Confused - Audible or Storytel? 3 major differences between Leading Audiobook Apps in India

Are you confused about which audiobook app is better for you? Are you not sure how audiobook apps operate? Not sure which one suits your need? Check our video.

There are three simple differences which will help you to make your decision. Questions are subscription-style, cost & book portfolio. Check the video to know how these three things will help you.

For more details, you may contact us.

Do follow our Instagram handle for more updates. https://www.instagram.com/fewgoodreads_/

7 steps to publish your books on Notion Press' Xpress Publishing Platform

We have been book blogging and reviewing for the last 3 years. We were really curious when we found 1 out of 2 debut Indian authors publishing with Notion Press. We wanted to know why so many authors prefer Notion Press over other self-publishing firms. Later on, while discussing with many of those authors we came to know about the service provided by Notion Press. They were really happy with Notion Press' fast service and they recommended it to their friends. But it seems Notion Press was not satisfied with their pace so they came up with a completely new platform which they are calling it "Xpress Publishing". 

Around three months back I received Notion Press promotional mail for "Xpress Publishing", I checked details of their service. I was impressed by the same. The platform has 7 steps to design your book, all you need is your content nothing else. I wanted to try out the platform, so I wrote 5 short stories and got ready to check how to move ahead. 

7 steps to publish your books on Xpress Publishing

1. Book Format - You can literary select each and every aspect of look & feel factor of the book. Format, Genre, Page Size, Color, Language, Cover, etc. Apart from English, Hindi & Tamil, they have recently started 7 more languages in beta mode for regional authors.
2. Title Information - Here you need to provide all the information that comes on the front & back cover. Like Title, Subtitle, Blurb, Author information, etc.
3. Interior Design - Here you have to upload the actual text of your book. They provide 3 options: Create Online - Where you can write and format your text on their platform. Upload Print - ready file - Here they provide word format to you. That can make your work easy to format content offline. Expert Design - This is a customized service to the paid user to bring completely professional output. Don't worry if you are technical savvy first two options can also give you professional look.
4. Cover Design - Just like Interior Design for cover design also they provide the same 3 options. 
5. Select Distribution - Here they provide an option to the author to select how they would like their book to channelize. They have "Only notion press" option and "all major platform" option. For "all major platform" they scrutinize your work and if you are eligible they will also provide ISBN free of cost to you.
6. Set Pricing - Based on the book you designed, they will give all the pricing information along with royalty you will get from a different platform. You can set price of your book.
7. Send for Review - This is a final step where you can visualize the complete book and send it for review. 

Check out the platform at Notion Press

Don't worry you don't need to write down above steps, they have provided much more details than I have given above. You will feel like someone is personally guiding you on how to create your book. At each step, you will get video references as well.

Overall I found it really helpful for a debut author. If you don't believe me, you can check the book I published in 1 hour on Notion Press. Just look at the cover, I have prepared the cover on their site. They provide all types of required resources readily available. Links of the book I published

Amazon - https://amzn.to/2WccASJ
Flipkart - http://fkrt.it/ZoyAf6uuuN
Notion Press - https://notionpress.com/read/i-don-t-like-it

Press Release - Jack Dawkins: The Artful Dodger is Back!

Jack Dawkins: The Artful Dodger is Back! New Novel, Hailed “Brilliant”, Takes Over Where ‘Oliver Twist’ Left Off…

Terry Ward’s ‘Jack Dawkins-being the further adventures of the Artful Dodger’ pays homage to Dickens, perfectly, by continuing the story of the Artful Dodger in an unofficial sequel Charles would be proud of. Reintroducing many of the book’s original characters, readers can prepare to join Jack Dawkins on a perilous quest to France, where war is about to erupt, and at the same time, enjoya profound love story.  These and many other thought-provoking and exciting events come together to continue literature’s most timeless classic.

Contact:

Terry Ward

Email: tjward@jackanapes.co.uk

Telephone: 01634 404528

United Kingdom–It may have been written in 1837, but ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens, remains one of history’s most cherished stories.

