-400 words. 
  • Be prepared for criticism. Sorry. I know it's your baby, but my integrity is on the line. My integrity means every bit as much to me as your book does to you. If you want only good reviews, stick to asking friends and family. But I do strongly suggest having someone who can be honest with you read your baby before offering it to stranger. If you can't afford an editor, having someone who can be honest with you does help. They also might catch spelling errors and mixed up, run on sentences that you don't notice.
  • Consider a variety of offered formats- some reviewers prefer Kindle only, some like paper. 
  • Don't just look at the top reviewers. Seriously. People have a real habit of looking at the top reviewers list to see who has email addresses listed. I do, and if you are polite and offer me my choice of formats for the book, I'll at least consider it. However, like a lot of reviewers, I have my specialty areas. The best way to get a review is to look at books that are similar to yours and read the reviews on those. When you see a reviewer who's style you like, who uses more than "THIS ROX! YOU NEED TO BUY THIS BOOK NOW!" and who is obviously interested in your topic, see if they have an email address listed. A well-written review doesn't have to be from a top reviewer to count. It just needs to be well-written in a style your potential readers will understand.
Be nice, don't send the book until asked, consider your audience, and grow a thick skin. 



Friday, March 1, 2013

Green Giant's Giant Surprise Talent (sponsored)

Surprise talents, my family has a lot of them. My husband impresses me constantly with them. He can seem so serious that it would take most people completely surprise to find out that he can juggle and was a yoyo champion when he was young.

My dad seems anything but silly, but used to wake me up with the most annoying song ever that he made up.
"Wake up wake up you sleepyhead, get up, get up, get out of bed, wipe your eye out with a sock!"

Green Giant has a giant surprise talent too. The name that makes you think of frozen and canned vegetables also makes chips!! Crunchy, yummy chips with veggies in them and a lot of whole grain and fiber goodness. I got to try the Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips and the Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor.

My husband and I, and our two children are all left-handed, but the graphics that I post on this site are all drawn with my right hand. So that's my surprise talent! The rest of my family has one that I can't do. They can all raise just one eyebrow. I've spent hours making funny faces at myself in the mirror trying to do it, and just can't do it all. But for them, it's easy, and for my daughter, it's two different looks depending on which brow she raises.
Green Giant Chips
This looks doubtful doesn't it? She's not doubtful about the chips, it's just her raising that brow on demand.
Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are so delicious. Crisp, delicious and lower fat than regular potato chips (40% less fat!). I love these so much and think they would be just amazing on a Southern style macaroni and cheese. If they last until dinner time. They are so good. 14 grams of whole grains per serving.

Green Giant Chips
The other brow, her serious and making a point brow. 
 Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips have all natural flavors, and the flavor is cheesy. Not the super, salty actually kind of gross cheesy flavor of a lot of corn chips, but a really wonderful cheddar taste that gets a bit of a salsa kick from the peppers and other vegetables in the chip. My husband said "These are pretty doggone tasty!" (yes, he said doggone, yes, I was absolutely charmed by it.) 17 grams of whole grains per serving.

Want to see lots of great surprise talents collected by Green Giant and learn more about these great new chips? Check out Green Giant's YouTube page and see the surprise talents they found. You can also like Green Giant on Facebook and upload a video of your own surprise talent!

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

Sunday, July 22, 2012

I got my new glasses!


I got my new glasses!
Usually I like buying my glasses in person, like most people, to be able to try on different pairs. But ordering online is a lot less expensive.

I've ordered from ZenniOptical before, this time I wanted to try a different company. After doing some research, I picked EyeBuyDirect. If you decide to buy a pair of glasses from them after reading this, please use this code for a discount: IFF2MRR81T  They have a loyalty program, and if you use the code, you'll get a discount, and I'll get a small credit on my next order. 

Reasons for picking them:

  • Cost. They are on par with ZenniOptical for some complete pairs
  • Style- They have nice styles, especially in the retro glasses my husband prefers- He rocks the Clark Kent look.
  • They take PayPal. If you're an Etsy craft seller, work with sponsored posts, etc, you know PayPal is the currency of the land. The fact they take PayPal made them incredibly convenient.
Now, my glasses don't have many special considerations. In fact, it's just one. I'm near-sighted, like a lot of people. But I'm incredibly near-sighted. Without my glasses, legally blind, walking into things, can't recognize my own children from 5 feet away near sighted. Which means that if I don't want to wear super thick glasses, they have to be a fairly high index which always costs extra. 

I also prefer larger glasses, lots of room so the frames aren't constantly in my field of vision. Sometime in the next couple of years, I'll need a second pair of glasses for close work since these correct too strongly for working up close, but for right now, my glasses are the first thing on in the morning, last thing off at night.

To pick the frames, I started by taking all the measurements from my old pair in millimeters. The height and width of the lenses, the width of the bar across the nose, the length of the temple pieces and the total width of the glasses. Then I started looking. Finding pairs I liked, comparing the measurements on those pairs with my current pair. The pair above was my final choice.

Generally, with the standard high index plastic they use, they are 19.95 complete. With the upgrade for the super thin high index plastic (1.6) and a UV coating, they wound up being 58.50 plus 5.95 s&h. They *do* combine shipping if you're ordering more than one pair.

They sent me regular updates about what was happening with my order, then sent me an update when they were sent. From the time ordered, until they arrived, it was less than 2 weeks. The glasses came with a hard plastic case that closes with a magnet and a cleaning cloth. 

The quality is very nice, better than my last order from ZenniOptical. Part of why I ordered from them was to check the quality before ordering glasses for my husband. He likes the quality and plans to order the Ronnie glasses which are a nice, black framed, retro look.