#205 Blog Post     11 December 2024

http://dennyhatch.blogspot.com/2024/12/205-onlne-book-club.html

Posted by Denny Hatch

If You're Writing a Book, Here’s the Inside SkinnyOn Getting a Low-cost,
Professional Book Review That Will Be Seen by 5 Million+ Guaranteed Readers!

Who Can Turn Your 80,000 Words Into a Best Seller?
Marvelous Dedicated Readers a.k.a. Book Reviewers!

Back the 1960s – 1980s you couldalways find book reviews every day in several thousand daily, weekly and monthly U.S.newspapers and magazines. Many of these have long gone bankrupt and out ofbusiness.

Amajority of today’s publications don’t feature book reviews at all even though roughly2 million traditionally published and self-published books come onto the marketin America every year.

Inshort, book reviews these days are scarcer than hen’s teeth.

Virginia Kirkus.

In1933 Virginia Kirkus— with a background as an English teacher, McCall’s Magazine editor, andfounder of Harper Brothers’ children’s fiction department — launched the iconicKirkus Reviews.  She reignedsupreme (along with The New York Times) for 90 years.

Basic Cost for a Kirkus Book Review

Todaythe twice-a-month Kirkus Reviews has 15,000 subscribers who pay $179 ayear for reviews of roughly 10,000 books a year. Basic charge to an author orpublisher for a 250-word Kirkus review is $450. (A 500-word review is $599.) Noguarantee of a good review.

Scott Hughes.

Over a decade ago Scott Hughes founded the Free Online Book Club (now with a reported 5million+ members!). 

ScottWrites: 

OnlineBookClub.org is a free site for readers that hasbeen around for over 10 years, before smartphones even!

Wehave a ton of awesome features for book lovers and a massive community ofactive members from all over the world.

Someof our most popular features include:

•Exclusive, original reviews by ourprofessional review team -Find the gems out of the millions of books published each year alone.

•Our free web app Bookshelves - Bookshelves enables you toeasily store, track, and share lists of books you have read and want to read.

•Our Book & Reading Forums - No longer do you need toschedule a specific book club meeting time in your busy schedule. At any timeyou want, you can instantly discuss any book you have read with other peoplewho read the same book. This is a free fun super-social group of hundreds ofthousands of welcoming people. 

Itis all free for readers. We are not a book store, and we do not sellbooks. We are a free online community for readers with all sorts of awesomefree features and free tools for book lovers. In terms of going to book storeslike Amazon to get books, our own freeBook of the Day tool notifiesyou when well-rated books go on temporary free promotions. So signup easily and completely free now.—Scott Hughes

Basic Cost for an OBC Review: $148

Ifan author or publisher wants a book reviewed by Online Book Club, the currentminimum cost to reach Scott’s five million+ members (with no limit on the numberof words) is: Level 1 Review - $148. (Includes 1 week featured status and entryinto Book of the Year Contest). Scott offers a slew of opportunities to spend additionalmoney promoting a book.

The Extraordinary Tale of the OnlineBook Club’s Surprise

Rave Review of a 70-year-old Novel byDenny Hatch!

Quickbackgrounder: In the1970s I was deep into my career in direct marketing. In spare time — to get myhead out of my work — I wrote three outrageous novels that were published, optionedfor Hollywood films and later reprinted as mass market paperbacks. My favoriteand most fun was The Stork. It was optioned by Universal.

My wonderful agent,Marvin Moss, called to tell me The Stork — hot off my typewriter — hadbeen optioned for three months for $5,000 by Universal Pictures. I wascatapulted into Seventh Heaven. It got better! 

Directed by John Avildsen! Wow! Thistotally unknown young director became an instant filmdom legend by winning the1977 Academy Award as Best Director for his very first movie: ROCKY.Avildsen had brought ROCKY infor just under $1 million and it generated $225 million in world box officesales. He was hot, hot, HOT! Alas, theoption on The Stork lapsed and no film was made. (The options foe the other two published novels also lapsed. No movie ever made it into a film.) The Stork was sold to Jove fora mass market paperback and got some dandy reviews. Whereupon Marvin Moss diedyoung. I was doing very well in marketing and never had a literary agent again.Here’s the Kirkus review:

Kirkus Reviews

February 15, 1977

Hatch, Denison

THE STORK

Morrow $8.95

4/4/ LC: 76-46420

SBN: 688-03160-9

TimSmith is called “The Stork” because of his leggy, bony, storky mien, but thenickname takes on new meaning when Tim leaves his father’s cattle stud-farmempire and applies his unrivaled breeding know-how to humans, a computerizedsperm bank for the best in artificial insemination. Unfortunately, even withthe prestige of his reluctant partner’s name (Bink Roosevelt, supposedly an FDRgrandson) and the expertise and dollars of Dr. Resnikow (Central Park South’stop gynecologist), Tim’s operation is a flop. So, to stimulate business, Timand Bink and Doc resolve to fill their “creamatorium” with a “Who’s Who ofAmerican sperm” — an easy proposition once Tim meets Tony Wilde (as in Oscar),top honcho at S.A.D.D.O.G.  S.A.D.D.O.G?Sons and Daughters descended of the Great. Soon all those ne’er-do-well scions are hooked up to the ACCU-JACmachine—encouraged by screenings of Marilyn Chambers and Linda Lovelace—andTim’s menu promises everything from a third-generation Hemingway ($37,000) to asixteenth-generation Hans Holbein the Elder ($12,000). Business booms, butBink’s ethics, a muckraking reporter (“This story’s going to do for me whatWatergate did for Woodward and Bernstein!), hints of forged genealogies, andone slight error (a Southern senator’s wife gets an Adam Clayton Powell)precipitate a sticky Day of Judgment. When he isn’t regressing from thesophomoric to the freshmantic (“seed money,” “notary pubic,” “El Seed”), Hatchunreels this fantasia with approximated the right mix of slapstick, word-play,and documentary mock-seriousness. He also decorates the doings with so manyau-courrancies that The Stork is already dated (Clay Felker plays animportant role as New York Magazine editor), so this is not one for theages, or even next year, but, for the moment and for those uninterested indoing vaguely real things, The Stork makes for a lively enough delivery.

 (Wordcount: 298) 

NoteFrom Denny Hatch:

In2022 I re-read The Stork published in 1973. I found it to be a giggleand wondered if this 70-year-old warhorse could have a second life. Was itstill funny? Relevant? Would it resonate with today’s film buffs and videostreamers if it became a movie?

Iwas very, very dubious it would fly today. But worth a shot for $148. I emailedit to Online Book Club and ordered a review.

Review of The Stork

Post by Ruth Omonegho » 28 Oct 2022, 07:12

[Following is an officialOnlineBookClub.org review of "The Stork" by Denny Hatch.]

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3 out of 4stars

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Thesedays, there are cases of IVF where couples that can’t generally conceivebecause of an anomaly in the husband are given a chance to be parents. Somepeople donate their sperm for this purpose, but few genuinely take this as aregular means of generating revenue for themselves. However, if you, as atroubled parent, were offered the sperm of a descendant of a famous person, letus say, Michael Jackson, what would you do? How much would you pay to have thebaby of Michael Jackson’s descendant?

The Stork: A Comedy About Breeding People is the story of Tim Smith (TheStork), who, after helping his father in the business of selling sperm of bullsall over the world, decides to start a life of his own and takes his friend,Balthus Roosevelt (Bink), along to New York. During their brief stay in Spain,they meet a medical student who donates sperm for a living. After a briefdiscussion, Tim is motivated to start an artificial insemination business,leveraging the expertise of Dr Resnikow, who provides the facility and fundingfor their business (Delees Corporation). Starting up becomes so rough that theyalmost go bankrupt. To save their business, they must go the extra mile tosurpass their competitors. What do they do? How do they manage to get through?Grab this copy of the comedy and enjoy.

Right off the bat, I need to commend the expertise of Denny Hatch. This book isan old book that the author decided to bring back to life. It was oncescheduled to go on screen, but unfortunately, it didn’t materialize. This bookwould have made an excellent and hilarious movie. If, by chance, you arereading this and have the capacity to make the author's dream come to life byconnecting him with someone who can produce this book into a movie, feel freeto connect with him. I forgot to mention that a true-life event inspired thestory.

At first, I got confused at the beginning because I couldn’t place what or whoGlen Muir was. However, as I read on and realized what Glen was, I flowed intothe whole realm and enjoyed every bit of it. The author's descriptive powerbrought every page of the book to life. I couldn't get lost because it was sovivid. The characters are well developed so that you know the background of allthe key characters and can easily identify with them.

My favorite is Balthus Roosevelt. Even though the business is promising, hismoral standard still stands. However, he has gone so deep that it has becomedifficult for him to pull out. Even at that, he tried his best to stand by thetruth. Mike O'Shea, the Irishman, seems to be my funniest character. Hisintroduction brings a lot of comic relief to the whole plot. ‘You phonybastard’ is a phrase that makes him stand out from the rest of the characters.I was skeptical about him initially, and my skepticism was eventuallyjustified.

One of the lessons that stood out for me is that just because your father orgrandfather is famous does not mean you can be as successful if you do not putin the effort. In fact, their fame, many times, causes a burden for theiroffspring. Another is, do not be gullible. Move back and run when you are toldsomething too good to be true. How on earth can anyone believe that JesusChrist has a descendant? As I said earlier, the author did a great job withthis book.

There is nothing to dislike about this book. However, I found more than tenerrors while reading, so I will rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Iimplore the author to edit this book one more time.

I recommend this book to lovers of comedy and those who want to learn one ortwo things regarding artificial insemination. I wish the author well on hismission to get a producer for this book. I would love to see it on the screenone day.