Now, almost two-hundred years after its original release, British writer Terry Ward picks up where Dickens left off, with an imaginative, meticulously researched and spellbinding unofficial sequel.

Synopsis of ‘Jack Dawkins’:

After Oliver Twist intervenes to save Jack Dawkins - the legendary Artful Dodger - from transportation to Botany Bay, Jack embarks on what proves to be a perilous quest to discover his roots. Before he can say ‘Fagin’ he is battling to survive a devastating flood and rescue beautiful Lysette Godden, the girl of his dreams, from the hands of murderous villains.  When the search for Jack's parents takes them to France,where war might erupt at any moment, Lysette’s personal ambitions, and unexpected events, test their mettle and mutual love to the utmost; changing their lives for ever. Brilliantly and evocatively written, ‘Jack Dawkins’ is a worthy sequel to Charles Dickens's immortal masterpiece ‘Oliver Twist’.

“The Artful Dodger, Jack Dawkins, is one of Charles Dickens most popular and best-lovedcharacters,” explains the author. “Where he came from and how he came to be living on the streets of London, had always intrigued me, so I decided to provide him with both a past-and, after fighting for it, a future better than the one that was in store for him after he was arrested for stealing a silver snuff-box.  I have not tried to re-invent the Artful Dodger, by and large he remains his inimitable self, but Jack’s true nature is gradually revealed during his quest to discover his roots.  Aware that I was treading on hallowed ground, I have paid due homage to the style of Charles Dickens.  I am convinced that if you loved the Artful Dodger in ‘Oliver Twist’, you will not be disappointed with him in my sequel to it.

Continuing, “Initial feedback has been extremely positive, and it appears the dignity of this sequel is resonating with readers. I’m sure Mr. Dickens would approve.  He loved happy endings, too!”

Indeed, reviews have been glowing. One reader comments, “"JACK DAWKINS" is a stirring tale of derring-do, which follows on seamlessly from "OLIVER TWIST". One meets once again some of the memorable characters from Charles Dickens' book. Terry Ward has not only meticulously researched these characters, but also many historical personages and the very impressive events of the early Nineteenth Century. It will appeal to an entire age-range of readers and the end lends itself open for a sequel.”

In America, author Anthony Avina, wrote:  ‘This is a breathtaking and beautiful story that readers need to have in their lives.  The writing is amazing.’

Kelly adds, “Ever wondered what happened to the Artful Dodger? Follow the exploits of Jack Dawkins in this well-written and entertaining novel. Terry Ward’s writing style is a joy to read, with a storyline that will keep you turning pages. It’s a must read for fans of Dickens’ Oliver Twist.”

‘Jack Dawkins’ is available now: https://amzn.to/2t80Q2B.

About the Author:

Terry Ward describes himself as being a life-long bibliophile and scribbler who likes nothing better than discovering what s beyond the next hill. He has won two creative writing awards, is married, has two sons and lives in Rochester, Kent, near Gad's Hill Place, where Charles Dickens spent the last years of his life.

Getting Kids to Love Reading Again by Bil Richardson

I have a passion for getting kids to read.  I became the stepfather of a son who doesn’t like to read and found out from the parents of his classmates that this is a very common problem.  I also did some research and learned that the number of kids who never read for pleasure has tripled since 1984 and boys are half as likely to read as girls.  As a result of this I wrote a book aimed at getting kids who are the age of my son to read (middle school). 

Since then I have been going into classrooms trying to get young people interested in reading.  I make the sessions fun and active and here is what I do.  I open by asking who likes to read and who doesn’t.  In the 5th and 6th grades only about 20-25% say they don’t like to read.  By 7th and 8th grade the numbers invert and about 80% say they don’t like to read.  That is a huge shift in a year or two.  I then ask who likes movies, TV and nearly all raise their hands.  I ask about video games and almost all the boys raise their hands but only about a quarter of girls do.  

