News for Beerubaraoyaji

Hi Folks

I've been away for a while and totally 'off my blog' - needed to recharge after a hard few months of work.

Since my last post, I've had a flood of downloads and a few great comments. Thanks for the positive feedback folks, it really makes a world of difference. I have since found a few posts on the subject of bad reviews and have come to terms with the darker side of e-publishing and publishing in general. In related news, there has also been a lot going on in the media about trolling and cyber-bullying and it would appear that all is not well with this side of social media and the internet. It just seems that it is something that you have to learn to live with. As far as e-books are concerned, the problem pre-dates the internet by hundreds of years so I am definitely not alone here so I'm feeling much better about the whole thing really.

In other news, I've been working on the band novel again and have been having fun with the characters. Still a way to go on this one yet, but things are moving forward.

I have had a few downloads on Kindle in Europe, most particularly Germany and am looking forward to increasing my presence in this and other countries over time. Italy, Spain and France are also having a look - still slow traffic but steady. It feels good to reach a different audience. I love the idea that my work is relevant in non-English speaking countries. I think one of the main attractions is that the novel offers some insight into Japanese language and culture without sugar coating things - as well as good practice in English. Lucky I went to the effort to commission the professional edits really.

On another front, I have been dabbling in music composition lately and have uploaded a ton of stuff on Soundcloud. Two of the tracks, 'A Mouse is on the Table' and 'Keitai Friends' have clocked up enough hits for soundcloud to offer me a free conversion to the new more social-network-friendly version if I can top 1000 downloads in the next 5 weeks. The same goes for whoever is following me at the time. I have re-posted the tracks on my blog in case any of my readers are soundcloud users and would like a listen - and to get a chance to upgrgrade to the new platform. You could always follow me if you were really keen.

Lastly, I have been able to generate enough energy to think about honouring a recent commitment to do a special visit-Kyoto post that a reader sort of requested a few posts ago. I'll get to work on this soon so look out for it.

Thats all for now.

Beerubaraoyaji

Review the Reviewer part IV

Author bites back at 'Bookworm'.

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Hi Folks

I'm back, Mojo surging through my veins - ego in-tact - reconciled to a new phase of development in my quest to become a writer.

As you would know, I have posted Memoirs of a Vending Machine on smashwords and also on Kindle in a new form - part I and part II. Part II is what was 'Kujira'. I had always intended that the two would become a novel at some stage and my recent experience with a Kindle reviewer - little miss 'bookworm' - provided the catalyst for the change. Well... turns out... I finished up in the top 100 Action and Adventure overnight despite the one star ping to the ego supplied by aforementioned bookworm.

So... I suppose I should just let the people decide... and they have.

The whole experience though poses a number of questions in my mind. The bookworm is officially sponsored as a top 1000 reviewer by kindle. The one star rating directly following a five star rating seems to be a little less objective than I would imagine an endorsed reviewer should be. It seems to be an unnecessary personal attack. Could it be that she is an endorsed cyber-bully?

Let me get this straight - I am NOT accusing her of being a bully - although, given a perceived position of inequality here and the actions that she has taken, it certainly feels like bullying. Moreover, it looks like bullying and it sure as hell sounds like bullying. I'm just putting it out there - the grubby facts that is.

So look, I am not going to just quit.  I know that there are people out there who like what I have spent a lot of time and effort writing, hence the five and four star reviews. There are those who are not particularly interested, hence the three star reviews. Fine - not your cup of tea then.

There are some one and two stars from the first published days before the professional edit but notably non since the edit until... 'the bookworm'.

So bookworm I am back and looking forward to more downloads and more publications. You didn't succeed in your apparent quest to knock me out. I am back and ready to roll with readers ready and willing to read my work.

Ja mata ne

Beerubaraoyaji

Update

Hi Folks

Well I return to my blog battered and bruised but definitely alive and well. My Kindle experience behind me I have done what I have been meaning to do for a while now and combined Memoirs with Kujira. I had intended to do this anyway but posted them separately as I finished them. Maybe I should have waited until they were ready to be published as one but what is done is done.

The novel 'Memoirs of a Vending Machine' now has a length of approximately 43 000 words and will make readers happy. Many comments centred around the fact that in Memoirs, although the story was enjoyable, it needed to continue as readers were keen to see what happened to Mike, Mark and Jon.

Well now you can find out - for FREE. It's all there.

In other news, I have been going crazy with my new logic pro 9 software and have been composing my way into insanity. See new link on my blog for a snippet of a new creation, "Walkin." It's something I though might lend itself well to the game market. I have a few more posts that are almost ready including a new ballad that is still a work in progress. Watch this space.

I'll be concentrating on music for the time being until I get my Mojo back and start writing again.

By the way - passed the exams.

That's all for now.

Berrubaraoyaji

Review the Reviewer 3

The Thrill Has Gone

Hi Folks

I've had a bad week on Kindle. A couple of recent posts regarding 'Memoirs of a Vending Machine' had lifted my spirits recently. But the last one... I had asked readers to hold off a little on negative reviews as there were more than enough posted to go around. So... little miss stick-the-knife-in-a-little-further-and-twist-it decides to ping me with a one star rating and a super negative review intended to really kick me in the teeth rather than critique what she had read. This follows an email I sent to Kindle regarding the electronic merry-go-round of quotes from reviews that give snippets of what reviewers have to say. None of the positive reviews was represented so I asked Kindle about this. The email reply explained that the negative reviews were randomly selected electronically and none of them broke the terms of the agreements that Kindle had in place. Great, so you actively discourage readers from buying a cheap read denying your company a cut of the fee, cutting the author out completely. 

