Hello Tentacle Lovers!
COUNTDOWN, we are launching in 2 DAYS!
https://books.steviemarie.com/aliendelegate
Thank you for being part of my ARC team and if you missed grabbing Her Alien Delegate, all links are in this email after announcements.
I just wanted to touch base with you about Her Alien Delegate, including thank yous and thoughts.
I admit, at first, I felt really discouraged about this book's launch, because before I sent it off to you, it had only been read by one person other than me, my editor Tracy. I wasn't discouraged by only having my editor read it, it was because many of the first reviews were less than welcoming from new readers to my alien romances. I had 4 DNF's from BookSiren, and several 3-star reviews that made me concerned whether people enjoyed my books at all.
As an author, one must have a thick skin, and 3-star reviews aren't necessarily bad in any way, nor do I influence the way people choose to review or enjoy their books. I don't ever get upset at readers for these things. I get upset with myself if I've put something out there that people don't enjoy. And even though I shouldn't read or look at reviews at all, that is difficult to do as a small-time indie author. We utilize review quotes to help us lure new readers, and market the book.
Now, with 28 reviews on Goodreads (At the time of writing this) the average rating is balanced out more than in the beginning with 4.18, including 10 5-stars, 13 4-stars, and those 5 3-star reviews. I'd say that makes my average of about 70% Above average enjoyment rate. (I include the 4 DNFs that aren't necessarily part of the average ratings as many readers thankfully do not rate a book that they do not finish.) Without including the DNFs that would be a 82% visible above average enjoyment rate!
From the 3-star reviewers, these were their thoughts in paraphrasing:
The book was confusing, and expected more, it was way too short. (Positive: When I read something was too short, it reminds me that the reader wanted to read more, and they were disappointed that there wasn't more to read, despite a bit of confusion due to the nature of writing something alien and my writing preference of revealing things as the character gets to know them.)
Bogged down with explanations, less talk more action. (Positive: A reminder that while some readers will be confused with less explanations, and others will still need more explanations for things that are alien, there really is a fine balance, and you won't please every reader no matter how much or how little show and tell balance you do.)
The consensus of the 3-star reviewers is that most were confused by the way I reveal things as they come up, and some things aren't really explained at all unless the character gets the explanation too. This is the pitfall of writing in the first-person perspective and not wanting to bog down the whole story with too much explanations of tell vs show. I really don't think character dialogue is a "show" vs "tell", and there is only so much show I can do within a 60 to 80 thousand-word novel without tipping too much into telling.
That just tells me that my readers probably wouldn't mind me making longer books in order to deliver more show and explain more through showing.
I don't point these out to bash on reviews, on the contrary, it is to show that I appreciate every review, and see positivity in all of them. All those 3-star reviews finished reading the book, and in my opinion, many of them probably would have given a higher rating if I had given them more of what they were expecting.
I wrote Her Alien Delegate because many readers enjoyed Her Alien Exchange and wanted to know more about Evie. I just hadn't realized that Evie's story would end up needing two books worth. I can see how many readers would appreciate having the story continue on the planet AsunGor with all the mates together, but that is a separate story than the origins of accepting her fated mates. I don't believe the book is a cliffhanger, but a HFN with the anticipation of continuing their story on AsunGor.
Thank you to everyone who read Her Alien Delegate from all the stars provided. I do try to be better with each book I put out, because I want people to enjoy the stories, and if they don't then I would simply stop sharing them.
I LOVE seeing you all enjoy the book, and it's the readers who are wow'd by my books that help keep me going when I come across readers who I haven't wow'd yet. But, I don't count any reviewer out from becoming a fan in the future. I have converted 1-star reviewers into 5-star reviewers, not from bribery or arm twisting, but simply by being me, and putting out the next book better than the last. I try to better myself and my writing. I wrap a lot of my selfworth into whether people enjoy my books, so even though I won't please everyone, I hope to please a majority. So as long as my books keep averaging well, I'll keep sharing them. I should separate myself from reviews for my mental health, but that's really something that becomes easier after a book reaches a certain amount of reviews. Under 100 reviews and I find myself still reassuring myself that people enjoy the book by seeing if anyone's reviewed it lately.
I'm pleased to see that a majority of readers have been enjoying Her Alien Delegate, and even the 3-star reviews are overall positive. I can't wait for the launch to hit, so I can stop feeling the lure of looking at my reviews and allow my brain to start focusing on the next book!
Thank you for being part of my team and thank you for supporting my universe!
