Book Reviews and cozy Comfort

Welcome to the podcast. It’s Canadian Thanksgiving as I record this, so Happy Thanksgiving! Today, I am chatting about reader reviews and how to get them, and in the craft segment, I am continuing my deep dive into sub-genres, with a look at how to write a warm and comforting cozy mystery.

So, let’s get to it.

As indie authors, we pour our heart and soul into our books, spending countless hours writing, editing, and perfecting every last detail. But once the book is out there in the world, how do you get people to notice it? How do you convince readers to take a chance on an unknown author?

Pricing is one option – or giving away the first book in a series for free, but I think the most powerful tool we have are book reviews.

Think about the last time you bought a book online. Did you read the reviews before making your purchase? I bet you did. In fact, studies show that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. That's a pretty powerful statistic.

For self-published authors, reviews are even more important. Without the backing of a traditional publisher, we don't have the same marketing resources or built-in audience. We rely on word-of-mouth and organic discovery to get our books in front of readers. And that's where reviews come in.

Here are just a few reasons why book reviews are so important:

Reviews provide social proof that your book is worth reading. When potential readers see that others have enjoyed your book, they're more likely to take a chance on it themselves.

 The more reviews your book has, the more visible it becomes on online retailers like Amazon. Books with a high number of reviews are more likely to show up in search results and be recommended to readers.

Good reviews can help establish you as a credible author in your genre. When readers see that others have enjoyed your work, they're more likely to see you as a legitimate author.

And reviews can also provide valuable feedback on your work. They can help you understand what readers liked (or didn't like) about your book, which can inform your future writing.

But how do you actually go about getting them? It's not like you can just sit back and wait for readers to leave glowing reviews on their own (although that would be nice). It is a chicken and egg situation – you want your book to be read in order to get reviews, but you need reviews to get your book read. So, we have to be proactive.

Here are some tips for getting more book reviews:

You can ask for reviews. This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many authors don't actively ask for reviews. At the end of your book, include a call-to-action asking readers to leave a review if they enjoyed the book. You can also include a link to your book's review page to make it easy for them.

You can reach out to reviewers. There are plenty of book bloggers and reviewers out there who are always looking for new books to read and review. Do some research to find reviewers who specialize in your genre and reach out to them with a polite email asking if they'd be interested in reviewing your book. Make sure to include a brief description of your book and why you think it would be a good fit for their audience.

You can also offer book for free. Many reviewers are happy to read and review books in exchange for a free copy. Consider offering free ebook copies of your book to potential reviewers to encourage them to leave a review. You can also use services like BookSprout or BookFunnel to distribute review copies to a wider audience. Be careful though. You do not want to be seen as “paying” for reviews. Amazon and other platforms not only frown on this and will likely remove a review they think you have employed nefarious means to obtain, you will also put your KDP account at risk.

If you are offering a “free” book, then make it clear that the reviewer is under no obligation to leave any review at all, and especially not a good review.

There is much controversy about this. Some authors send out Advanced Review Copies  - referred to as ARCs, and even request that potential reviewers fill in an application. The expectation is that the reviewer will read the book prior to publication, and leave a review on, or near to the date of publication. This is a great way to get exposure for your book as you launch it. However, reviewers have complained online that authors have requested that they a three star review or less, a specified time after the launch day.

My personal opinion is that if you are asking for a review, then you get what you get.

I also think it’s not good practice to ask friends and family. You want readers who are fans of the genre, for one thing, and that might not be your immediate family.

So here is a summary of best practice tips.

• Provide a clear call-to-action at the end of your book asking for reviews

• Make it easy for readers to leave reviews by including links to your book's review page

• Reach out to reviewers who specialize in your genre and have a genuine interest in your book

• Offer free advanced review copies to encourage more reviews

• Ask subscribers to your newsletter to leave reviews.

Don't:

• Pay for fake reviews or use review swap services that violate retailer guidelines

• Pressure or harass readers to leave reviews

• Respond defensively or argue with readers who leave negative reviews or respond to ANY reviews. The reviews are there for other readers.

• Rely solely on reviews from friends and family.

Book reviews are a powerful tool for self-published authors looking to increase their visibility, credibility, and sales. By actively seeking out reviews and making it easy for readers to leave them, you can boost your book's discoverability and convince more readers to take a chance on your work.

Remember, getting reviews takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. Keep putting yourself out there, engaging with your audience, and providing value to your readers, and the reviews will come.

