Pike will be a REAL book!

Great news, in just a few weeks, Pike's Quest will be available as a paperback book from Amazon.


I've just reviewed the proof version and it's pretty damned good. However, my cover art was sadly lacking in clarity and I need to change it. Here is the great reveal of the new cover image -

Pike's Quest - new cover

I've just uploaded the new Kindle cover, and will be making my amendments to the print file tonight and tomorrow. Then, in maybe five weeks or so .... A BOOK!

Now I need to chase around the web and replace old cover images with the new.

"If you like your fantasy funny, or fancy a satisfying pick-me-up of a read, snap up a copy of Pike's Quest" 5* review. http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R3T9AOBXU7HQ68/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005SJKX5K&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode= My thanks to ms Sandra Norval for this glowing review

The only downside was finishing the book

Pike's popularity doth grow: the latest 5 Star review on Amazon -


"A journey through wonders that keep the reader enthralled from cover to cover, all served up with a humour-rich narrative that made me laugh out loud at times. The only downside was finishing the book."


The second edition of Pike's Quest is now out on Kindle, complete with a sample chapter from the sequel.


Thanks to all those who have read, reviewed, supported and contacted me re Pike's Quest.

More Pike praise!

Yet another 5 STAR review has appeared on Amazon


Thank you 'Hightower'


QUOTE: I have thoroughly enjoyed Pike's Quest ... I am sure would be relished by all due to the pace of the action and the descriptive but not ponderous illustration of the scenes, the characters and the action. Some lovely twists,a bit of "magick" and a book that really should be read by many.


I believe I have a couple of Five Star ratings in the iBook store. They show-up in the iBook app on my daughter's iPod, but there is no sign of them if I look on the web page or via my iTunes application on my laptop.


All in all, people seem to approve of Pike's Quest - just as well: I'm writing the sequel.


Now, more sales, please!

Millions of e-readers sold in 2011

Sales of e-book readers have rocketed in recent months: Amazon allegedly shifted 1 million Kindles per week in the run-up to Christmas. Millions of iPads (over 40 million world-wide) and iPod Touch units have been sold (not to mention the iPhones), each able to use the iBook application. In the UK, WH Smith is selling Kobo devices for under £70.

All you need now is high quality literature to populate your reader, but often, e-books cost as much as a paperback book - a bit of a con, if you ask me. Well you needn't worry: Pike's Quest is still available at 86 pence or 99 cents from Amazon, slightly cheaper from Kobo & WH Smith, and slightly more from iTunes (99 pence in the UK)

What they're saying about Pike's Quest -

amazon.com

“Awesome new author! I loved this book! ... a quirky cast of characters that I can just describe as hilarious! ... I seriously blame Mr. Bennett for how tired I am today because I stayed up half the night finishing Pike's Quest!” Reviewer jwitt33   5 STARS

amazon.co.uk

“Excellent Read: ... it was a thought provoking page turner with a healthy dose of laugh out loud humour. The author's style bridges the gap between teenage and adult genres in a Harry Potter style.” Reviewer Bun   5 STARS

“Escape into another world: I loved this book. At most parts you will feel like you're a bystander to the conversations and scenes that unfold. You're tempted to join and you catch yourself laughing out loud. For anyone who wants a good book to escape into a whole other world AND have a good time, then this book is definitely for you.” Reviwer Andrea Kurian    5 STARS

“Couldn’t put it down: What started out as too silly became deliciously silly entertainment that I had to keep on reading. Pike is an excellent hero ...” Reviwer Claire L Hobson  4 STARS

Buy PIKE'S QUEST from

Amazon for Kindle on these links - 

UK - USA - DE - FR - IT - ES

iBooks (UK) - iBooks (US) - Smashwords

Barnes & Noble - Kobo - WHSmith - Diesel

I like reviews, especially when they are like this one:


" ... I  am so glad I took a chance on this book and this indie author because this book was terrific!! ... I seriously blame Mr. Bennett for how tired I am today because I stayed up half the night finishing Pike's Quest!"


http://www.amazon.com/review/RCC8FEZ6YMCQH/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005SJKX5K&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=


Other great reviews for Pike's Quest exist on the Amazon UK site. What are you waiting for? Buy it now while it's going at the criminally insane low price!

Amazon for Kindle on these links - 

UK - USA - DE - FR - IT - ES

Also available at

iBooks (UK) - iBooks (US) - Smashwords

Barnes & Noble - Kobo - WHSmith - Diesel

Latest Amazon UK review

"What started out as too silly became deliciously silly entertainment that I had to keep on reading. Pike is an excellent hero..."


http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B005SJKX5K/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1


I must admit to know this reviewer: the fact she gave it 5 stars is a mark of her sincerity.

Cheaper and less fattening than a choccy bar and with a second FIVE STAR review!

