Welcome to another segment of
"An Interview With A Reviewer"
with our guest reviewer
Ray Sostre
of
About the reviewer, Ray Sostre
New York born, East Coast raised, and West Coast
bound.
Writing erotica happened by accident in the summer of 2010. That same year, he established a story submission site – AfterDark Online, a place for erotic authors.
He lives in Nevada with his long-time girlfriend, is an avid listener of electronica, and enjoys writing and publishing articles. He jokes: “I’m always looking for writing material.”
Writing erotica happened by accident in the summer of 2010. That same year, he established a story submission site – AfterDark Online, a place for erotic authors.
He lives in Nevada with his long-time girlfriend, is an avid listener of electronica, and enjoys writing and publishing articles. He jokes: “I’m always looking for writing material.”
Author Ray Sostre on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/AuthorRaySostre
My blog – The AfterDark World:
http://theafterdarkworld.blogspot.com
Twitter - @anarchy0029
http://twitter.com/anarchy0029
AfterDark Online’s page:
http://afterdark-online.com
AfterDark Online on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/afterdarkonline
AfterDark Online on Twitter - @afterdarkonline:
http://twitter.com/afterdarkonline.
First Things First
Let's show you the review Ray Sostre posted about Pablo Michaels title, "Jack and The Magical Beanstalk" on After Dark Online on January 8th, 2016.
"Happy New Year, and Happy Friday from AfterDark Online. We’re going to go straight into the review of Pablo Michael’s follow up, Jack and the Beanstalk – a classic children tale but with an adult twist that is not recommended for young viewers. The story begins with Jack, a young handsome man that lives on the farm with his mother, Lorene. His father died when he was young, and things get hard for them his mother told him to go sell their cow, Pearly White, for some money and food.
Jack meets a man, along the way, and persuades him to sell him the cow for five magical beans. When Jack returns home with news that he sold the cow for five magical beans, his mother becomes aggravated that Jack was swindled and throws the beans out the window, where it bedded itself in the dirt.
Overnight, there was a rain shower and the beans grow massively up to the clouds, where Jack climbs his way up to a mystical place in the clouds. He is greeted by the giant servant, called Slave, who reluctantly allows him in to feed him, but Jack narrowly escapes from his master. When the giant falls asleep, Jack seizes the opportunity to take some of the riches back home, where Jack’s farm begins to prosper, but Jack is halted when he sees a young, handsome naked man in the forest. This man was mysterious to him, but Jack was interested in knowing him. The two came from different worlds, but Jack ends up falling for the mysterious man, and rescues him from the evil Master that threatens to eat him.
This was a story that was not only outside-the-box, but a very good story that was never dull and filled with absolute fun. Author Pablo Michaels came across with another worthy read. Although, the story is short with approximately around 15k words, but the book is definitely worth getting. You’ll love the flow of the story from start to finish, and it has a neat fairytale ending to the story. Take a bow Mr. Michaels, as you get a Platinum Read (5 Stars).
The heat level in the story is really good, but I’m aware that Pablo Michael’s erotic style doesn’t stray out to extreme heat, but he does get descriptive only enough to make his readers intrigued or aroused. While his work is mainly m/m, he does add one hell of a romance to his stories, and you’ll always be looking forward to his next scenes. 3 Flames.
The suspense level in the story was really good. I was never bored; didn’t have to read through several pages in the story to find out what was the point. Author Pablo Michaels came across something that had you hooked since day one. Great job!"
See The Review at After Dark Online
What is Our Purpose
For us to communicate with each other and help each other to understand the power of the review!
In general, these segments are to help not only authors understand a few things about the reviews they may get, but it is also for the people who leave the book reviews as well.
In general, these segments are to help not only authors understand a few things about the reviews they may get, but it is also for the people who leave the book reviews as well.
Reviews are a crucial element for any book. Reviews help not only the person considering the purchase of a book but they help the author understand how their book is interpreted by a reader.
We are going to ask the reviewer, Ray Sostre these questions today.
- Do you have a general review rating that you go by? 5stars, 4 stars, etc. What are the deciding factors that you weigh your decision on? (For instance: I gave “Jack and The Magical Beanstalk” 5 stars because…)
- What about Pablo Michaels book, “Jack and The Magical Beanstalk” did you like the best?
