MATCH ME -- My New Debut

I've always thought of myself as a YA author. The voices in my head (yes, there are several) are young and the stories that always resonated with me were pretty firmly planted in the YA camp.

But lots of people--authors, friends, my children--urged me to try a different genre. "How do you know you can only write children's fiction?" they would ask. Or, "What about those award-winning short stories you've written? You know, the ones that were adult fiction??"

Hmm.

So I decided to give it a shot. Write something that could be classified as adult contemporary. 

And guess what?

I did it! 

And it worked! And I liked it!!

Match Me is my first adult contemporary on the market. I started slow, easing into the adult fiction genre. How, you ask? Well, Bonnie, my main character, is twenty years old. Just barely outside the realm of YA fiction. And it's a novella, hovering right at 100 pages.

But it was super fun to write and it has a lot of me in it. In fact, I am writing a whole series of "Me" novellas. And, yep, you guessed it: there just might be some truth mingled in with the fiction. 

Oh! I know what you're wondering. Um...the author name on the book is different. Who is Liz Appel?? That's ME. Why a pen name? Just keeping the genres separate. Because, although I think people who loved Set In Stone would delight in Bonnie's antics in Match Me, I don't exactly think the 10 year old boys who leave me reviews for Nine Lives would feel the same way...So, Liz Appel it is, a play on my first name and my maiden name. And she has her own blog, too. 

Why I'm A Serial 5-Star Reviewer

If you've ever checked out the reviews I've given on Amazon or Goodreads, you've probably noticed something. I give an awful lot of 5 star reviews. Like...a LOT. 

Why? Am I too easy? Are all books puppies and rainbows? Do I give out all 5-stars to not piss off my writer friends?

Uh. No.

It really boils down to how I view what a 5-star rating is. I read a fantastic blog post about this a few weeks ago that, sadly I cannot find to link here, but the gist of it was this: rate the book for what it does for you.

Huh?

See, I review every book I read as a stand-alone. I base my ratings/reviews on how the book makes me feel. Did it engage me? Did I enjoy the story? Did I connect with the characters? Did it stay with me after I finished the final page?

If I answer yes to most of those questions, that's a 5-star book for me. Period.

I don't compare it to other books I've read. I mean, is Stay At Home Dead like Murder on the Orient Express? Ummm... But it made me laugh and I stayed up way too late to finish it and I still giggle, months later, when I think of Deuce Winter's antics.

I don't “save” 5-stars for the best of the best. If you've been involved in 4-H, you probably understand this mentality. When 4-Hers present their projects to the judges, they aren't competing against anyone for a blue ribbon. They share their project—what they learned, what they liked, etc—and the judge awards a ribbon accordingly. The ribbon a kid receives for a lopsided wooden birdhouse (that he built with his own two hands! By himself! And it was his first attempt ever at woodworking!) is exactly the same as the ribbon given to the kid who built the amazing log cabin doghouse with stained glass windows. They are separate entities. Sure, there is a Best of Show category later on, but no child's work is compared to another's during initial judging.

That's how book reviews should be.

And another thing. I don't usually review outside of my comfort genres. We all have them—we like mysteries but hate chick lit. We read YA but avoid science fiction like the plague. It doesn't mean I won't read genres I don't typically like (how boring would that be??) but I am careful how I review them. If something doesn't resonate with me, is it because of the book or because I am prejudiced against the genre? If there is any doubt, I simply don't review.

So what do all of my 5-star reviews really mean? I love books. Lots of them. I devour them. I celebrate them. And I want the authors who write them to know how much I appreciate the stories they've given birth to.

Do what you want with your reviews. But I'm happy to hand out five stars...generously. 

The Reviews Are In!

So NINE LIVES has been out for almost two weeks and the reviews are rolling in. If you're one of the 7,500 people who downloaded it for free this weekend and enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. They matter. Especially to independent authors.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best novels I've read in a while!, June 23, 2012

By 

KClev - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nine Lives (Kindle Edition)

I'm a very picky reader -- always have been. If a book doesn't interest me in the first 50 pages, I'll most likely put it down and never pick it up again. With "Nine Lives", I found myself aching to read it, even if I didn't have the time. I'm a young adult, and I was still drawn in! I would read a page here and there, and it was almost impossible to put my computer down. The plot is incredible. Excellent story line. And great character choices. Balmanno definitely makes the reader a part of the whole entire story, word for word, and I love when a good book can incorporate the reader. The way the whole story falls together at the end is just perfect. Utterly perfect. I usually don't cry during books, but I did feel a few tears building up. Definitely one of my favorite books, ever -- I wish there was a second one!