Now THIS is high praise:


"The author's style bridges the gap between teenage and adult genres in a Harry Potter style ..."


Read the full review, go on, then be tempted, and part with your 86 pence of 99 cents and buy a copy. It's not a lot of money to risk for your enjoyment, is it?.


See previous post for other outlets.

Widely available

OK everyone, here's the news:
You can now buy Pike's Quest from

• Amazon - UK - USA - FR - DE - ES - IT
• Smashwords
• iTunes  - UK - USA
• Barnes & Noble
• Kobo
• Diesel

From most of these sellers the price is below £1.00 and $1.00, but they do vary.


I was working on a print edition via Create Space, but they don't sell the hard-copies internationally, so I would have print editions in the USA, but not the UK, and it doesn't fit in with my main audience.


Currently I have a wonderful 5 Star review from a stranger, and I know others will soon be posting their reviews: however, sales are not high so far, so please spread the word. I know it's good, those who have read it agree it is good and, although tagged as 'Young Adult' it means nothing - this book is suitable for almost any age.

Perhaps one of my finer moments.

My last Pike Post was a glum affair, full of misery, flu and self pity (and a little bit of embarrassment – OK, a LOT of embarrassment). I remained in that frame of mind until I saw this -  

5 STAR REVIEW 

- at Amazon. 

I would have been mildly impressed had it been from someone I know, but the lady who wrote it actually doesn't know me. Furthermore, she is clearly a lady of keen wit, intelligence and great humour, with qualities of fine judgement.

It is comments like Andrea's that make it all worthwhile.

Not my finest moment ...

Have you ever had two copies of something, and used the wrong one? Not only that, have you ever had two copies of something, and edited the wrong one to a smaller size, and then used both wrong versions?


Or is it just me?


Having created a new version of the cover for Pike's Quest last week, I printed it out, realised I had made some ridiculous typos, and edited them out. Then, I saved the newly corrected picture under the same name, but I saved it into a different file. Later, I opened up the image from my 'recent' files list and trimmed it down to use as my Twitter and Facebook profile pictures.


So far, so good, except I was so confident in my capabilities that I didn't double check what I had done, and what I had done, was use the incorrect image. So I uploaded the wrong images to Amazon (.co.uk, com, and DE & FR, pretty much the world, really), Smashwords, Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook.


Since then I must have seen that image hundreds of times, but did I notice? Heck, no. Did anyone e-mail and call me a dozy git? No. Did my 14-year-old daughter ridicule me when she looked on line and saw it today? Yes, of course she did. And there was me, already feeling like %!@>~!, what with the sore head, throat and all. I had to change it, and here's why -

BAD

GOOD

BLUSH

Needless to say, as ill as I feel, I've had to make some amendments.

Coincidence?

Yesterday I posted about Pike being available on Smashwords.com: today their site seems to have gone down. I can't access it via any of the browsers I have installed. 


I am concerned - did I do that? Was it the rush to buy Pike's Quest putting undue strain on their servers?


I await their call ...

Pike's Quest: now available in nearly all e-book formats

Widening marketing opportunities, Pike’s Quest is now for sale at Smashwords in most major e-book formats. It will soon also be available through the Apple Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Diesel, others, via the Smashwords distribution network. The introductory price will he $2.99 US, and is likely to remain so until we get into the new year.

Visit HERE to download a free sample.

You can help

Being a newly published type of person, with no proven track record, getting some sales under my belt (yes, there is some room under my belt - I bought it large) is not going to be easy, but YOU, dear reader, can help.

Amazon categorizes books. They have to. Pike is categorized as Fantasy, Young Adult etc. In addition, readers are allowed to TAG the book with what they think ill help other readers to decide whether or not they would like the book. If you have an Amazon account you can tag the book. If you scroll down below the Blurb, you should see the list I started:

family(1)
family fun(1)
fantasy adventure(1)
funny(1)
humor(1)
humour(1)
sci-fi(1)
young adult(1) young adult fantasy(1)
Agree with these tags?  

Each of these tags will have a check-box next to it, and you get the option to add more. The more people who use these tags, the more likelihood there is of the book appearing in the list of “you may also like these” that Amazon displays to account holders. The more often that happens, the more likely it is to sell.
The next thing is to browse books and then to suddenly look at Pike’s Quest. This will eventually lead to Amazon putting Pike up as an alternative to the other books. I.E. if 20 – 30 of you look at The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy, then buy Pike’s Quest, other users may get Pike as a recommendation when they also look at THGTTG. You’ve all seen these messages – “Customers who bought items in your Recent History also bought Pike’s Quest” and “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought ...",  well that’s how it happens.

5 STAR REVIEWS always assist! If you buy it, read it and enjoy it, do please review it. A few lines highlighting my brilliance should suffice.