Don't get me wrong, I have taken the criticisms on board and have edited, re-written and commissioned a copy edit to address the concerns. The problem is that the initial negative reviews are unable to represent changes and stay there, discouraging readers. It's a self destruct cycle so matter what you do, the reviewers feel that they have a license to 'bag you out' and see an opportunity to hone their  savage instincts by practicing their negative review techniques on an unsuspecting author no matter what is done to right the wrongs an inexperienced writer may make. 

My advice - stick with smashwords it's a much more enlightened and encouraging forum.

I can't say my experience with Kindle has been a positive one and I have had enough - the thrill has gone and I no longer am enjoying participating on their forum. I have unpublished and will soon un-publish the others. Memoirs is now available for free on smashwords and there I will leave things for a while until a time comes when I feel creative and positive again. Having had the guts kicked out of my ego completely, this may take a while. I am still working on another book - the band story - and will post this when I finish it.

By for now

Beerubaraoyaji

Punk Rocker Parody

Punk Rocker Parody Procrastination

Hi Folks

It's been a while now but I have been busy. Firstly I would like to report that I have sold very few copies of my first novella, 'Memoirs of a Vending Machine' and I can now confirm that I am a failed author according to the definition I carry in my own imagination. But at least I tried! So to all of my detractors I am now no longer prepared to put up with your criticisms and so I say &^*^&%$*$#.  And to those who have enjoyed or are yet to enjoy my creations - Thank you and god bless.

Anyway, in the mean-time I have been preparing for law exams and therefore have been busy procrastinating. I have managed to bring to fruition an idea I have had for some time - a parody of the famous song 'I wish I was a punk rocker' by Sandi Thom. I have checked the copyright law and I think I can get away with this as a parody or as 'fair use' due to its educational value.If you want to understand what I'm talking about here you'll have to listen.  If the copyright owners contact me however and claim infringement I'll have to take it down but until then, have a listen its a bit of fun.

The link is to the right, at the top of my other links to 'soundcloud'. (sorry - took the link down 'cause I needed the space.)

That's all for now - and wish me luck with the exam please.

Beeruybaraoyaji

Don't quit your day job - just yet.

Roppongi Hills Tokyo - Taken on a Gallaxy II

Well, this is where I would rather be - celebrating the milestone achieved this week on Kindle with a quiet drink and a chance to reflect and re-energise This  shot was taken on a recent trip to Tokyo on my trusty Gallaxy II, where I was lucky enough to visit the 'One Piece" exhibition - a creation by Eiichiro Oda There is this really cool bar near the cafeteria and I couldn't help myself as the atmosphere beckoned.  One long memorable drink, I'll tell you.

Although not a huge fan of "One Piece' due to an unfortunate misalignment of my age and the publication date of aforementioned Manga it was nevertheless absolutely amazing to see the artwork and follow the stories as presented. A chat with a few young fans revealed convoluted plots and characterisation that are of a complexity equal to anything I have read to date. Recently, I have been inspired by a few Japanese Manga creations such as "20th  Century Boys" ( the movie version features the song "20th Century Boy by T.REX ) and "Death Note",. I can recommend these to anyone who reads this blog - and of course my books!

Anyway, after two years and many many free downloads, I have finally managed to have "Memoirs of a Vending Machine" advertised for a price. Yes, for the grand old price of $0.99 you can have your very own copy of what at least 13,000 others have managed to download for free over the years.

It kind of makes me feel a little more legitimate after all my struggles with some vicious, ego destroying and unnecessarily negative reviewers. But I can't quite give up my day job. As is usually the case, readers are far less willing to download an ebook with a price on its head than a freebee. So no more ego boosting reaffirmation from my 100+ downloads-a-month free ebook. No way... its back to reality and a more realistic flat line while I wait for an enthusiastic reader to be inspired by my precis and my cover's artwork. Somehow I have the feeling that this may mean a little downtime but hey... so what... maybe I can now stop checking out the sales and spend some time on the next book.

BTW: If anyone wants to post a review of a reviewer, feel free to send it in. I guarantee that I will post it.

Ja Mata Kondo

Beerubaraoyaji

Review the Reviewer part 2

Can't believe what they are serving at Tokyo Disneyland these days !

(Hint - read the description a couple of times to see what it is they are actually steaming)

Hi Folks

I have included the above photo as it is kind of connected to the present theme of reviewing the reviewer. This review/description didn't put me off however and I ate my steamed bum, enjoying every tasty mouthful - I'd buy another.

Well this has got to be the fastest turnaround time for me to post on my blog ever. Last post I invited readers to send in any reviews they thought worthy of some healthy ridicule and low and behold, paulaustin a fellow blogger sends in the following little gem. Although I couldn't quite verify it by locating the review on the stated web site, I presume it is out there on another site that reviews holiday destinations or something like that. Anyway, doesn't really matter 'cause it's hilarious and I love it. 

The place it reviews looks lovely and I wonder how they would feel if they knew this review monster is at large hacking to pieces all that work they have done in presenting the pristine picture perfect image on the web site. I'm sure that Yosemite Cabin Rentals could do without this sort of random assortment of unrelated sentences. Mind you, it did make me click on the link and investigate a little further.

It reads;

"If you getting really starving on a night journey where you want to get the food done quickly so you get to hit the sack. I'd suggest purchasing a Vegetarian food."

yosemite cabin rentals

You know, the cabins aren't bad either  - with or without vegetarian food.

Thanks  for the post paulaustin. I am starting to think that reviewing the reviewer could be a great cathartic experience for anyone that has ever been trolled by an ebook site serial ego crusher and I think I may have found a way to pay them back.

Keep sending them in folks if you get where I am headed here.

Later

Beerubaraoyaji