- What about an author inspires you to read a book and review it?
- What is your favorite genre to read?
- Are you a plot driven or character driven reader? Why?
- Do you post reviews for all the books you read?
- What happens before you sit down to read a book for a review?
- Do you have a special place where you like to read? Do you need complete silence?
- How many times do you read a book before you actually write the review?
- When posting a review, which sales channels do you typically post to? Why?
- Have you ever had one of your reviews removed from a sales channel?
- How do you think the digital age has impacted literature as a whole?
- Are you an author? What is the title of your most recent publication? Please feel free to share a link for your book here as well.
The big question that everyone wants to know...
- How important do you believe reviews are in the purchasing decision process?
It's easy to follow along!
Read through the post, once you reach the comment section...open them up and you will see each question from above listed in the comment thread.
Join in anytime you want, this is not a closed session. We want to help, not limit!
About The BookIn this adult fairy tale young, awkward, young Jack sells their prize cow Pearly White for magical beans to a strange man in a red bikini. Little does Jack’s mother, Lorene, know that the beans grow into a giant, magical beanstalk, high above the clouds?
Jack ascends the beanstalk to a land where a Giant Slave serves his larger Master, Jack begs Slave for food to satisfy his hunger from his long journey. But Jack finds Master hoarding treasures.
Attempting to escape the wrath of Master and Slave with the treasures, Jack encounters a handsome, engaging normal sized human man. Sam lives with others that live naturally without clothing deep in the forest. As Jack ages he becomes a handsome man, just like his father, attracting many men, including the two farmhands, Zeke and Adam.
Even though Jack has enabled the farm to prosper with the treasures he stole from Master and is met with increasing danger, he climbs the magical beanstalk again and again to find more treasures and pursue Sam.
Pablo Michaels disguised himself as a shy, friendly heterosexual during his adolescence, fantasizing other males. Falling in love with another man his first year in college, he followed him to another university to maintain their platonic love, while he continued in his in studies. When he had his first sexual encounter with another man, just before turning twenty-one, he exploded into gay life with lust and anger. He attempted to live his new life naturally, seeking love, ignoring the statistics of the books he read on homosexuality in high school, and proving what he had read was wrong.
He wrote poetry and stories since third grade. When he turned twenty-one, he moved to San Francisco to work and write, experiencing more of gay life. In the 1980's he wrote every chance he had, trying and failing miserably at publishing mainstream fiction. He published his first story in 1986 in a literary magazine. read more...
He wrote poetry and stories since third grade. When he turned twenty-one, he moved to San Francisco to work and write, experiencing more of gay life. In the 1980's he wrote every chance he had, trying and failing miserably at publishing mainstream fiction. He published his first story in 1986 in a literary magazine. read more...
You can follow Pablo Michaels on:
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/PabloMichaelsAuthor123/timeline?ref=page_internal
Website
http://www.pmmanmanromance.com/
https://twitter.com/pablomichaels1
DitterVerse
http://ditterverse.com/member/michael_t_jordan#
https://www.pinterest.com/pablomichaels/
Amazon Author Central
https://www.amazon.com/author/pablomichaelsauthoramazon.com
Triberr: Michael T Jordan Pablo Michaels :
http://triberr.com/pages/profile.php?pid=38309
http://triberr.com/MichaelTJordanPabloMichaels
http://triberr.com/pages/tribe-details.php?tribe=41465
Google Plus
Triberr: Michael T Jordan Pablo Michaels :
http://triberr.com/pages/profile.php?pid=38309
http://triberr.com/MichaelTJordanPabloMichaels
http://triberr.com/pages/tribe-details.php?tribe=41465
Google Plus
google.com/+PabloMichaels
Linkedin
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/wwwpablomichaels
Don't be shy...Feel free to ask any of us a question at any time!
Go to the comments below, click "Notify" in comments!
Enjoy the interview!
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| http://www.rukiapublishing.com |
The views in this post and interview are "opinions" based from professional authors, and book promoters. We welcome your opinion but please be mindful of others. This interview session will be monitored for correct content and we reserve the right to delete any offensive posting.