Now is the time to read if you haven't already! We are two days until launch!
(At no point are my reminders meant to pressure you. I want people to enjoy the books I write and want to read them. If you can't read the book by launch, that is okay! Read when you can, even if it's after launch.)
My only requirement for being part of my street team is to help share the book. If you haven't already, please take a moment to share a post on socials, like or comment on someone else's review on Goodreads or like and share a review someone else made on Bookbub! You don't have to read and review a book to read someone else's review and then like and share!
BookBub Share: https://www.bookbub.com/books/her-alien-delegate-a-reverse-harem-alien-romance-necia-alien-warriors-by-sky-robert
Goodreads Share: Her Alien Delegate by Sky Robert | Goodreads
Tag me in Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsteviemarie/ (@authorsteviemarie)
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorskyrobert (@authorskyrobert)
I stopped using TWITTER, when it became X, but I guess technically I still have an account to tag: https://x.com/SkyRobertAuthor (@skyrobertauthor)
Thank you to those that popped Her Alien Delegate the top of their large TBR:
Stina! "I’ll absolutely be returning to this universe."
Cyd! "I couldn't put it down!"
Jeanne! "Sky Robert is never—NEVER—boring!"
Sandra! "The guys have TENTACLES!!!"
LaWanda! "I absolutely love this author’s writing—she really knows how to tell a story!"
Sarah! "Her Alien Delegate is a satisfying continuation of the Treasures Of Trillume series"
Amber! "I loved this story! Evie was such a good and easy to connect to character for me."
Desiree! "OMG. I finished this book within a couple hours!! It was glorious, had the spice and a HEA!!"
Reina! "A satisfying sci-fi romance full of heart and heat!."
Lets Talk Books 0918! "I love sci-fi romance and I love reverse harems, so this was definitely up my alley!"
Fiona! "It was fun to learn more about this detailed and well-thought-out SciFi world."
Mica! "I'll be reading the other books that came before this one"
I look forward to seeing more of the ARC team's thoughts as we get closer to launch! And I'll email again with updates later, and of course to remind everyone when the book launches on August 26th 2025!
Thank you for being part of my launch team!
In order for Her Alien Delegate to breakeven on launch costs, including the cost of paying for a human editor, book cover, and other misc expenses (not including my time to write or market) I will need to reach at least 160 readers.
56/160 Achieved of goal! We are 40% there!
Missed grabbing the book? Links below! Finished reading? Links to where to share your thoughts also below!
Grab from BookSiren https://booksirens.com/book/TAKO1Y7/SIQ212C
Grab from BookFunnel, https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5neniirhq6 and remember that I LOVE hearing from you. You are my VIARs! Very Important Alien Readers!
Thank You for Being Part of My ARC TEAM!
Please take a moment to share with your socials that you are excited to read Her Alien Delegate!
Blank so that you can add your own details!
Link to share: https://books.steviemarie.com/aliendelegate
"Display your tongue again, and I will show you what I can do with mine." - Commissioner Broma (Her Alien Delegate)
Universal Story Origin Link: https://books.steviemarie.com/aliendelegate
Please do share the book with your socials to help spread the good alien peen word, regardless of if you review or not. As always, being part of my team is NOT dependent on reviews. I do not require you to review to be on my team.
Yes, reviews help me reach new readers, and with promoting my work, but I care more about you enjoying your reading journey.
If any at time, you do not feel this book is the right fit for you, you can simply reply back that you are opting-out of this ARC. Not every book is for every reader. No hard feelers, and you will STILL be part of my team for the next ARC unless you state otherwise.
I want you to enjoy the book, and if you don't that's okay, but I do ask that you hold off on posting negative reviews until at least one other reviewer with something positive to say has added a different side of the same coin, so to speak. I do not attack anyone who does not like my books, in fact, I've kept reviewers that have given me a 1-star review before on my ARC team, and one of those reviewers went on to be one of my biggest fans in other books with 5-star reviews. Some books hit readers differently, and that's okay.
Thank you for being part of my team!
DID YOU MISS the ARC for HER ALIEN STARBREAKER?
You can still grab this book from BookSiren here: https://booksirens.com/book/HXGY3NF/B01IAEW
Or BookFunnel here:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5491likai7
(By Grabbing a copy you are agreeing to share this book at least once. No, this is not a requirement to review, but to share with fellow readers.)
Your fellow alien addict,
https://linktr.ee/authorsteviemarie
Chat Soon,
Sky
xoxo
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