The Stork
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

3 out of 4stars

==============================

Note from Denny Hatch:The wonderful reviewer, RuthOmondgho, was spot on in terms skewering me for my typos and errors. Ipublished it on Amazon Kindle in a hurry for one reason only — to preserve it forposterity. I did not flyspeck it. My bad. I am ashamed. I was lucky to havebeen penalized only one star. 

 An Aside: Scott Hughes’ Extraordinary Ironclad RulesGoverning His Online Book Club Reviews:
• Reviewers can sayanything they want. No guarantees of a good review. A reviewer that does notlike book can say so and award zero stars.

• However... and this is a HUGE HOWEVER...  (In decades ofinteraction with the publishing industry I have never heard of thisrevolutionary policy.) Before an OBC review can be published, the reviewer mustprove to the author’s complete satisfaction that the entire book was readfrom start to finish. 

Takeaways to Consider  

Comparing the two reviews of the same book:

• The Kirkus review is literate, witty, hands-offand fun — the work of a highly competent professional.

• My opinion: the OLBC review is more intimate — a reader's personalexperience with the off-the-wall plot and reaction to some wildly improbable characters. 

• My opinion: both Kirkus and OLBC management got their full money's worth from theirworld-class, caring reviewers.

 • Scott Hughes' has issued this unspoken invitation toOBC members try book reviewing: You areinvited to add your name to the roster of some of the world's mostdistinguished and renowned literary celebrities who sometimesreviewed books and made a difference in the lives of readers, authors, editors,movie moguls and actors. Among them:

T.S. Eliot | Ray Bradbury | John F. Kennedy | Tennessee Williams
Toni Morrison | Nora Ephron | John Kenneth Galbraith | Bill Gates
Stephen King | Joan Didion | Susan Sontag | Dorothy Parker
James Baldwin | Edgar Allan Poe | Joyce Carol Oates | John Updike

Scott is perpetually on the hunt for new book reviewers. He writes:

• Get Paid to Review Books, Completely Free.
How it works: You are given a selection of online booksto choose. The books are free for you in exchange for a review. After yourfirst approved review, you will be eligible to get paid for the reviews too. 

• There is never any cost to you. This is completely free to you,the reviewer. You do not have to say you loved the book if you didn't.You are being paid for an honest, quick review, not a positive review. Mostpayouts currently range between $5-$60 per review.

• You Are Invited to Have a Look at My Blog Post of Several Years Ago on How to Create a Best-seller — GUARANTEED!  —DH

 http://dennyhatch.blogspot.com/2018/10/28-secrets-of-blitzkrieg-prpublicity.html

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 A Riveting Rave Review of Denny Hatch's Masterpiece.

By Oluchi Samuel
10 December 2024

An official OnlineBookClub.org review of Method Marketing by Denny Hatch.]

               5 out of 5 Stars

Tomake a lot of profit, business owners need to understand and employ marketing. As the name implies, Method Marketing by Denny Hatch is a book that educates readers on method marketing. The author also shares the stories of some people who employed method marketing.

Marketingis the business of acquiring customers and continually thrilling them. Method marketing, on the other hand, is the ability to get inside the heads and under the skin of the people you are marketing your product to. Direct mail is the largest advertising medium, and it is the medium alot of method marketers build their businesses on. The author shared the stories of some marketers with huge businesses. These marketers wereFather Bruce Ritter, Martin Edelston, John Peterman, Bill Bonner, Bob Shnayerson, Curt Strohacker, David Oreck, and William Kennedy. They owned businesses like The Boardroom, J. Peterman Company, Agora Publishing, The Eastwood Company, The Oreck Corporation, and Western Monetary Consultants. He shared their stories, how they started their businesses, and he also dropped points for marketers to pick up from their experiences.

This is a wonderful book with lots of great lessons in marketing. I loved that the author shared some successful marketers' experiences. He used these stories to educate us. He discussed how they started their businesses and some of the mistakes they made along the way. These real-life stories made me understand his lessons quite well. I appreciated them. Readers who are planning on venturing into these businesses could learn a great deal from these stories. The author also exposed me to some businesses I hadn't heard ofbefore, like The Teaching Company, Agora Publishing, Quest/77, and The Oreck Company.

Copywriting is a business venture I have been meaning to start. Luckily for me, I got the opportunity to read this book. The author showed the significance of copywriting and also shared tips on how to write a great copy. It gave me insights and taught me howgood a copy should be written. The story of the First Bank of Troy was one of the stories I loved. The president of the bank, Frank O. Brock, operated a customer-friendly business. He paid personal attention to allhis customers. He would go over lists of customers and call or give personal notes to them at least once a month. As a novice in marketing, Iappreciated the appendix the author added at the end of the book. It saved me a lot of trips to the dictionary.

For all these reasons, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.It is an amazing book that all marketers should read. There was absolutely nothing to dislike. I found one error, showing that it was professionally edited. I recommend it to marketers and people planning on venturing into marketing, as it contains a lot of tips to flourish inmarketing.

                                            ******
Method Marketing
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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