Warbirds Genesis

My new work, Warbirds: Ancient History is up on Amazon and Createspace, and it's free for two days this weekend, 3/16-3/17 in the Kindle store. Again, Chester's wonderful artwork graces the cover.

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm) 
Black & White on White paper
166 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1470160913 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1470160919 
BISAC: Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure

There are those who believe the gods ancient man once worshiped were actually aliens, living on Earth and mingling with humans for their own purposes. Myths and legends formed around them, some of which held truths while others whispered mystery.

Over three thousand years ago, the mythical Phoenix came to aid the Olympians in their cycle of battles with the Anunnaki, inhabitants of Nibiru, the legendary Planet X. There was hope this new alliance would stem an age old war and bring peace to Earth, but with some plans, the results are never what you expect.

A 32,000+ word novella, this story is the prequel to Warbirds and not recommended for children thirteen and under.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3813118

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F1TSL4

New Book Goes Live

Warbirds

Authored by Robert Larrison

List Price: $11.99

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm) 
Black & White on White paper
240 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1468033434 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1468033433 
BISAC: Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure

US President Stephanie Williams has a problem. The Hubble Telescope has just discovered a mystery planet entering our solar system, and some believe it to be the fabled Nibiru, or Planet X. On top of that, SETI antennas have picked up signals coming from a massive expeditionary force headed for Earth, and NASA has confirmed their findings.

It’s time to activate the Phoenix Project and turn the fate of our world over to a bunch of Cornell students fresh out of graduate school. Their mission is to find and activate an ancient starship capable of fighting off the invasion. Now she’s really worried!

Not recommended for children 13 and under.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3740657

Also available on Amazon.com.

New Strategy

I thought I'd try something different in the lines of promotion, write short stories taken from my books, give them away and make sure I've listed my novels at the end of the story. Seems to be working, I've given away over three hundred copies and the traffic to my novels has increased. Now I'll wait for the Christmas selling season to see if my sales increase.

Here are the links to the shorts, be sure to download the correct version for your reader. BTW, .pdf works well for computer.

Lady of the Woods:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91252

The Garden of El Dorado:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93577

Thunder Royce: Jumped:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91939

The Dragons of Bastogne:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92461

Thunder Royce: A Little Help from My Friends

List Price: $11.99

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm) 
Black & White on White paper
238 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1466358218 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1466358211 
BISAC: Fiction / Science Fiction / Adventure

Thunder and Sarah Royce have a new school, new friends and whole new set of problems. Join the Royce twins and their father, Air Force Major Harold Royce, on another harrowing adventure, one that introduces them to new worlds and new dangers.

An old enemy raises its head again. The birdmen of Saludia are intent on revenge, and their nemesis planet, Celestia is in their sights. Nothing is going to stop them from destroying it now that they’ve come into possession of armed, nuclear warheads, courtesy of the United States Air Force. It’s up to Thunder, Sarah and their new friend, Emily Spencer from the Alter World of Atlantis to work together to stop the Saludians’ evil plans.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3693371

Emily's Dragon Now on Sale

List Price: $9.99

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm) 
Black & White on White paper
142 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1466298835 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1466298839 
BISAC: Fiction / Fantasy / General

It’s Emily Spencer's thirteenth birthday, and she’s off to school with her sister Candice, headed to Atlantis Academy to meet up with the boys on Omega Team. Their first year out and already, they’ve garnered a reputation for being daring and at times, a little careless. Join the girls as they travel the galaxy via space portals and time machines to stumble into trouble and adventure in the Alter World.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3683504

Emily's Unicorn Selling on Createspace

List Price: $6.99

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm) 
Black & White on White paper
114 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1461044826 (CreateSpace-Assigned) 
ISBN-10: 1461044820 
BISAC: Fiction / Fantasy / General

Emily Spenser has a secret world filled with angels, pixies and unicorns, only it's not in her imagination.

Thrust into a world young girls dream about, Emily joins her grandfather in an adventure that leads them to a portal between two worlds and, along with new friends, unites their shattered family.

CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3588294

Trouble in Paradise or Author Beware

Actually, trouble in the Alter World of Slipstream.

In my rush to see a posted review of my work online, I googled for "review services" and came up with several sites that offered free reviews. I bit and now I wish I hadn't.

One company, Reader Views, advertised free reviews and for an extra fee, offered several other services that promised to post your review online and basically get your work "out there." I checked the wait list for free reviews and saw that some had been sitting on their site for over three months. It wasn't a stretch to come to the conclusion that it would be best to take advantage of their "Express" service, a free review and posting to the net for $95.00. Seemed good enough until I came to the clause that they would not guarantee a good review and if you got a bad one, tough luck. They'd post it anyway.

Before I continue, check out the thread I set up on Amazon for the whole picture:

http://forums.kindledirectpublishing.com/kdpforums/thread.jspa?threadID=14032&tstart=0

Needless to say, my book review came back not only negative, but vindictive as well. Marty Shaw, the reviewer is no New York Times reviewer but he came across as a wannabe.

What bothered me the most was their policy of not refraining from posting bad reviews and I got the feeling that they were angling for more money when it was suggested that I get a good editor. BTW, they do editing for an undisclosed fee.

Right about then I felt ripped off. I proceeded to post my concerns on the Amazon KDP forum and asked for a refund from Paypal. It's going to be rough but I need to pursue Reader Views for what I feel is bad business policy.

For those of you who would like to help, there's a way to get Amazon to take down Marty's review. Go to the review: http://www.amazon.com/Slipstream-1-Robert-Larrison/product-reviews/1460973062/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 and click "NO" at the bottom where it asks "Was this review helpful to you." They will take it down if enough people say "No."

My conclusion?  I've come to realize that the "pay for review" services are not the way to go. Wait for your sales to increase and watch the honest reviews post.