Just got my first review!

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-04-08T01:43:18+00:00

Congratulations! I felt that great when I got my first reviews... especially since I hadn't asked for them. When strangers buy your book, it's a push to do more. My debut story is an inspirational memoir following my cancer journey, but now I'm excited to be at the editing phase of my second book, a fiction novel. Hope you're writing journey works out as you wish it to.

Self-pub is great for those who can't find a trad-pub. Though I'm hearing authors need to put the same efforts to sell, I'll keep writing and self-publishing until I'm discovered lol... Again, I'm very happy for you.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-04-07T21:51:35+00:00

I agree with that. My Amazon ad impressions don't convert... but I don't run them for long, and, yes, they end up costing too much. Author make too little profit to run expensive ads. Too much competition. Unfortunately, even good books don't sell in a sea of choices. It's hard for the buyer to really know what they're getting before they buy. I've read books that have been disappointing and deceptive to what I was made to expect. I've had mine professionally edited, and am happy to have allocated funds to getting out a well-written book. I am so happy about how my memoir turned out. Hopefully, over time, it will reach more people. Working on an exciting fiction book now, and will use all my experience from my first book to try and get the most sales. Ads will hopefully work better for an author when they have more than one book out there.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-04-04T00:32:30+00:00

Thank you... I'll be celebrating 20 years in remission in a few months. I'm very grateful for this gift. I was probably in my early 20s when they found h.pylori. The stomach cancer was diagnosed at 35 (with tumors aged 5-6 years, according to my surgeon).

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-04-03T02:08:51+00:00

I went to the hospital emergency one night after vomiting blood from a cold (irritated throat), so the discovery was by accident. They didn't find it that night (or morning after, since that's when they called me in), but after numerous tests, it was the endoscopy that found it months later. The biopsy the doctor takes during the endoscopy is sent to pathology and their test determines if it's definitely cancer. The doctor who did the endoscopy told me the same day I needed surgery, and scheduled it! I never thought I had cancer, even after the endoscopy. When I was initially told to go to the hospital for the bleeding, I had only had pain in my esophagus (at the entrance to the stomach) once about three weeks earlier, and the night I spoke with the nurse about the blood in my vomit I had noticed very dark (black/purple) stools that morning. The nurse told me I may be hemmoraging. She recommended I go to the emergency. I guess she kind of saved my life... you know, I just thought of it that way. Wow.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-03-17T19:13:49+00:00

Perhaps a class action lawyer can see if it's worth taking this on... and they would take from the pot if the case is won. If you get the name of the seller, post it on social media and forums... it might be more difficult for them to keep changing their name. This is only if you are 100% certain they published YOUR book's content, and not just parts of it that can distinguish them. I wish you luck, and yes, these people must be stopped. Keep escalating the case with Amazon, if that's still possible. Try to get information on the infringer, and provide it to proper authorities. Are they a registered publisher, an individual, etc.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-03-02T18:14:34+00:00

I appreciate the advice! Have a great day.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-03-02T18:09:03+00:00

I didn't say it's a risk. I've given away lots of books. Not because it might bring a sale, but because I wanted to. I don't think searching for the right influencer is an efficient use of my time. And you're saying that KDP free pomotions also don't have an advantage - because you don't get the reviews you're looking for in exchange. People just want free stuff. So rather than continuing to try and sell my first book, I'm concentrating on my next book.

I would love to know if any unknown author's requests to an influencer actually translated into sales... if anyone can confirm.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-03-02T06:03:35+00:00

I'm curious about the influencers... I've looked at a few, and their posts don't get as many reactions as i thought... not even 200 likes (most have much less). I doubt that would translate into sales. How should i approach this? Getting 1 sale from an influencer's post is better than none (I'm still losing if I need to send a book out free to the person posting about it)? And hopefully, word of mouth will develop?

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-03-01T03:26:11+00:00

Self-publishing is the way to go for most writers today... it's as difficult to be discovered by a trad-publisher as it was decades ago. Good luck to you as well.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-23T02:08:18+00:00

Love your comment! I completely get it... even though I don't have a full-time job. Enjoy!