5.0 out of 5 stars A warm story for all, June 24, 2012

By 

Susan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Nine Lives (Kindle Edition)

Nine Lives is a wonderfully, warm story for all ages. One of the great things about shopping the free book list for Kindles is that I am exposed to a wider variety of books than I would be normally. My favorite genre is mystery. I don't usually go to the young adult or children sections of a bookstore and would have missed the opportunity to read this book.

The product description was intriguing. A mystery and an animal - what could be better. Well, the mystery is somewhat transparent, but that is not what makes this book so good. To me, it is Belmanno's description of the people and place that brings to the story to life. Belmanno covers the gamut of the different types of relationships with characters that are very well developed including both family and friendship dynamics. You can clearly picture each one, including the cat. It is these relationships that made me laugh and cry throughout the book and keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. In addition, her description of the place allowed me to live through the summer of this 11 year old boy like I was there.

Amazing Book I Highly Recommend June 19, 2012

By Lee

Format:Kindle Edition

NINE LIVES is a book about a boy named Nick who keeps almost dying. First it was the lake, then a tree, then on a piece of candy, and several more times, and every time a mysterious cat by the name of Mike saves him. Can Nick and his friend Emma help figure out why he keeps dying, and more importantly why is Mike saving him?

NINE LIVES is an excellent read for any age, but it is a middle grade book geared towards 4/5/6th grade boys. I am a thirteen year old girl though and loved it, so I really do recommend this book for any age. The characters are wonderful, and you feel like you really know them, you feel like Neal really is your brother, Emma really is your friend, and you really are Nick. Beth Balmanno has figured out a way to take you from whichever room you're reading in into Wolf Creek, Nick's hometown.

Overall I would give NINE LIVES 6 out of 5 stars, but that's not possible. So it's gets 5 out of 5 stars and two thumbs up. :) 

 

 

NINE LIVES -- It's here!

I promised a cover reveal but guess what? The final cover and the edited version of NINE LIVES were ready within hours of each other. And, if you know me at all, you know I am not a very patient person. Who has time for a cover reveal when you can just put up the entire thing??

So, here it is. NINE LIVES. My first middle grade novel. I am absolutely in love with it. Not in a Noel from Set in Stone kind of way. More like a mom loving on her kids. It is sweet. It is funny and quirky. And it is beautiful.

Click the image below and check out the blurb on Amazon.

When A Picture is Worth 47,000 Words

Nothing warms an author's heart more than this.

NINE LIVES is in the hands of test readers. This darling girl spent half her day reading yesterday...until math called her away (yucky, icky math!).  


Thanks very much to Amy for sending me this pic of one of my beta readers! It planted a smile that lasted all day. 


Cover reveal coming soon for NINE LIVES.  I can't wait!

Who DOESN'T Want a Free Amazon Gift Card??

A free Amazon gift card? What? Where? How? Keep reading...

Question time. Do you shop at Amazon? If you have a computer and a credit card, I'm guessing you probably do.

And I'm also guessing that the things you buy are varied. If you're like me, you've probably bought everything from books to blenders to vitamins online. Amazon has turned into the Wal-mart of cyberspace—I mean, when you think about it, there isn't much you can't purchase there. I'm pretty sure they're responsible for like 97% of the U.S. economy.

So, how do you decide what you're gonna buy? I mean, sure—blender breaks and you need a new one. Type “blender” in Amazon's search window and you get 186,000 results. Hmm. How do you narrow that down?

Price, for sure. Not everyone can afford the $500 Vitamix Turbo blender. But what else helps you make your decision?

Reviews?

A-ha! I'm gonna go ahead and answer yes to that question. Because I highly doubt you hide the reviews with the palm of your hand as you're scrolling through items to purchase.

You rely on the insight and advice of others. Think about this scenario: there are two blenders priced at $50 each. One blender has a solid 4-star rating with 48 reviews, the other a 5-star rating with 2 reviews. Which one are you gonna choose?

If you're like 99% of the populace, you choose the 4-star one. Why? Because more people have reviewed it, more opinions are offered...it feels better to buy something that lots of people have weighed in on.