Then in a very dramatic way I say here’s a phrase you’ve never heard.  Call of Duty changed my life.  Super Mario Brothers changed my life.  That movie Finding Nemo changed my life.  This usually gets a laugh.  And then I say, but millions of people will tell you the story of how a book changed their life.  I then proceed to tell them about two books that changed my life.  

Kids get bored if you just talk so I then change things up with an exercise.  I ask them to close their eyes and picture something I describe.  Often I use the image of an elephant in ruby slippers who gets up on two legs and dances.  Most laugh when they picture this.  Then we talk about what they saw and the fact that we had a shared experience in which I put an image in their head that was in mine.  Then I ask what color their elephant was and what the slippers looked like and finally what kind of dance their elephant did.  Each of course sees the image a bit differently and I ask why.  The reason is that they all bring their own experiences and imagination to what they see.  

Next I pick up a book and tell them why reading is different from any other kind of entertainment or learning.  I have been making movies for 30 years and I explain that watching films or TV is a passive experience.  All you do is sit there and look at the things the director wants you to see.  But with a book you put part of yourself into the experience.  Just like with the elephant exercise, part of the experience is what the writer wants you to see but part is what you bring to the story.  So the final result of reading is that it is part the author but part the reader.  No other medium can give you that experience and it’s quite magical.  

Then I shift gears a bit and talk to the kids about stories.  Everyone likes stories even if they don’t like to read.  I explain that all TV, movies, books or even video games (that have a plot) have a story.  And all stories are built on a simple formula.  There is a main character, who has a goal and between that character and their goal are obstacles that they have to overcome.  Then we do a very fun exercise in which I tell them I’m going to be the main character and I point to a place in the back of the room and say getting to it is my goal.  Their job is to be the obstacles.  Then I ask if they think they can keep me from getting to my goal.  They usually become very invested in trying to stop me.  I then dash to try and reach my goal and the entire class tries to stop me.  No class yet has been able to keep me from reaching my goal but we all have loads of fun in the process.  

It takes a few minutes to get them settled down and then I give them an exercise to do later on their own.  I say, write your own story.  Make yourself the main character.  Think of a real goal you have and write down the list of obstacles between you and your goal.  Then write your story how you are going to overcome those obstacle and reach your goal.  I explain that if they do this, then at the lest they may find they like writing or come up with a good story.  But another thing they’ll get in their real life is that they may also come up with a plan to help them reach a real goal.  And that this exercise can be a tool they use their entire life to help reach their goals.  At this point they are usually pretty quiet and thoughtful.  

I close by telling them that they are at an important time in their lives.  This is when you start trying to figure out who you are, what you’re good at and even what you might want to be.  They are also at the age I was when I started writing.  So they should take advantage of being in this stage.  Try new things, experiment – maybe you’ll find you like writing and reading more than you thought.  Maybe you’ll discover something else about yourself.  

At the end we have a Q&A and topics range from writing to life to travel to making films and many other things.  Finally I read a chapter from a book I’ve written.  For middle schoolers I read from The Frankenstein Adventures and tell them I’m donating a copy to the school library and they can find it there if they want to read it.  I then point out that they have a chance read a book written by an author that they’ve met and that is a pretty rare thing.  All of this is designed to try to get the kids to read.

The response from these sessions has been pretty amazing and anyone wanting to schedule an activity at their school can reach me through my website or social media.  There is nothing more important to the future of our nation than having a literate population.  As an author this is what I’m doing to help contribute to that.  

---

We would like to thank Bil Richardson - the author of "The Frankenstein Adventures" for sharing a wonderful post. Information about his latest books can be found at Amazon India and Amazon USA

Guest Post - Poems by Devika Das

I Am Free

I run my own race, to improve each day,

become a better human and let life play its game

Different roles come alive each moment,

few are good while few bad

Accept experience of each kind in equal breadth

That's why I guess I am free.

I need not be better than others

but in my own eyes I should grow.

Strive to live better and happier today

Worrying less about past or future.