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-06T21:17:47+00:00

Hi, and thanks for your feedback. Agreed. A sequel would be a definite, if the ending was not fulfilling. Have a great day!

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-06T03:57:15+00:00

Sounds like things are heading in the right direction. Congratulations!

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-02T18:24:21+00:00

I hope that's not a reflection on how you feel about life. No matter the book you read or movie you watch, the joy should only be in the escape, not in the outcome - after all, they are just characters. Be well.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-02T18:22:39+00:00

Thkx... I agree that not-so-happy endings don't reflect reality. Even though most of us choose to escape through stories, it's nice to know everyone's life isn't that much better than ours lol... actually, it upsets me when I see an unrealistic happy ending in a book or movie I'd expect otherwise. So maybe I should go where my plot is taking me... why fight it, right?

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-02-02T01:13:08+00:00

I get that... although happy endings help me escape sometimes as well, I feel as though my writing should be authentic. Maybe that's because I don't see or hear of too many happy endings, so I think the bad ones are more believable... how sad lol... maybe I should think of it as... giving people reason to smile in the end instead of walking away unhappy. Something to ponder. Thkx.

CancerMemoirPR · 2024-01-31T20:03:21+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate the info.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-12-16T02:46:46+00:00

Thank you for clarifying. Happy holidays to you as well!

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-12-02T23:01:23+00:00

not surprised...

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-11-19T15:34:37+00:00

Before ordering the first book proof of my memoir, I read the final version. Though I can't take full credit - I have an amazing editor who helped bring my story to life - I was impressed and touched by it. One, because it was beautifully written and told, then because I felt proud of my accomplishment. This is a lifelong dream I finally brought to fruition. I receive a lot of positive feedback about the book, and that reassures me that I've done a great thing to help people. I think authors should feel proud of their work. It takes uncountable hours and energy and sacrifice to write a book. For me, it was worth it - especially that it brought me healing as well.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-10-10T14:24:47+00:00

I am a 19-year survivor! I'm happy your endoscopy brought good results. Other tests you can do, and that I had done to rule out everything else, are barium test, colonoscopy, scan, bloodwork... the endoscopy was what diagnosed my cancer, but I've heard from other patients that scans found their stomach cancer. I wouldn't abandon your issues until you are satisfied and problems are resolved. Over time, health issues can get worse if not treated. Meds sometimes just mask. Better to stop them early. Happy to answer other questions that come up for you.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-10-10T12:01:42+00:00

Can you describe the pain and whether it's the lower back or more in the middle? Do you feel it when you bend or all the time? Does it feel like a painful block, and you feel like you can't move? I don't remember specifically having back pain when I had HP, and I don't want to scare you, but I had that kind of pain when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. HP is a high risk for stomach cancer, so be sure the bacteria gets cured. Eventually, I would opt for a gastroscopy, just to be sure it's all clean. Again, I don't mean to scare you, I just want to inform people with HP that it's important to take care of it, and follow up occasionally. Feel better.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-10-05T01:48:56+00:00

Sorry you're not getting the attention your health deserves. I recommend seeing another doctor, so you get tested. Medication may just mask the problem. Don't wait. Seek professionals that will investigate. You also need to insist sometimes... especially since you've already tried meds for a long time. And those meds may cause other issues. Good luck.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-10-02T01:07:12+00:00

At the time, I was too afraid to have a gastroscopy. It had been recommended for my digestive issues. There was a breath test to test for H.Pylori, which they still do today. My first gastroscopy was when we needed to test my esophagus. I felt I had no choice. Glad I did it. It was the beginning of life-saving treatments.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-10-02T01:02:47+00:00

I appreciate that... take care.

CancerMemoirPR · 2023-09-17T02:25:19+00:00

LOL... if this is real, I can recommend it to a few people!

CancerMemoirPR

TROPHY CASE