Good Morning Ray! Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
ReplyDeleteHi. Thank you for having me on here. It's a privilege.:-)
DeleteWelcome Ray :)
DeleteWhat about an author inspires you to read a book and review it?
ReplyDeleteI’ve known Author Pablo Michaels for five years, and professionally this man is a genuine author who will keep you entertained, regardless of what genre he writes. When he approached me to read his book, I was willing to look into it and give in my perspective of work.
DeleteYes Ray and I have known each other for several years, participating in writing groups. I appreciate the compliment Ray. We both keep learning how to improve our writing.
DeleteWhat is your favorite genre to read?
ReplyDeleteMy most favorite is erotica. I live it and breathe it with a passion whenever I read and write.
DeleteIt may surprise readers that I love a good mystery. I prefer gay genre mysteries the most, like those written by Richard Stevenson.
DeleteAre you a plot driven or character driven reader? Why?
ReplyDeleteI’m more plot-driven than character-driven. Here’s why: I have read books where authors want me to understand the character, and to be very, very honest, I’m not interested in knowing what happened to her when the character was five, ten, fifteen, and so on. I want to know what the purpose of the story is all about. I could have a short attention span when authors focus about the character, because I have to go through numerous pages to get to the point of the story. When I read a book for a review, I wan to know the meaning of the story written by the author. The characters in the story will come to play automatically.
DeleteMy advice to a lot of authors who want a good review from me: Keep the story moving; get straight to the point, because that is what I’m looking for when I review a book. If your focusing your story on just your character, because you want me to feel your character, I’m more than likely to lose interest.
This is why I gave Pablo Michaels’ books a five-star rating. He didn’t have to over-explain anything in his stories.
I try to focus both on the plot and the characters. I think both are equally important.
DeleteWhat about Pablo Michaels book, “Jack and The Magical Beanstalk” did you like the best?
ReplyDeleteIt was the flow of the story and the unique imagination Author Pablo Michael showed in his story.
DeleteThank you Ray.
DeleteDo you post reviews for all the books you read?
ReplyDeleteYes I do. Even if the book isn’t all that appealing to me I will give an honest review. I haven’t given a two-star review, because the books I’ve read were well-written, but I will look for the potential when I review a book.
DeleteTo be honest, I shy away from writing reviews of stories I do not care for. It is usually the subject matter that doesn't appeal to me. It may have nothing to do with the value of the writing skills or how well the story is written.
DeleteTo be honest, I shy away from writing reviews of stories I do not care for. It is usually the subject matter that doesn't appeal to me. It may have nothing to do with the value of the writing skills or how well the story is written.
DeleteWhat happens before you sit down to read a book for a review?
ReplyDeleteWhen I read a book, I want to prepare for what am I going to read. I will check out the blurb if it’s available and get down to it. I want to look for the potential in the story.
DeleteWhen I read any book, I jump right in, wanting to be surprised. The less I know about the book, the better.
DeleteDo you have a special place where you like to read? Do you need complete silence?
ReplyDeleteNo special place; my life’s chaotic, and I’m also an author. I prefer to read in complete silence, but I take my tablet to my job and read on my breaks, whenever I can.
DeleteI am like ray, read anywhere. I usually have music or the TV going in the background. I am used to interruptions so I don't get too flustered when the phone rings or my husband asks me a question.
DeleteHow many times do you read a book before you actually write the review?
ReplyDeleteIt can take me anywhere between once or three times, depending on the story. If it’s a good that grabs me, I don’t need to read it twice, but damn, it’ll be on my favorite book list because I loved how the book grabbed me. If I had to read it twice or three times, it’s because the author originally lost me in the first place and I need to get the understanding of the story, but if I can’t get through it the third time, I will breeze through parts of the story that will grab me, and look for the potential parts, before I give my constructive criticism.
DeleteI read the book rapidly the first time. The second time I read a book I read at a slower pace to capture specific parts as important qualities events, character descriptions to remember.