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Now onto the craft segment.

I love mysteries that are as comforting as a warm cup of tea and as satisfying as solving a jigsaw puzzle. I love writing them and reading them, and I hope I know what readers are looking for in these charming tales of small-town intrigue and amateur sleuthing.

Let’s start with a definition. What is a cozy mystery? Simply put, it's a subgenre of crime fiction that focuses more on the "whodunit" puzzle than on graphic violence or gritty realism. Cozy mysteries typically feature an amateur detective (often a woman) who stumbles upon a murder in a quaint, close-knit community and takes it upon herself to solve the case. Along the way, there's usually plenty of quirky characters and red-herrings. More recently, the cozy mystery genre has been further broken down into culinary cozies which feature food, or hobby cozies which might revolve around quilting for example. You might be a fan of cozies that feature pets, or bookstores, or antiques. It’s a growing genre, and readers have their own favourites. But for all the categories, there are consistent tropes that all reader expect when they pick up a cozy mystery.

So let’s start with these tropes.

One of the hallmarks of a cozy mystery is the setting. Readers want to be transported to a quaint, picturesque town or village where everyone knows everyone, and life moves at a slower pace. Think small-town New England, a charming English village, or a tight-knit community in the South.

When creating your setting, describe the local landmarks and attractions, the seasonal activities and festivals that bring the community together and particularly, the gossip and rumors that spread like wildfire in a small town

Your setting should feel like a character in itself, with its own personality and quirks.At the heart of every cozy mystery is the amateur detective who takes it upon herself to solve the case. This character is often a woman with a unique skill set or background that helps her in her sleuthing . Think bookstore owners, or ex-spies. Cozy mysteries are as diverse as your readership, so your sleuth does not have to be an elderly English woman.

When crafting your amateur detective, consider personality and quirks. They could have a love of baking, or a knack for solving crossword puzzles.

Their relationships with the other characters in the story (maybe best friend who helps them investigate, or a love interest who complicates things) are important, and they should have a strong motivation for solving the crime, either a personal connection or a strong sense of justice. Remember, your amateur detective should be someone readers can root for and relate to, even if they have their flaws.

A cozy mystery wouldn't be complete without a cast of quirky, colorful characters to fill out the world. These characters can range from the helpful sidekick to the nosy neighbor to the grumpy police chief who doesn't appreciate the amateur detective's meddling.

Even minor characters should feel fully realized and three-dimensional.

Your mystery should be puzzling, but fair. At the end of the day, readers pick up a cozy mystery for the satisfying "whodunit" puzzle at its core. Your job as the writer is to craft a mystery that's challenging enough to keep readers guessing but not so convoluted that it feels unfair or unsolvable.

When planning your mystery, consider, the motive, means, and opportunity for each suspect, the clues and red herrings you'll sprinkle throughout the story and the twists and turns that will keep readers on their toes.

Always sprinkle in some cozy charm.One of the things that sets cozy mysteries apart from other crime fiction is the "cozy" factor. Readers come to these stories for the warm, comforting atmosphere and the sense of community they provide.

The goal is to create a world readers will want to escape to again and again.

You absolutely must keep the Violence Off the PageOne of the key differences between cozy mysteries and other crime fiction is the level of violence and gore. In a cozy mystery, the violence tends to happen "off screen," with the focus more on the puzzle of solving the crime than on graphic details.

When writing your cozy mystery, keep the murder (or other crime) itself relatively bloodless and non-violent and focus more on the characters' reactions to the crime than on the gory details.

Cozy mystery readers are looking for a gentler, more puzzle-focused read than your typical crime thriller.

Finally, don't forget to give your amateur detective a satisfying character arc throughout the story. Over the course of the mystery, sleuths should learn something about themselves and grow as people, whether that means facing fears, learning to trust their instincts, or opening themselves up to love.

A great cozy mystery is just as much about the sleuth's personal journey as it is about solving the crime.

Writing a cozy mystery that appeals to readers and fans of the genre takes a bit of know-how and a lot of heart. By creating a charming setting, crafting a likeable amateur detective, surrounding them with a colorful cast of characters, planning a puzzling (but fair) mystery, sprinkling in some cozy charm, keeping the violence off the page, and giving your sleuth a satisfying arc, you'll be well on your way to crafting a cozy mystery that readers will devour like a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies.

Thank you for listening today. Have a great week of writing, and don’t forget to tune into the Midweek Murder Motivation episode on Wednesday.