Living each moment to the fullest

Maybe that's why I am free.

What life holds for me, I do not know

My strength is to accept its natural flow.

Barring apprehensions/assumptions of any kind

Being less harsh on myself and control my mind.

Maybe that's why I am free.

I am a lone explorer,

People around just trespassers.

Time flies like quick sand

Its precious value i totally understand.

Yes, that's why I am free.

---

Progress

Running the rat race, I always wondered

How time passed like quick sand. 

Hourly conversations with good pals, 

Confined to SMSes and forwards.

Greeting people on social occasions, 

has become a rarity now.

People's memories have begun to fade

even before they get salt peppery hair..

What legacy do we leave behind?

Where man-machine is hyped, and real relationships defied.

People anxious for virtual appreciation,real comments shunned as interference.

Don't ask me about patience or tolerance; new gen sees them as trivial.

Screen time is most cherished, off screen leaves one idle and bored.

Now or Never, the chants echo around us, but the path to Now is rarely tread. 

Erstwhile luxury has become the new basic need

Mercy and empathy are possessions of the weak. 

Are we really progressing?  

---

The content of this post is contributed by Devika Das author of "The Mind Game".

Her latest book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Kids and Book Reading Project - A tool to overall improvements of kids

In India majority of parents force or expect their kids to read academic or syllabus oriented books as much as possible. Even if they encourage their kids to read a book out of their studies, their approach is unorganized. In India, the syllabus is everything and marks are the only worshipped God until college life. But we forget to cultivate child in other matters. If you see most of the developed countries, the education system gives importance of reading. You will find book projects as part of the curriculum. This kind of book projects can bear fruits that cannot be visualized in short term. It helps to cultivate reading habit in kids. It makes kids think in a different perspective. And more importantly, it makes kids express their experience.

In today's article, we will talk about planning the book project for your kids.  To make content interesting we have designed article in question and answer format.

What is a book project?

A child will be given a book to read in stipulated time. He has to present the book's summary or review as submission. The submission could be in written or verbal or any other creative format.

What are the benefits of such activity?

Well, even this whole post is not enough to explain the benefits of the project. Just google this "Benefits of reading", which is just first half of the project.

Okay, agree. What will be the ideal age of a child to give them a book project?

A child should be able to read and understand the content. Many countries start it from 2nd or 3rd grad itself.

My kids are busy studying for the whole year. When should I give them this project?

If you feel that your kid is having too much burden of studies, you can give him project during vacations. But in my opinion, you can give him project throughout the year with a flexible deadline as per his academic schedule. You can select books as per his/her current activities.

How many projects should be given in a year?

If a kid can take as low as 1 project per year, it would be helpful. Ideally, you should give 4-6 projects in a year.

But my kid already reads books outside his syllabus. Then why should I bother him?

This project is not focused only on reading. It is to give a completely new direction to their thinking process and mental abilities. 

Also many times kids keep reading certain types of books only, this project will make them read something out of their comfort zone.

My kid dislikes reading, how am I going to motivate him for such projects?

You need to get it done by hook or crook. 

The best way is by creating a reward system for them. Decide points for each project. At end of each project reward them points (don't forget to give the bonus points for good work)

Once in a defined period redeem their points against their wishlist (just like the redemption of credit card points)

Which type of book should be given for a project?

We want to start with a positive note so initially, preference should be given to kid's liking.

If a kid is younger than 12 years, we can start with storybooks (Panchtantra or Akbar Birbal types of stories will do). Make sure that book has a good number of pictures which will provide them enough entertainment to start with. You can give first 5-6 projects on comic books as well. Once they develop the liking for the activity you can give them different books

If a kid is in his/her teenage years, you can give him novels, biographies, selfhelp, general knowledge books in different combination. Again make sure that he won't get bored of books of the particular genre. Set reward points in decreasing order of his liking. His most favorite genre should fetch him least points and vice-versa his least favorite genre should fetch him a maximum number of points.

Who will select the book?