DeleteDo you have a general review rating that you go by? 5stars, 4 stars, etc. What are the deciding factors that you weigh your decision on? (For instance: I gave “Jack and The Magical Beanstalk” 5 stars because…)
ReplyDeleteYes I do. I will give many examples on what Jack and The Magical Beanstalk intrigued me:
DeleteThe story was catching from the first few pages, where I was entertained. Unlike some authors, who write ten to sixty pages to get to the point of the story, Author Pablo Michaels got straight the point, where he only gave enough details to keep me interested in the story. Plus, I felt he was able to show the story adequately. Author Pablo Michael’s style of writing is easy to get along; I’ve never came across any of his short reads that bored me, rather interesting.
Although, his sex scenes were descriptive, but they’re not graphically descriptive; which I do look for in the heat level in the story. However, it’s enough to keep the readers aroused, and I respect his style of writing, because he’s more a story-teller – a great story teller; no matter the heat level he puts in the story.
The suspense he puts in the story will leave you feeling curious to know what happens next. Author Pablo Michael’s book was able to pull me into the story without feeling drifted away like some readers, and I’m not concerned about the word count to the story, rather than how the author both shows and tells the story.
When posting a review, which sales channels do you typically post to? Why?
ReplyDeletePrimarily on Amazon (US), but I prefer to post on my blog, AfterDark Online (http://afterdark-online.com), since I can write a lengthy review.
DeleteRasy's reviews on AfterDark Online are fantastic reviews because he gets right o the details of how he presents his review and is not restricted to word count which many channels do.
DeleteAll what I look for are the overall aspects of the story, the heat level, and how the suspense in the story flowed. I want to give constructive feedback on what they should do, if necessary, but I want authors to know that I appreciate their effort and hope that they would learn from the reviews, even if they're not good.
DeleteHave you ever had one of your reviews removed from a sales channel?
ReplyDeleteLuckily, No.
DeleteHow do you think the digital age has impacted literature as a whole?
ReplyDeleteBest thing ever. I’m not like some people who feel they need to hold an actual book in their hand to read. I’m also an erotic author myself – an indie erotic author, and I like the fact that the digital age has given me something to publish.
DeleteI think the digital age has impacted literature in both good and bad ways. I have many friends who don't have a computer, a Kindle, or use their phone as a way to read books. I know I loose readers that way. On the other hand, I agree with Ray, it gives writers an easier chance to publish their writing. I would prefer to read a hard copy of a book, myself.
DeleteAre you an author? What is the title of your most recent publication? Please feel free to share a link for your book here as well.
ReplyDeleteYes I am. I have numerous books out. My most recent one is Winterlust Tales, which released on January 4th, and it’s an anthology of erotic stories.
DeleteYou can find my books on my Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ray-Sostre/e/B00U5NXFMM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1455572574&sr=8-2
Winterlust Tales is an exceedingly good read. Ray is one of the hottest erotic writer's I know.
DeleteMan, thanks a lot! That really means a lot to me.
DeleteHow important do you believe reviews are in the purchasing decision process?
ReplyDeleteThey’re important, but not as important as advertising your books. The reviews are best to give recommendations, but it doesn’t always guarantee sales (me being an author). The most important thing to sell your book is to advertise, but it’s nice to have coattails on your books, because it sheds a perspective on what you wrote.
DeleteThank you again Ray! If you wouldn't mind could you please provide us with your social network links:
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Margaret for having me on. I would gladly provide the links:
DeleteOn Facebook: Author Ray Sostre: http://facebook.com/AuthorRaySostre
My blog: The AfterDark World with Ray Sostre: http://theafterdarkworld.blogspot.com
On Twitter: @anarchy0029
AfterDark Online links:
Website: http://afterdark-online.com
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/afterdarkonline
On Twitter: @afterdarkonline
Thank you so much for answering all of my questions! Ive asked a few people to stop by, I hope you they do! It would be great to see some more input here! Your answers are very thorough and I think they will help some authors to read them! It is a pleasure having you!I will continue to stop back in and update things throughout today and the next couple of days, I hope you will stay with us!
DeleteThank you greatly! I'm looking forward. :-D
DeleteLove the interviews, very interesting. I love when male authors write erotica' it makes for an interesting read. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ray for taking time to be interviewed as a reviewer. And thank you for the kind words you have written in this interview.
DeleteThank you Ju, I appreciate your feedback. Pablo, thank you so much for the opportunity. You write great work. Keep doing what you do.
Delete