Book reviews Archives | Page 3 of 3 | Jennifer Lancaster

May 14, 2025

Take a Simple Drive to a Healthier Life – review

We often say that we want to live a healthier life. We make all these new year’s resolutions about exercising more and losing weight and a host of other things, but how many of us really follow-through? Is it that we don’t have the information in front of us to help us on our journey? Sometimes it’s just a little nudge we need to remind us. This comes in the form of a new book, ‘Take a Simple Drive to a Healthier Life’ by Dr. Roger Smith. In it, Roger highlights that out of 100 people surveyed in their local medical clinic, there were only 24 people with normal range BMI. He tracks some of the patient’s struggles and successes with weight control over the years, noting that it is a hard road but well worth it. Another novel approach is…

June 12, 2017

Book reviews

Book Blueprint review

Writer/editor Jacqueline Pretty has, like me, migrated from a copywriter into an editor and book publishing coach. There is no better background for a book editor to have ;-). So in this “Book Blueprint”, I expected nothing less than sheer genius. Was I fulfilled? The key to finding your message is explained both in the introduction and in Part 1: The Right Idea. In case we think that writing and forming a book (for business) is just a matter of writing up our topic of the moment, the Grammar (Factory) girl sets us to rights: will we still be game to promote this book’s core idea in three years’ time? She then goes into the fun stuff: “What would you love to write about (that relates to what you do)?”…. along with the practical: the target audience. “Who are you writing…

15 Success Traits of Pro Bloggers book review

May 4, 2017

Book reviews

The 15 Success Traits of Pro Bloggers – Book Review

Jonathan has created an ideal ebook for those who want to formalise their blogging and build authority long term. It’s called The 15 Success Traits of Pro Bloggers, yet it could apply to any blogger or author who is building an audience. Many of us start haphazardly, finding we enjoy writing topics, but then how do we get started with ‘branding’, getting on podcasts, adding value to readers lives, and getting over our fears and doubts? Jonathan tells us honestly what we are up for as a blogger, so that we can stop looking for the silver bullet. This long term thinking approach is what makes an authority blogger. The Mindset of Pro Bloggers I enjoyed the initial 27 reasons to Blog (motivation), especially as many of these enhance any book publishing activities. I particularly liked the talk on how to…

February 21, 2017

Book reviews, Selling eBooks and Media

5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors – by Penny Sansevieria

As a harried author/editor, I appreciate that ‘5-Minute Book Marketing for Authors’ uses a simple and fast-read format. Penny explains how to get great reviews, legal ones, on Amazon. If you have no email list at all, the first part of her advice might leave you despondent, however there are other options laid out for the intrepid author. I do feel that Penny, having been a multiple top-selling marketing author for many years, gives the depth of advice and honest opinions which novices seek. The book’s content is quite heavily biased to Amazon, which suits many, but I need an all-round approach. That’s why I enjoyed the chapters on author website, social media and newsletters. (I’m the kind of idiot that designs my own website, against the advice of Penny). I don’t do free eBook promotions as a rule, but after…