If you want to force kids to read only your choice of books then you won't get success in a longer run. So it is advisable one or two books out of 5 books should be of their choice.

Same way if kids keep reading books of their liking then there are chances that they will keep playing with particular genre or domain. SO it is advisable to keep giving books in between which you feel are important for them. 

Again, design reward points such a way that, his choice of books can fetch him lesser points than your choice of books.

Which language book should be given?

If we think that only English books will help him develop then we are wrong. It is advisable to give other language books along with English. At least 2 other languages if not then at least mother tongue.

How much time should be given to finish the project?

It should be planned according to academic schedule. If schools are going on then you can estimate so that he will get a day for 5-10 pages. If vacations are going on you can plan so that he will get a day for 20-30 pages.

What care should parents take while giving project?

Whichever book child is working on should be read by either parent beforehand. If not before the project then at least along with kid they should read.

While reading the book make sure to note important points. It will help you validate the authenticity of the child's efforts. It will also let you estimate your kid's understanding level.

If possible keep track of project status. It will help you gauge how much child has understood. You can even help them they feel lost.

Ask your kids to follow these steps during projects.

Keep notes of important points while reading.

If you don't understand any point get the help of elders to understand it.

Cultivate the habit of dictionary reference. Don't skip word which you don't understand. Always find out the meaning of new words.

How will they present the review?

It is in your hand. Encourage your kid to use his creativity. Following are just examples

Written Review - Aske him to submit a review in minimum 200 words

Present Orally - Ask him to present verbally in front of family members

Picture / Cartoon - Ask them to present in a format of cartoon or pictures.

Having said all these there are many things that can be done. But for a start, this is enough. Any doubts in this regards, just comment on this blog.

Shravan - The Best Time to Read Interesting Books About Shiva By Preetha Rajah Kannan

The month of Shravan seems a particularly appropriate time to write about my journey into the world of mythology and my deep fascination with Lord Shiva, as depicted in the Tamil puranas. I started my voyage with Shiva in the City of Nectar, narrating Shiva’s divine play in ancient Madurai. I took the treasured tales of Paranjothi Munivar’s Thiruvilayaadal Puranam, passed on orally through the generations, and fleshed them out with the lavish play of an affectionate imagination. As a denizen of present-day Madurai, these stories are especially close to my heart. 

I threw myself happily into narrating the tales of ancient devas, asuras, sages, men and talking birds and beasts. Shiva blithely takes on the guise of beggar, saint, monarch, merchant, fisherman, hunter, warrior and woodcutter, walking through the three worlds slaying rampaging demons, performing his Ananda Tandava, and embracing good and bad alike. I delighted in portraying Shiva in all his multi-faceted mystique - the tender lover who woos and weds Goddess Meenakshi, the eternal Guru who dispenses wisdom, the fierce avenger whose third eye flashes fire, the generous benefactor who showers blessings on his devotees and, above all, the gentle prankster who embodies the essence of Vedic faith.

I continued my voyage with Son of Shiva, telling the story of Kartikeya, Commander-in-chief of the heavenly hosts, embodiment of wisdom and valour. Again, I recovered treasured childhood tales and knit them with fresh insights and content from Kachiappa Sivacharya’s Kandhapuranam.  Son of Shiva depicts the monumental battle between the forces of good and evil, as embodied by the devas and the asuras. It is as much a tale of Shiva as of his son. 

Daksha Prajapati, drunk on hubris, conducts a splendid sacrifice with the explicit objective of denigrating Lord Shiva. In a whirlwind of destruction, the awesome Veerabhadra lays waste to the yagna and punishes the participating gods and sages. However, the sinister echo of the infamous sacrifice returns to haunt the gods in the form of the formidable asura brothers, Surapadma, Taraka and Singhamuka. The asuras obtains powerful boons from Shiva, assert their supremacy over the entire cosmos and unleash a reign of terror. The traumatized gods implore Lord Shiva to deliver them from the demons’ depredations. In answer to their prayers, Kartikeya, Champion of the Gods, emerges from Shiva’s tejas. Armed with the invincible mystic spear bestowed on him by Shakti, Kartikeya takes on the forces of darkness in an electrifying confrontation which shakes the very foundations of the universe.