Well, guess what? It's the same thing with books.

People want to see books with reviews. They want to see that other people have bought a book they're considering and that they've taken the time to leave a review. Reviews mean something.

So, here's my next question: how many of you actually leave reviews on items you've purchased? I'm guessing the number is slim. Why? I'll use my book as an example.

I've gotten roughly in the neighborhood of one hundred emails or messages regarding Set in Stone. People—many of whom I don't know, who found me on my Facebook Author page or contacted me via my Contact Me page here on this site—have emailed me, telling me how much they enjoyed the book. Asking when the sequel is coming out. Correcting my spelling of Culpeper, Virginia (yeah, spellcheck really wanted that to read Culpepper...). Et cetera.

Wanna know how many of those same people left reviews on Amazon or Goodreads?

Less than 10.

So I want to know why. Why is it so hard to pop over to Amazon and leave a quick review of something you've enjoyed? And I'm not just talking about books you've read. How about board games your kids play? DVDs you've purchased and loved? Sheets that are positively sinful to sleep on? Solar lights that add the perfect touch to your garden?

There are millions of people who would value your opinion. Who want to know what others think of a certain product before they make the decision to buy.

So, to get the ball rolling let's do this: leave a comment here with a link to your customer reviews on Amazon. Mine looks like this. (And yes. I'm writing more. Like, today.)

I'll select one winner at random to receive a $5 gift card for Amazon. Yes. FIVE WHOLE DOLLARS to spend on whatever the heck you want at Amazon.

You just have to promise you'll leave a review for whatever it is you buy...

And...just so you know...if you choose to leave a review for a book (or three) you've read...well, there are quite a few authors out there who would be profoundly grateful that you're helping to spread the word.

So what are you waiting for? Go review something. Now.


** Winner will be chosen by my cat. Yes, he is massive. 

I will write each name on a slip of paper and then spritz them with water from a tuna fish can. The first piece he attempts to eat will be wrenched from his mouth (yes, I'm that brave) and will be declared the winner.

No, I'm Not Jealous. OK, Maybe Just A Little...

Is it ok to admit I'm feeling just a teensy bit like a jealous girlfriend? People are emailing me and messaging me on Goodreads and posting on my Facebook Author page about how much they love Noel from Set in Stone. Like....looooove him.

“I want more Noel!”

“I miss Noel....when will the sequel be done?”

“Why can't every man walking the planet be like Noel?”

“I will come and babysit your kids so you can write non-stop!” (OK, so no one has actually told me that...but I'm open to offers...)

And trust me...I am beyond flattered. To have someone I created (although, I have my doubts about that. I think he might actually be real. But that's for another post.) speak to so many people, to elicit such strong emotions, is an amazingly awesome feeling.

I am humbled. I am proud. I am filled with love and joy.

And I'm just a smidgeon jealous.

Why? What on earth is there to be jealous about?

Because, for the longest time, he was mine. For three months, I wrote and wrote and wrote, and I was the only one who ever saw those words, who even knew Noel existed. And then for a year or so, I shared carefully, with friends and beta readers and critique partners. Even through those limited sets of eyes, it still felt like he was mine.

And even though Valerie and I are nearly as opposite as night and day (me, run? HA! Me, artistic? Just try to play Draw Something with me or ask me to sculpt something out of Play-Doh!), I often imagined that the words Noel spoke to her were for me. I mean, how could I not? When you write in first person narrative and a hot guy is whispering how beautiful you are, how special you are...well, it's easy to blur the lines a little bit.

Now, before you all start thinking I'm a little bit loopy and I secretly have a shrine dedicated to Noel in my closet, I do not. That particular honor was reserved for Michael Jackson when I was in 5^th grade. I have my own real-life Noel whom I love deliriously, thank you very much. I do not ask him to stick his face in the freezer before he kisses me and I do not make him dye his hair black or wear ice blue contacts. Oh, wait. He already has dark hair and blue eyes...

Whatever.

I am beyond happy with my real-life man. I am not in love with any of my characters. I am happy that so many people love the book and love Noel. I want to hear what readers think and what they loved best about the story.

But if I bite my lip and nod a little tersely before commenting, don't take it personally. It's just me, acquiescing that Noel no longer belongs to me.

He belongs to whomever wants to love him.

Noel belongs to everyone.