I read that shoppers are 270% more likely to buy a product with 5 reviews than one with none, and most of that lift comes from the first 10 reviews. It was research from the Northwestern University Spiegel Research Center in 2017 Then I decided to write it down and came up with this: - 0 reviews: Shoppers may be hesitant to buy. - 5 reviews: Shoppers are 270% more likely to purchase compared with a product with no reviews. - 10 reviews: Additional reviews can increase confidence, but the benefit starts to level off. - 50 or 100 reviews: Reviews still matter, but each additional review generally has less impact. This is really interesting and also positive, as it's achievable for any author who is passionate about book publishing. 😊 Have you ever purchased a book with no reviews from an author you didn't know?

I’d really appreciate some advice from members with experience with this. Amazon rejected my 7-day hormonal workbook, saying it “might result in a disappointing customer experience.” They then closed my KDP account and removed my published 90-day journal, Beyond a Thousand Veils, from sale. I’ve appealed, but their replies uphold the decision without explaining the specific problem, so I don’t know what I’m being asked to correct. This journal draws on over 40 years of professional experience, and I’ve just spent a week translating it into French at my French clients’ request. To say I’m frustrated would be an understatement! Have you successfully challenged a KDP closure, found a useful escalation route, or moved your book to another publishing service? I’d be grateful for practical suggestions or recommendations based on your own experience. I’m determined to find a way forward. 💛

I made it with ElevenLabs using a clone of my own voice, and honestly, I think it sounds better than me. Here's what I did: • Recorded about 30 minutes of my voice so ElevenLabs could build a professional clone • Uploaded the book and generated the whole audiobook, about 3 hours of work in total • The exported files weren't quite up to distributor standard, so I used Claude to fix them (silence, loudness and checks) and give me clean files back • Uploaded them to Author's Republic. It was approved a few days ago, sent out to Audible, Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Kobo, Google and more (list attached), and today it's live on Amazon and Audible The good: no studio time, no expensive equipment, and it was far easier than I expected. The honest downside: it isn't human narration, and the royalties are low. Author's Republic takes a 20% cut, so on Audible you end up with roughly 20% of the price. I tried this a year ago and it wasn't up to much and required a lot more work. It's amazing how far it's come in the last 12 months. Happy to help and give advice to anyone who needs it.

Yesterday, I recorded the 13-minute intro for my new audiobook, Healing Isn't Your Job. Playing it back, it was flat, stiff, and clearly sounded like reading off a page. Just as I planned to re-record, I logged into my KDP dashboard and discovered I’d been invited to the Amazon Virtual Voice (AI narration) beta. The audiobook is live now on Audible (US): 👉 Healing Isn't Your Job on Audible US-only & free (for now): Distribution is currently limited to the US marketplace Self-narration is a distinct skill from writing, and getting a great take requires serious effort. Having Virtual Voice pop up right as I hit a wall was a welcome surprise. For the group: Has anyone else spotted the Virtual Voice option on their dashboard? If you've tried AI vs. human narration, how have your listeners responded?

Apparently I have entered the “people are copying my work now” stage of entrepreneurship. 😂 Saw a post today promoting a Black fantasy/fairy brand with a design, aesthetic, setup, and even “melanin” naming that looked VERY familiar. So naturally I commented: “Wow! This design and setup looks oddly familiar… 🤔” And then she blocked me. 😭 Baby, I didn’t even SAY you copied me. But if the shoe fits…apparently it also blocks. 😂 Anyway, this is your reminder to DOCUMENT YOUR WORK. Save your drafts. Save your publication dates. Save your listings. Save your original files. Save your posts. Inspiration is one thing. Looking at somebody else’s lane and deciding to move your furniture in is another. 🙃 Hers…vs. Mine