It was a joy to fill the pages of Son of Shiva with a host of fascinating characters, dark magic and cataclysmic events. The demon Vatapi takes on the guise of a goat to devour unsuspecting sages. The humble spider builds its web to shield Shiva from the elements. Every drop of blood shed by the asura general, Raktabheeja, transforms into a hideous clone. Kama is reduced to ashes by Shiva’s furious third eye. Parvati performs an incredible thousand years of penance to win Shiva’s heart. Vishnu receives the splendid Sudarshana Chakra from Shiva. Shiva annihilates the demon, Gajasura; breaks the Ganga’s fall on his matted locks; performs his cosmic dance; rises as a towering pillar of fire and shines in all his glory. 

I do hope both Shiva in the City of Nectar and Son of Shiva will be my readers’ door into a rich new world of insights and tales of Lord Shiva. Happy reading to you all!

Book Links:
Shiva in the City of Nectar
Son of Shiva

8 Reasons Why You Should Write Book Reviews

We started writing our book journey last year. Today we have completed one year. And it is anniversary time. We would like to thank all authors, publishers and fellow bloggers for their support. On our anniversary we would like to post something different. Though it is related to book reading, rarely one will find a post on such topic.

If you Google about benefits of book reading, you will find hundreds of posts. But one will rarely find content on benefits of writing book reviews. If book reading gives your entertainment or satisfaction or knowledge, writing review of books take you one step ahead. We would like to point out things that we were benefited by following the practice of review writing.

Photo Courtesy Baggout

1) Improve your writing skills

We lost the touch of writing after school/college life. At max we write approval request or emails. :) Review-writing improves your writing skills. Once you start writing, you start concentrating on your grammar and vocabulary. Taking our example, our initial reviews and the recent one are drastically different in content maturity.

Photo Courtesy - Writing.com

2) Make You Susceptive To Feedback

Not every time you like the book, so when you are not praising you are criticizing it. So if you are criticizing someone's work, your reader can also criticize your reviews. It is a feedback loop which tells you how good your writing skills are.

3) Improve Creativity Quotient

If you keep writing reviews with a similar approach, your readers will lose interest in your blog. Not just your readers, but as a (review) writer you also start feeling bored. It is this moment where your creativity takes the front seat and gives you a new approach.

Photo Courtesy - http://blog.iavm.org/persistence-is-the-key-to-creativity/

4) Improve Analyzing Skills

Writing a one-page review of a complete book is not an easy task. It is this phase which makes you understand how much efforts required to write just a book blurb. As a reviewer you have to tell your readers, what was the plot of the book, what you liked and disliked about book, the writing style of the author, any emotional attachment with book/story. So while writing one review, you have to consider multiple aspects at the same time.

5) Increase you grasping power

While writing your initial reviews, you may forget few things to mention. But going forwards, you will make habit of taking mental or physical note of important points. And trust me there is a sharp difference when you read a book just for the reading experience and when you read it for review purpose. 

Photo Courtesy - boldsky

6) Feeling of Twice Read

No doubt about it, writing review gives a feeling of the reading book once again. I cannot explain this part, I am not sure about feeling of other reviewers.

7) Improve You Marketing Skills

If you have given one or two hours for writing a review, you will try to get many readers to your review. Indirectly you think about reaching more and more people. You publicize your review on various social handles. It will give you an idea which platform and what timing gives you maximum audience.

Photo Courtesy - climate-kic

8) Networking & Reach

The main benefit of writing reviews is networking. Do you believe every day I talk with one or another author? Once in a week, I talk with Publishers as well. Your reviews make you approachable to literary society. 

So next time when you read a book try to review as well. If not book then you can try review movie, food, hotel, products, etc. It doesn't require textual review, you can try video review or comic based review as well.